Coating Inspection Qatar

Carry out a coating inspection to prevent costly problems

Do it once, do it right; the cost of repairing a badly executed coating can be many times the cost to paint it in the first place. Problems can arise during the pre-treatment, application, and curing phases of a coating job. Coating jobs that at first seem perfect can begin to fail. There are so many variables in any coating application, from the environment to the material itself, that getting an effective long-lasting job is a highly skilled task. This is why we need the coating inspection: we need trained and certified professionals on board at every step, testing and guiding the coating process, as well as making sure the coating job is in accordance with the Qatari and International Standards.

Inspection courses and certification standards in Qatar

To make sure the overall quality of inspections is met by international expectations, there are several certifications in place for coating inspectors. If you find a coating inspector in Qatar that has a NACE or ICorr certificate, you can be sure that you have a qualified inspector for your project.

NACE is a certification standard for coating inspectors in Qatar and international

NACE – National Association of Corrosion Engineers

The NACE Coating Inspector Program (CIP) has been setting the standard for inspections in the protective coatings industry for over 30 years. The CIP is an international certification programme that produces the highest calibre of paint inspectors in Qatar and all over the world. These come in NACE Level 1, 2, and 3, with 3 being the highest. NACE also publishes a book outlining the use of coating inspection equipment.

ICorr Certification

ICorr, the Institute of Corrosion, is a corrosion authority which provides a number of courses that enable paint inspectors to acquire the necessary qualifications to carry out inspections in the field. The courses are in Levels 1, 2, and 3, and are internationally accredited and recognized. The highest level is level 3, and only they are trained and certified to write paint specifications for coatings projects. The ICorr levels correspond to the NACE levels.

Making a coating inspection plan in two steps

A coating inspection is carried out by a certified coating inspector who is familiar with all the aspects that contribute to optimal performance of a coating, and the specific standards each coating should individually meet. The coating inspection process starts with inspecting the substrate and the environment, which becomes part of a coating specification. A coating specification is an important document: it should provide clear and precise instructions to the contractor on what is to be done and how it is to be done in order to ensure optimal performance.  In offshore and other difficult-to-access environments, the coating inspectors sometimes even use drones to carry out the inspection. This should be specified and calculated beforehand.

Step 1: Answer 3 important questions (Survey)

First of all you have a facility, infrastructure, asset or machinery that requires coating, or a coating job that needs refurbishing or evaluating. You want assurance that the job will, at every step, be of only the highest quality. Therefore, your coating inspection procedure starts with a site condition survey, which forms a foundation for the coating specification. This condition survey will answer questions such as:

• What is the substrate, and its condition (damage, deterioration, rust, peeling)?
• To what degree is there damage, what measures must be taken to repair it?
• Are there any environmental issues which need to be taken into account?

Any problems that might be found, or maintenance required, need to be dealt with.

Step 2: Write a clear specification report template

Is your coating specification clear and comprehensive, making sure there are no misunderstandings between engineers, applicators, contractors, and managers? The specification needs to clearly describe the owner’s expectations for their project, aesthetically and structurally. It must also include a description of the substrate and the environment the coating will be applied in. Some manufacturers actually provide specification services, so that every step of the process is overseen by someone who knows the coating products inside out. A well-written specification contains as much detail as is required to make these expectations clear, in plain unambiguous terms. It is a template, and thus needs to be as accurate as possible for the finished product to turn out as planned.

Coating inspection checklist during application

Once the specification has been written, the application process must be monitored from beginning to end; from surface preparation to final colour and gloss. This process generally consists of the following checks:

Testing is done with special Coating Inspection equipment and tools

1. Inspect the surface preparation and pre-treatment
   The most fundamental phase of a coating inspection. A well-prepared surface is the foundation of a successful coating. The aspects to inspect include surface cleanness and roughness. There are coating inspectors who specialize in assessing surface preparation such as sand blasting.
2. Assess climate conditions
   Environmental factors such as climate must be assessed to prevent the air, surface temperature, or humidity affecting the curing and adhesion of the coating. The specification should define the optimal application conditions.
3. Measure film thickness (before and after curing)
   It is important to inspect the film thickness of powder coatings and liquid coatings before the coating cures so that and deviation from the specification can be detected and repaired before curing. The dry film thickness is measured to make absolutely sure the film thickness is in accordance the optimal performance of the coating.
4. Observe the curing rate
   The coating must be cured to the degree defined in the specification; if the coating is not cured enough the surface lacks hardness, making the finished coating layer more vulnerable to hazards such as abrasion and chemicals.
5. Check for sufficient adhesion
   The current methods of testing adhesion are all destructive, so the test is usually conducted on a sample substrate. It is crucial that the sample has undergone the exact same treatments under the exact same conditions as the real substrate.
6. Evaluate the colour and gloss of the cured film
   The colour of a coating needs to match the specification, but also be consistent across the whole surface. Gloss level is also measured, and checked for deviation.

Maintenance inspections after application

Even though the coating is in place, the need for coating inspections has not disappeared. Maintenance inspections are conducted to confirm that the coating continues to meet the expectations set in the specification. An examination of all coatings needs to be carried out, to check that properties such as thickness, corrosion, and fire damage all conform to the specification. Corrosion costs Australia companies billions of pounds a year in replacing and repairing damaged assets, so having a regular coating inspection can catch the problem before it goes too far.

When damage happens or the coating fails

It happens; coating projects fail, damage happens, or corrosion wins. In this case, the coating inspection has one goal – to find the culprit. Like a detective, they will gather and analyse information about the coating, its environment, its usage, its application process and thus uncover the reason behind the failure of for example a corrosion prevention coating. Once found, they outline the best way forward to deal with the issue and how to prevent it recurring in the future.

Find coating inspection companies in Qatar

It can be hard to find a qualified coating inspector in Qatar online. That is why we have a network with experienced coating inspectors that work internationally such as Paint-Inspector. We are happy to connect you to the right coating company for your project, just use our free quote service by clicking the “Request a quote” button at the bottom of this article.