Comparison of SSPC PA2 and ISO-19840 – DFT verification method and acceptance Criteria

Sl # Requirements SSPC PA 2 -2004 version SSPC PA 2 -2012 version ISO -19840

1. Specifying Coating Recommends to specify both
Thickness minimum and maximum thickness of
each Coating layer.
if not Provided ,the specified
thickness shall be taken as a
minimum required Coating Thickness
Recommends to specify both minimum Generally not recommends to Specify the
and maximum thickness of each Coating range of coating thickness.
layer.
if single value is specified the minimum The specified value shall be taken as the
and the maximum thickness shall be +/- 20 NDFT (nominal Dry film thickness)
% of the stated value i.e 80 % of specified
as minimum and 120% of specified as
maximum

2. Gauge Gauge setting to Zero should not be Gauge setting to Zero should not be made. Based on Surface profile classification as Per
calibration/ made. Recommended to set gauges on blast ISO8503-1 such as Fine, medium & Coarse
Zero Setting – Recommended to set gauges on blast cleaned surface according to ASTM D7091 Correction values are Given
Non-repeatable cleaned surface. Fine – 10 µm, Medium 25 µm and Coarse 40 µm.
reading even at Also refers to ISO 19840 for Gauge
points very close, No specific guidelines are given Correction values. If correction Value is used
Surface it shall be subtracted from the individual reading
to give DFT.
irregularity,
Temperature

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3 Sampling Plan / Measurement frequency is based on
Measurement area/size of the structure.
Frequency
Spot reading considered as individual
reading. Each spot reading in 4 cm
diameter shall consist of minimum 3
gauge readings.
Each 10m2 area of Beam structure
shall be measured in 5 Spot readings.
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For 10m area 3x5 = 15 gage readings
are to be measured.
For 30 to 100 m2 areas minimum
three 10m2 area must be measured.
Measurement frequency is based on Measurement frequency is based on
area/size and configuration of the area/size i.e area and length of the structure.
structure.
Spot reading considered as individual Single reading is considered as the individual
reading. Each spot reading in 4 cm reading
diameter shall consist of minimum 3
gauge readings. Sampling plan detailed in the form of table.
It is easy to understand and convince the
For beam length less than 6m length, 5 client when it is necessary
spots reading per surface shall be
measured. For 3 to 10 m2 /m : 15 readings + 3
As per this standard Total number of adjustment readings ( incase measured
surface of Beam structure including flange values are less can be manipulated with
thickness to be measured are 12 surfaces. additional adjustment readings
(If flange thick is equal or greater 25mm).
In our cases 8 surfaces excluding edges For 6 meter length Beam only 15 +3
of the flange. So each surface 5 spot readings are sufficient.
reading (15 gauge readings) are to be
measured.
Full DFT determination -Total 120 gauge
readings are to be measured for 6m
length beam.
For sample DFT measurement randomly
distributed two spot readings for the 8
surfaces are to be measured ie. 48 gage
readings
As per standard no need to go for full or
Sample DFT determination for every
beam. It recommends to go for 1 beam
out of 10 beam with full DFT
Determination or 1 out of 5 with sample
DFT determination.
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4 Acceptance For specified Minimum thickness.
Criteria
Average of all spot readings shall not
be less than minimum specified
Coating thickness.
Average of individual spot reading
shall be 80% of minimum specified
thickness.
Any individual gauge reading may
underrun by a greater amount but
that particular spot reading shall be
80% of minimum specified.
For specified Maximum thickness.
Average of all spot reading shall not
be maximum specified Coating
thickness.
Average of individual spot thickness
shall be within 120 % of the specified
thickness.
Any individual gauge reading may
overrun by a greater amount but the
particular spot reading shall be within
120% of specified thickness.
If single value provided that means
no maximum thickness given, for
High DFT no specific acceptance
Criteria is given. (No threshold )
If coating thickness specified in a range
acceptance criteria shall be similar to SSPC
2004 edition.
If single value of coating thickness is given
the followings are the acceptance criteria.
The minimum shall be 80% of coating
Thickness and maximum shall be 120 % of
the coating thickness.
In addition to above Acceptance criteria is
based on 5 restriction levels. This standard
recommends to specify restriction level in
the contractual documents / agreed with
client.
 All individual dry film thicknesses shall
If no restriction level is provided then the
restriction level 3 shall be considered as
default acceptance criteria.
If Specified is single value, the acceptance For maximum Coating thickness
criteria in according to restriction level 3 
in addition to specified minimum coating
thickness any spot measurement less by
20 % is acceptable in lower thickness side.
For example. Specified is 250 µm
Minimum allowable coating thickness for
entire structure shall 200 µm.
Maximum shall be 300 µm
Any spot reading is allowable up to 160
microns as a minimum and 360 microns as
a maximum
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For minimum Coating thickness
 The arithmetic mean of all the
individual dry film thicknesses shall be
equal to or greater than the nominal
dry film thickness (NDFT)
 All individual dry film thicknesses shall
be equal to or above 80 % of the NDFT
 Individual dry film thicknesses between
80 % of the NDFT and the NDFT are
acceptable provided that the
number of these measurements is less
than 20 % of the total number of
individual measurements taken
be less than or equal to the specified
maximum dry film thickness.
It is recommended that the maximum
dry film thickness (individual value) is
not greater than three times the
nominal dry film thickness.
In cases when the dry film thickness is
greater than the maximum dry film
thickness, expert agreement shall be
found between the parties
Spot reading measurment details as per SSPC PA2 -2004, & 2012

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SSPC Recommended DFT Inspection report
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