Oct 09, 2008

A request from the United States Navy was the impetus behind the development of a new ASTM International standard, E2630, Test Method for Luminance Ratio of a Fluorescent Specimen Using a Narrow Band Source. The new standard was developed by Subcommittee E12.05 on Fluorescence, part of ASTM International Committee E12 on Color and Appearance.

Richard Harold, consultant, Color and Appearance Consulting, LLC, and chair, Committee E12, says that the Navy was looking for improved visual inspection techniques to prevent corrosion on newly painted shipboard tanks. "The Navy needed a technically rigorous specification that multiple industries could reference to deliver product that would work together as a system for the specified application," says Harold.

In addition to the Navy, ASTM E2630 will be useful to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Highways Commission, large shipowners and builders, paint companies manufacturing paint for corrosion control, and inspection flashlight manufacturers that comply with ASTM E2501, Specification for Light Source Products for Inspection of Fluorescent Coatings. Other potential users of ASTM E2630 include owners and operators of steel marine structures such as offshore oil rigs, the pipeline and petroleum oil tank industries and municipal water tank owners.

A proposed standard that will specify coating systems to be used in conjunction with ASTM E2630 and ASTM E2501 is to be developed by a task group of Subcommittee D01.26 on Optical Properties, part of ASTM International Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials and Applications.

Participation in Subcommittee E12.05 from paint and flashlight companies and suppliers, asset owners and other interested parties is welcome.
              
For technical Information, contact Richard Harold, Color and Appearance Consulting, LLC, Herndon, Va. (phone: 571-926-9434; rwharold@worldnet.att.net).  Committee E12 meets Jan. 21-23, 2009, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. For meeting or membership information, contact Thomas O'Toole (phone: 610-832-9739; totoole@astm.org).

Release #8072/Oct08