Test Methods
Validation for Personnel Protection
Insulative coatings play a vital role in protecting personnel from hot surfaces in various industrial settings.
Determining the substrate and surface temperature limits for these coatings is essential to ensure their effectiveness in providing thermal protection. Excessive surface temperatures can lead to first-degree burns and other heat-related injuries, making it crucial to accurately assess and validate the performance of insulative coatings under different conditions.
The thermesthesiometer is an electrochemical devise used to mimic the touch response of the human skin when it comes in contact with a hot surface.
The test method notes, a minimum of five substrate temperatures shall be tested within the service temperature range of the insulative coating. This shall include the maximum service temperature, the low temperature on the service range and three additional temperatures equally spaced within the range. Suggested temperatures for organic coatings are: (70, 95, 120, 150, and 175) °C [or 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350) °F]. No suggested temperatures are given for inorganic and hybrid coatings, as they may vary widely among different products.
A minimum of five insulative coating thicknesses shall be tested, equally spaced within the thickness range in accordance with the coating manufacturer’s specifications.
Sample Requirements: Typical dimensions are 4” x 6” x 0.25” (100 mm x 150 mm x 6 mm) one side-coated panels, with either steel or aluminum substrate. Primers shall not be applied.
