STANDARDS FOR NON‐ORGANIC SURFACE COATINGS Available to Purchase

There are many different types of standard but in general they cover such aspects as terminology, dimensions, methods of test, quality, performance, procedure or suitable combinations of these items; they may be written as specifications or in a mandatory form, or as recommendations or codes of practice. In the case of surface coating standards, they are usually ‘specifications’ which are designed to ensure good quality products. Some specify the materials to be used in the coating process but most standards specify what the end result shall be like, usually by the required performance when subjected to a certain test or tests. Quality could also be achieved by detailing closely the various stages of the coating process and requiring that it be carried out that way, but this approach is not favoured since, naturally enough, manufacturers do not wish to disclose their own practical ‘know‐how’. The ideal approach to preparing specifications is to ensure first that terminology and units are defined, then that methods of testing are agreed and after that, standards of performance are established. Without a proper understanding of the terms used much confusion and wasted effort may occur, and unless methods to be applied in measuring and assessing properties and performance are agreed, no basis exists for specifying test criteria.