Designation: D 4228 – 99

Standard Practice for

Qualification of Coating Applicators for Application of
Coatings to Steel Surfaces1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4228; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 3. Application of Coatings

1.1 This practice provides a standard qualifying method for 3.1 This practice requires the coating applicator to apply the
coating applicators to verify their proficiency and ability to specified coating in conformance to the governing documents
attain the required quality for application of specified coatings to a test panel similar to that detailed in Fig. 1. A physical test
to steel surfaces including those in safety-related areas in a area may be selected by the owner/representative. The test area
nuclear facility. shall simulate job conditions and acceptance criteria shall be
1.2 Variations or simplifications of the practice set forth the specification requirement. This panel is typical of the panel
herein may be appropriate for special coating work such as used for qualification, and may be modified to suit site
maintenance or qualifications of equipment suppliers shop configurations.
personnel. It is not the intent of this practice to mandate a 3.2 This practice requires the coating applicator to perform
singular basis for all qualifications. the application using the proper technique and application
1.3 Evaluation of the coating applicator being qualified in equipment consistent with the specified coating materials.
accordance with this practice, shall be by qualified agents as 3.3 The surfaces of the test panel shall be prepared in
specified in 4.1. Reports shall be prepared as specified in accordance with the governing documents.
Section 5, and certification as specified in Section 6. 3.4 Place the test panel approximately 12 in. (305 mm)
1.4 It is the intent of this practice to judge only the ability of above ground level and at approximately 30° from the vertical
the coating applicator to apply specified coatings with the plane, with the complex side up. This will simulate the types of
proper tools and equipment. difficult coating situations encountered by coating applicators.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 3.5 The coating applicator shall demonstrate his ability to
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for apply the specified coating to a uniform dry-film thickness in
information only. accordance with the governing documents, as evaluated by the
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the qualifying agents.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.6 Allow required drying as prescribed by the governing
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- documents prior to taking the dry-film thickness reading of the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- applied coating. If a coating system specified requires a primer,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. intermediate, and finish coat, treat each coat as a separate
application, allowing a specified drying time before inspecting
2. Terminology each completed coat.
2.1 Definitions: 3.7 The coating applicator shall be provided with the
2.1.1 coating applicator—an individual who has worked in following:
the painting trade sufficiently long enough to master the use of 3.7.1 Information regarding the specified coating materi-
all applicable tools and the materials being applied. al(s), including wet and dry film thickness required, and all
2.1.2 qualifying agents—the designated representatives of other information contained in the governing documents for the
the owner or of the coating organization, or both, who have coating system being applied.
sufficient experience in the practical application and evaluation 3.7.2 Coating materials properly mixed in accordance with
of coatings applied to steel surfaces of a nuclear facility. the governing documents and ready for application.
2.1.3 governing documents—technical specifications, job- 3.7.3 The necessary equipment for the proper application of
site procedures, and reference documents. the specified coating.
3.7.4 Miscellaneous equipment, brushes, and thinners re-
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D33 on Protective quired for cleaning the equipment after completion of the test.
Coating and Lining Work for Power Generation Facilities and is the direct 3.7.5 A practice area to adjust and test the equipment prior
responsibility of Subcommittee D33.05 on Application and Surface Preparation. to performing the test.
Current edition approved June 10, 1999. Published August 1999. Originally
published as D 4228 – 83. Last previous edition D 4228 – 95.
3.7.6 All necessary safety equipment.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 D 4228
requirements and uniformity of application. The number and
location of readings shall be as indicated on Fig. 2.
4.5 The coating applicator and the qualifying agents shall
understand the required dry-film thickness range requirements
of the governing documents before any coatings are applied.
4.6 The qualifying agent shall inspect the finished surface to
verify that it conforms to the requirements of the governing
documents. A description of the appearance of the completed
applied coating and dry film thickness shall be recorded on
form Fig. 3.

5. Report
5.1 The qualifying agents shall use a report form similar to
that in Fig. 2 to record dry-film thickness readings specified in
4.4, and the appearance of the completed coating surface as
specified in 4.6.
5.2 The qualifying agents and coating applicator shall sign
FIG. 1 Test Panel—Complex Side the report form.
5.3 The generation of documentation and maintenance of
3.7.7 Wet-film thickness gage for testing the coating thick- records shall be as delineated in the applicable documents.
ness during application, where applicable.
6. Initial Qualification
4. Evaluation of Coating Application 6.1 The qualifying agents shall prepare a form similar to
4.1 Evaluation of the coating applicator shall be made by Fig. 3. The qualification form shall state the coating materials
two qualifying agents. Only one qualifying agent can be used and the application equipment used in the test.
production-related. 6.2 The qualifying agents and the coating applicator shall
4.2 The qualifying agents shall be capable of answering sign the qualification form.
technical questions requested by the coating applicator relating
to the application of the specified coating material(s). The 7. Requalification
qualifying agents shall be thoroughly familiar with the speci- 7.1 The owner or his designated representative may deter-
fied coating material(s) and acceptance criteria and shall be mine the degree of requalification to be permitted, as well as
aware of any difficulties in applying the coating to any surface. the acceptance of previously qualified coating applicators
4.3 The qualifying agents shall have a wet-film gage of the based on time interval since the date of the qualification form
same type used by the coating applicator, as well as a calibrated and provided the same coating materials and application
magnetic-type dry-film thickness gage. procedures are used. Note the acceptance of previous qualifi-
4.4 The qualifying agents shall take dry-film thickness cation in the quality assurance file or the project.
readings on all areas of the test panel, except nuts and bolts.
These readings shall be recorded as specified in Section 5. 8. Limited Qualifications—Touch Up and Repair
Wet-film readings may be used to check the coating applica- 8.1 Limited qualifications can be accomplished using only
tor’s progress during application. The dry-film thickness read- areas representative of the actual plant surfaces, even though
ing shall be used to verify the specified dry-film thickness they do not include all areas represented in Fig. 1.

FIG. 2 Record Form for Test Application

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 D 4228

FIG. 3 Qualification Form

9. Limited Qualifications—Brushes, Rollers, or, Other for qualification and application.

Special Tools
9.1 Limited qualifications for special application tools may 10. Keywords
be required on certain projects. When such limited qualifica- 10.1 applicator; qualifications, (initial, limited); qualifying
tion is performed, the limitations shall be noted on the records agents; report; requalifications

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