CoatingsPro Magazine

SEP 2016

CoatingsPro offers an in-depth look at coatings based on case studies, successful business operation, new products, industry news, and the safe and profitable use of coatings and equipment.

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28 SEPTEMBER 2016 COATINGSPROMAG.COM Inspector's Corner Inspector's Corner W hy do I have to constantly keep my coatings inspec- tion gages calibrated/ certified? Don't they retain their calibration? " ese are the types of questions we often hear, and our typical response is, "Just like any other precision tool, the gages can give you bad data unless you verif y their accuracy. Do you want to provide your customer with random numbers from a gage display or thermometer, or do you want to provide them with accurate data that is represen- tative of the quality of your work? " is cuts to the heart of the issue. Without calibration that is traceable to a national metrology institution and frequent verification of accuracy prior to use, gages and thermometers only reveal values. You have an obligation to make certain that the values being provided are accurate and representa- tive of the work. A Bit of History Let's explore when the importance of calibration came to the forefront in our industry. Back when coating inspection instruments first came onto the scene (late 1950s/early 1960s), there wasn't much of a demand for certificates of calibration. Perhaps those who worked in the industry back then — decades before contractor certification and inspector certification programs — didn't know to ask the question. e fact that coating thickness could be measured nondestructively was no doubt a feat in itself. A simple state- ment of accuracy or certificate of compliance from the gage manufac- turer when the gage was purchased was sufficient. is has certainly changed, but what was the driving factor? Fast forward 10 years to the 1970s, when we became entrenched in nuclear power plant construction, and the industrial coatings industry was introduced to the quality manage- ment process. e American National Standards Institute (ANSI) regulations endorsed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) governed nuclear power plant construction and the associated procedures that were invoked to ensure public safety and environmental protection. Coatings were used throughout the plants for corrosion protection and to afford efficient decontamination of surfaces. e coatings used in the plants had to be prequalified, and Certificates of Compliance were required to accom- pany the coatings once purchased. e coatings were exposed to rigor- ous testing before use to make certain they remained well adhered during operation and during potential upset conditions, such as a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA). To assure that the coatings were installed as designed, the nuclear industry was also one of the first to require coatings inspection using calibrated and certified instrumenta- tion. e National Bureau of Standards (NBS), a U.S. government agency, was the first to produce traceable, certified coating thickness standards and use You have an obligation to make certain that the values being provided are accurate and representative of the work. Photo courtesy of KTA Tator, Inc By Matt Fajt, Vice President, Instrument Sales and Service Manager, for KTA-Tator, Inc. Maintaining Coatings Inspection Instrument Calibration/Certification

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