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FAQs

22/02/18
What is ISO 12944 and how is the standard used?

o The ISO organisation and standards

in general were founded with the idea
of answering a fundamental question: ISO 12944 was
“What's the best way of doing this?”
developed in the
o The ISO 12944 standard is a series 1990’s, and the
of instructions intended to guide the first edition was
professional to the required corrosion published in 1998
protection. It is the main international
standard for corrosion protection of
steel by paint
 What changes does the new revision include?

o There are many changes in this revision of ISO 12944, some of which have a
practical impact on how to protect steel against corrosion by using paint. A few
of the most important changes are highlighted below:

New durabil ity Update of DFT New ISO 12944

New corrosion
category  – values which have Part 9 for Offshore
category - CX
Very high become normative constructions

For a full overview, please visit our ISO 12944 page which includes a webinar detailing the
changes in more depth. http://www.hempel.com/en/protective/standards-and-certifications/iso
How will these changes affect me?

o How the changes will affect you will depend on many different parameters

o  At Hempel, we are implementing the revised edition of ISO 12944 in many
aspects of our business, from research and development through to technical
services and marketing communications. We are prepared and ready to
support you to ensure you have a smooth transition to the r evised edition

o To better understand how these changes may specifically affect you in your
business area, please contact your local technical representative
How do I obtain a copy of the standard?

The ISO standard is under copyright of ISO.org.

It can be purchased either in electronic or paper
version on the official ISO website. The full
revision is now
https://www.iso.org/store.html published and
available
through the
ISO store
When can we choose a coating system
based on the new ISO 12944?
o Our technical teams are prepared and are currently
undertaking testing on our coating solutions

o Our current coating systems are tested and

approved against the previous ISO standard along
with many other certifications and standards across
the world. Backed up by the technical expertise
provided by Hempel, these are available today

o For more information, please contact your local

technical representative
Will Hempel provide any certificates of durability
confirmation to contractors and other relevant
stakeholders, or will we have to do our own
independent lab testing?

Once our system testing is complete,

we will be able to provide a number of
certificates from third party institutes.
These certificates are public and can
be distributed to contractors.
How do you evaluate the expected lifetime of a coating
system according to the new standard?

The standard not only takes into account the

laboratory testing (salt spray, ageing, chemical
You can find more
resistance etc.) but also considers the vast
detailed information
industrial knowledge gained on these coating
in ISO 12944 Part 6,
systems through years of practical experience in
point 4.1  – relationship
corrosive environments. The practical experience between artificial
is reflected in ISO 12944 Part 5, since the ageing and natural
suggested systems are based on this extensive exposure
industrial experience.
Does the new ISO affect any local certifications?

In the short term, we do not expect the changes

to ISO 12944 to affect local certifications such In the longer term,
as ACQPA in France, Blatt in Germany or UK some local
Highways Certification in Great Britain. These certifications might
standards are usually designed to meet specific be influenced, since
local requirements and are not as such related ISO 12944 is one of 
to ISO 12944. the most common
standards in the
coatings industry
What is the link between ISO 20340
(now ISO 12944 Part 9) and NORSOK?

ISO 20340 is now named ISO 12944 Part 9. NORSOK covers paint s ystems
for offshore structures not covered by ISO 12944 Part 9.

ISO 12944 parts 1-9 NORSOK M501

o International standard ISO 12944 o Other systems
ISO 12944 PART 9 NORSOK M501
o Other land based for offshore not in
systems ISO 12994

ISO 12944 part 9

You can find more information about o Formerly ‘ISO 20340’
NORSOK on norsok.hempel.com o Systems and tests for offshore
 Are there any areas within anti-corrosive coatings
where ISO 12944 does not apply?
Yes there are exceptions and these are defined directly in the standard.
The most important exceptions are mentioned below:
o ISO 12944 starts with >3mm steel thickness, meaning that all thinner materials
are not directly covered by ISO 12944. In reality however, the ISO 12944
standard is also often applied to thin materials such as containers
o Tank linings
o Intumescent passive fire protection coatings (although the
anti-corrosive part of the intumescent coating system is part of
ISO 12944)
o CUI – corrosion under insulation, or any other areas outside the
ambient temperature range
o High alloyed steel
o Rebars for concrete

For more information, please contact your local technical representative

 Are there likely to be any cost
implications as a result of the update?

We do not anticipate any

significant changes to the
cost structure. You may
even find increased
productivity benefits due to
the reduced DFT values.
How should I interpret DFT in the different parts?
In some parts of the new ISO 12944, some differences in DFT can occur. The two most
important differences are explained below:
Immersion
o In ISO 12944 IM2 the NDFT* is 380 mic. whereas the min. DFT in ISO 20340 IM4 is 350 mic.
o In practice, these two thicknesses will be more or less the same
o *NDFT is nominal dry film thickness, and here we apply the 80/20 rule. So in principle the min DFT of 350 mic.
can be a stricter requirement
Offshore systems in part 9
o ISO 12944 Part 9 is equivalent to the old ISO 20340, which has now ceased to exist. CX is the new corrosivity
category covering offshore (previously C5M)
o In the old revision of ISO 12944 and ISO 20340, there was a slight contradiction between the DFT in C5M.
In ISO 12944 it was 320 mic. and in ISO 20340 280 mic. However, in ISO 12944 it was specifically for high
durability, whereas there was no durability in the ISO 20340.
o In the new ISO 12944 part 9 there is only one durability for the CX category – High – whereas the Very High does
not exist. Example: C5 very high – NDFT is 320 mic. (part 5), CX Offshore – min DFT is 280 mic. (part 9)
o *NDFT is nominal dry film thickness. Here we apply the 80/20 rule, so in principle the min DFT of 280 mic. can be
a stricter requirement
Could we use a system for C5, very high durability,
but with lower thickness and less number of layers?
o New innovative coating technologies may provide equivalent corrosion protection at
lower NDFT and/or reduced MNOC compared to the cur rent coating technologies
covered in ISO standard
o Performance of these new coating technologies should be proven by a combination of
experience, e.g. field applications, and/or laboratory testing according to ISO 12944-6
which should be reported by an independent test laboratory
o When referring to ISO 12944/5 or ISO 12944 in general, deviations should be noted,
e.g. ‘in the suggested system the recommended thickness of the zinc primer has been
reduced from 60 to 30 microns due to the documented extraordinary performance of the
primer (Avantguard series). This is also reflected in an overall reduction of 30 mic. in the
full system DFT’
What exactly is brackish water?
o In the Immersion categories in ISO 12944,
a distinction between types of water,
incl. brackish water, is made
o Brackish water typically occurs where fresh
water is mixed with sea water e.g. in a delta
where a river meets the sea. The concentration
of salt in brackish water may therefore vary
o Brackish water is not defined in the standard
but as a general guideline we can say that sea
water (salt water) will have an average salt
content of about 3.5%, whereas brackish water
will be lower, around 0.5-3%
What is the difference between the corrosivity
categories IM2 and IM4?

o IM2 is immersed in salt water or brackish water but without any

cathodic protection
o IM4 is immersed in salt or brackish water with cathodic protection -
either with sacrificial anodes or with ICCP
What is an A/B rupture mentioned in part 6 –
laboratory performance test?

o  A/B rupture is a break between

the substrate and the primer coat
(= adhesive break)
o  Adhesive break - break between layers
o Cohesive break - break in a layer 
o You can find more information about C - Topcoat
this in ISO 4624 B - Primer coat
 A - Substrate

 Adh esi ve Cohesive

break break
(A/B rupture)