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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D4228 − 05 (Reapproved 2017)

Standard Practice for

Qualification of Coating Applicators for Application of
Coatings to Steel Surfaces1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4228; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 2.1.1 coating applicator, n—an individual who has worked

1.1 This practice provides a standard qualifying method for in the painting trade sufficiently long enough to master the use
coating applicators to verify their proficiency and ability to of all applicable tools and the materials being applied.
attain the required quality for application of specified coatings 2.1.2 governing documents, n—technical specifications,
to steel surfaces including those in safety-related areas in a jobsite procedures, and reference documents.
nuclear facility. 2.1.3 qualifying agents, n—the designated representatives of
1.2 Variations or simplifications of the practice set forth the owner or of the coating organization, or both, who have
herein may be appropriate for special coating work such as sufficient experience in the practical application and evaluation
maintenance or qualifications of equipment suppliers shop of coatings applied to steel surfaces.
personnel. It is not the intent of this practice to mandate a
singular basis for all qualifications. 3. Application of Coatings
1.3 Evaluation of the coating applicator being qualified in 3.1 This practice requires the coating applicator to apply the
accordance with this practice, shall be by qualified agents as specified coating in conformance to the governing documents
specified in 4.1. Reports shall be prepared as specified in to a test panel similar to that detailed in Fig. 1. A physical test
Section 5, and certification as specified in Section 6. area may be selected by the owner/representative. The test area
1.4 It is the intent of this practice to judge only the ability of shall simulate job conditions and acceptance criteria shall be
the coating applicator to apply specified coatings with the the specification requirement. This panel is typical of the panel
proper tools and equipment. used for qualification, and may be modified to suit site
configurations.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for 3.2 This practice requires the coating applicator to perform
information only. the application using the proper technique and application
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the equipment consistent with the specified coating materials.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.3 The surfaces of the test panel shall be prepared in
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- accordance with the governing documents.
priate safety, health and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.4 Place the test panel approximately 12 in. (305 mm)
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor- above ground level and at approximately 30° from the vertical
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- plane, with the complex side up. This will simulate the types of
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the difficult coating situations encountered by coating applicators.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 3.5 The coating applicator shall demonstrate his ability to
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical apply the specified coating to a uniform dry-film thickness in
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. accordance with the governing documents, as evaluated by the
qualifying agents.
2. Terminology
3.6 Allow required drying as prescribed by the governing
2.1 Definitions:
documents prior to taking the dry-film thickness reading of the
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applied coating. If a coating system specified requires multiple
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D33 on Protective
Coating and Lining Work for Power Generation Facilities and is the direct
coats, treat each coat as a separate application, allowing a
responsibility of Subcommittee D33.05 on Application and Surface Preparation. specified drying time before inspecting each completed coat.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2017. Published September 2017. Originally
approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D4228 – 05 (2012). 3.7 The coating applicator shall be provided with the
DOI: 10.1520/D4228-05R17. following:

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

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D4228 − 05 (2017)
4.2 The qualifying agents shall be capable of answering
technical questions requested by the coating applicator relating
to the application of the specified coating material(s). The
qualifying agents shall be thoroughly familiar with the speci-
fied coating material(s) and acceptance criteria and shall be
aware of any difficulties in applying the coating to any surface.
4.3 The qualifying agents shall have a wet-film gage of the
same type used by the coating applicator, as well as a calibrated
magnetic-type dry-film thickness gage.
4.4 The qualifying agents shall take dry-film thickness
readings on all areas of the test panel, except nuts and bolts.
These readings shall be recorded as specified in Section 5.
Wet-film readings may be used to check the coating applica-
tor’s progress during application. The dry-film thickness read-
ing shall be used to verify the specified dry-film thickness
requirements and uniformity of application. The number and
FIG. 1 Test Panel—Complex Side location of readings shall be as indicated on Fig. 2.
4.5 The coating applicator and the qualifying agents shall
3.7.1 Information regarding the specified coating
material(s), including wet and dry film thickness required, and understand the required dry-film thickness range requirements
all other information contained in the governing documents for of the governing documents before any coatings are applied.
the coating system being applied. 4.6 The qualifying agents shall inspect the finished surface
3.7.2 Coating materials properly mixed in accordance with to verify that it conforms to the requirements of the governing
the governing documents and ready for application. documents. A description of the appearance of the completed
3.7.3 The necessary equipment for the proper application of applied coating and dry film thickness shall be recorded on the
the specified coating. form shown in Fig. 2.
3.7.4 Miscellaneous equipment, brushes, and thinners re-
quired for cleaning the equipment after completion of the test. 5. Report
3.7.5 A practice area to adjust and test the equipment prior
to performing the test. 5.1 The qualifying agents shall use a report form similar to
3.7.6 All necessary safety equipment. that in Fig. 2 to record dry-film thickness readings specified in
3.7.7 Wet-film thickness gage for testing the coating thick- 4.4, and the appearance of the completed coating surface as
ness during application, where applicable. specified in 4.6 is recorded on a form similar to Fig. 3.

4. Evaluation of Coating Application 5.2 The qualifying agents and coating applicator shall sign
the report form.
4.1 Evaluation of the coating applicator shall be made by
two qualifying agents. Only one qualifying agent can be 5.3 The generation of documentation and maintenance of
production-related. records shall be as delineated in the applicable documents.

FIG. 2 Record Form for Test Application

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D4228 − 05 (2017)

FIG. 3 Qualification Form

6. Initial Qualification 8. Limited Qualifications—Touch Up and Repair

6.1 The qualifying agents shall prepare a form similar to 8.1 Limited qualifications can be accomplished using only
Fig. 3. The qualification form shall state the coating materials areas representative of the actual plant surfaces, even though
used and the application equipment used in the test. they do not include all areas represented in Fig. 1.
6.2 The qualifying agents and the coating applicator shall
9. Limited Qualifications—Brushes, Rollers, or, Other
sign the qualification form.
Special Tools
7. Requalification 9.1 Limited qualifications for special application tools may
7.1 The owner or his designated representative may deter- be required on certain projects. When such limited qualifica-
mine the degree of requalification to be permitted, as well as tion is performed, the limitations shall be noted on the records
the acceptance of previously qualified coating applicators for qualification and application.
based on time interval since the date of the qualification form
and provided the same coating materials and application 10. Keywords
procedures are used. Note the acceptance of previous qualifi- 10.1 applicator; qualifications, (initial, limited); qualifying
cation in the quality assurance file or the project. agents; report; requalifications

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