Coating inspection guides
The working logic behind the numbers: how DFT acceptance is structured, when ambient conditions stop the work, and how coverage arithmetic turns into gallons. Written in cautious language - the project specification and the cited standards always govern.
Gage readings, spot measurements, area measurements, and restriction levels: how dry film thickness acceptance is structured under SSPC-PA 2 and how to log it in the field.
6 min readDew point: when to stop paintingHow dew point is calculated, why the 3 C / 5 F surface spread rule exists, and how to log ambient conditions so a hold decision stands up later.
5 min readWFT vs DFT: hitting the spec while the film is wetThe relationship between wet film thickness, dry film thickness, and volume solids, and how to set a WFT target the applicator can actually use.
6 min readDFT gauge calibration and verificationCalibration, verification, and adjustment for electronic dry film thickness gages: what each word means and the field routine that keeps readings defensible.
5 min readSurface profile: what it is and why it mattersAnchor profile on blasted steel: what it does for adhesion, how it is measured, and how profile interacts with primer thickness.
5 min readCoating coverage and paint estimatingFrom volume solids and target DFT to gallons on the purchase order: theoretical coverage, realistic loss factors, and the arithmetic in between.
Frequently asked questions
Who are these guides written for?
Coating inspectors, NACE/AMPP CIP candidates, QC technicians, and applicators who need the working logic behind DFT measurement, ambient condition limits, and coverage arithmetic, with cautious sourcing rather than invented clause text.
Do the guides replace the standards?
No. They summarize structure and common field practice and always defer to the project specification and the cited edition of each standard for acceptance criteria.