Coating Inspection Australia

Coating inspection Australia

Carry out a coating inspection to prevent costly problems

Do it once, do it right; the cost of repairing a badly executed coating can be many times the cost to paint it in the first place. Problems can arise during the pre-treatment, application, and curing phases of a coating job. Coating jobs that at first seem perfect can begin to fail. There are so many variables in any coating application, from the environment to the material itself, that getting an effective long-lasting job is a highly skilled task. This is why we need the coating inspection: we need trained and certified professionals on board at every step, testing and guiding the coating process, as well as making sure the coating job is in accordance with the Australian and International Standards

The first two steps in the coating inspection process: survey and specify

A paint inspection is carried out by a certified coating inspector who is familiar with all the aspects that contribute to optimal performance of a coating, and the specific standards each coating should individually meet. The coating inspection process starts with inspecting the substrate and the environment, which becomes part of a coating specification. A coating specification is an important document: it should provide clear and precise instructions to the contractor on what is to be done and how it is to be done in order to ensure optimal performance.  In offshore and other difficult-to-access environments, the coating inspectors sometimes even use drones to carry out the inspection. This should be specified and calculated beforehand.

Coating inspection of the curing rate

In the specification it is clearly written what the expectations are for the end result, so it can be tested accordingly.

Step 1: Conduct a coating survey

First of all you have a facility, infrastructure, asset or machinery that requires coating, or a coating job that needs refurbishing or evaluating. You want assurance that the job will, at every step, be of only the highest quality. Therefore, your coating inspection procedure starts with a site condition survey, which forms a foundation for the coating specification. This condition survey will answer questions such as:

  • What is the substrate, and its condition (damage, deterioration, rust, peeling)?
  • To what degree is there damage, what measures must be taken to repair it?
  • Are there any environmental issues which need to be taken into account?

Any problems that might be found, or maintenance required, need to be dealt with.

Step 2: Write a clear specification template

Is your coating specification clear and comprehensive, making sure there are no misunderstandings between engineers, applicators, contractors, and managers? The specification needs to clearly describe the owner’s expectations for their project, aesthetically and structurally. It also must include a description of the substrate and the environment the coating will be applied in. Some manufacturers actually provide specification services, so that every step of the process is overseen by someone who knows the coating products inside out. A well-written specification contains as much detail as is required to make these expectations clear, in plain unambiguous terms. It is a template, and thus needs to be as accurate as possible for the finished product to turn out as planned.


Coating inspection checklist during application

Once the specification has been written, the application process must be monitored from beginning to end; from surface preparation to final colour and gloss. This process generally consists of the following checks:

maintenance inspection and failure analysis on a tower

Maintenance inspection and failure analysis is a very important step after application

  1. Inspect the surface preparation and pre-treatment
    The most fundamental phase of a coating inspection. A well-prepared surface is the foundation of a successful coating. The aspects to inspect include surface cleanness and roughness. There are coating inspectors who specialize in assessing surface preparation such as sand blasting.
  2. Assess climate conditions
    Environmental factors such as climate must be assessed to prevent the air, surface temperature, or humidity affecting the curing and adhesion of the coating. The specification should define the optimal application conditions.
  3. Measure film thickness (before and after curing)
    It is important to inspect the film thickness of powder coatings and liquid coatings before the coating cures so that and deviation from the specification can be detected and repaired before curing. The dry film thickness is measured to make absolutely sure the film thickness is in accordance the optimal performance of the coating.
  4. Observe the curing rate
    The coating must be cured to the degree defined in the specification; if the coating is not cured enough the surface lacks hardness, making the finished coating layer more vulnerable to hazards such as abrasion and chemicals.
  5. Check for sufficient adhesion
    The current methods of testing adhesion are all destructive, so the test is usually conducted on a sample substrate. It is crucial that the sample has undergone the exact same treatments under the exact same conditions as the real substrate.
  6. Evaluate the colour and gloss of the cured film
    The colour of a coating needs to match the specification, but also be consistent across the whole surface. Gloss level is also measured, and checked for deviation.

Maintenance & failure analysis as part of the paint inspection

Even though the coating is in place, the need for coating inspections has not disappeared. Maintenance inspections are conducted to confirm that the coating continues to meet the expectations set in the specification. An examination of all coatings needs to be carried out, to check that properties such as thickness, corrosion, and fire damage all conform to the specification. Corrosion costs Australia companies billions of dollars a year in replacing and repairing damaged assets, so having a regular paint inspection can catch the problem before it goes too far.

Another form of coating inspection that takes place after the coating has been applied is failure analysis, which is applicable only when the coating does not perform as the specification states. It happens; coating projects fail, damage happens, or corrosion wins. In this case, the coating inspection has one goal – to find the culprit. Like a detective, they will gather and analyse information about the coating, its environment, its usage, its application process and thus uncover the reason behind the failure. Once found, they outline the best way forward to deal with the issue and how to prevent it recurring in the future.

Australian and international coating inspection courses and certifications

There are several coating inspector programmes (CIP) that set the standards for inspection as well as training and certifying inspectors. The most well known and recognized authority is NACE, the Worldwide Corrosion Authority. The NACE certifications and training are given and accepted in Australia. Here you will find information on NACE and other relevant coating inspection programmes for the Australian Market. The courses are given by the Australian Corrosion Association (ACA) in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney but also in Australasian countries like Thailand.

NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers) certification

The NACE Coating Inspector Program (CIP) has been setting the standard for inspections in the protective coatings industry for over 30 years. The CIP is an international certification programme that produces the highest calibre of paint inspectors. These come in Level 1, 2, and 3, with 3 being the highest. NACE also publishes a book outlining the use of coating inspection equipment.

  • NACE CIP Level 1 – This certification is designed for Coating Inspectors responsible for performing and documenting basic and non-destructive inspections of liquid coatings applied by brush, roller or spray to steel surfaces.
  • NACE CIP Level 2 – This certification is designed for Level 2 Coating Inspectors responsible for performing and documenting non-destructive inspections of liquid and non-liquid coatings to any substrate in a shop setting or under the supervision of a level 3 inspector when working in a field setting.
  • NACE CIP Level 3 Peer Review – This certification is designed for level 3 coating inspectors (which requires completion of certain requirements, an exam, and approved application) who aim to be recognized as leaders in the Coatings Inspection field.

ICorr Certification

ICorr, the Institute of Corrosion, is a corrosion authority which provides a number of courses that enable paint inspectors to acquire the necessary qualifications to carry out inspections in the field. The courses are in Levels 1, 2, and 3, and are internationally accredited and recognized. The highest level is level 3, and only they are trained and certified to write paint specifications for coatings projects. The ICorr levels correspond to the NACE levels.


Find a coating inspector in Australia

Many companies operating in Australia offer coating inspection services and often have job openings for coating inspectors. They either operate internationally like Paint-Inspector (marine and protective coating inspections) or locally like the companies you can find on our local pages:

If you would like more information about the right company for you, please contact us!

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