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BRITISH STANDARD

BS 3900-H4:
1983
ISO
4628/4:1982
[Cracking]

Methods of test for paints

Part H4: Designation of

degree of cracking

Licensed Copy: chris sharkey, March 26, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

[ISO title: Paints and varnishes

Evaluation of degradation of paint
coatings Designation of intensity,
quantity and size of common types of
defect Part 4: Designation of degree
of cracking]

It is recommended that this Part be read in conjunction with the general

information in the Introduction to BS 3900, issued separately.

UDC 667.613.72:620.191.33

BS 3900-H4:1983

National foreword
This Part of BS 3900 has been prepared under the direction of the Pigments,
Paints and Varnishes Standards Committee. It is identical with
ISO 4628/4-1982 Paints and varnishes Evaluation of degradation of paint
coatings Designation of intensity, quantity and size of common types of
defect Part 4: Designation of degree of cracking, published by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Terminology and conventions. The text of the international standard has
been approved as suitable for publication as a British Standard without
deviation. Some terminology and certain conventions are not identical with
those used in British Standards; attention is drawn especially to the following.
Wherever the words International Standard appear, referring to this
standard, they should be read as British Standard; and wherever the words
this part of ISO 4628 and ISO 4628/4 appear they should be read as this
Part of BS 3900 and BS 3900-H4 respectively.
Cross references
International Standards

ISO 4628/1-1982

Licensed Copy: chris sharkey, March 26, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

ISO 4628/2-1982
ISO 4628/3-1982
ISO 4628/5-1982

Corresponding British Standards

BS 3900 Methods of test for paints

Part H1:1983 Designation of intensity, quantity and
size of common types of defect: general principles and
rating schemes
(Identical)
Part H2:1983 Designation of degree of blistering
(Identical)
Part H3:1983 Designation of degree of rusting
(Identical)
Part H5:1983 Designation of degree of flaking
(Identical)

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of
a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct
application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Pigments,
Paints and Varnishes
Standards Committee, was
published under the authority
of the Board of BSI and comes
into effect on
29 April 1983
BSI 03-1999
The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference PVC/10
Draft for comment 80/50329 DC
ISBN 0 580 13095 9

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 4, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

Amendments issued since publication

Amd. No.

Date of issue

Comments

BS 3900-H4:1983

Contents

Licensed Copy: chris sharkey, March 26, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Page
National foreword
Inside front cover
0
Introduction
1
1
Scope and field of application
1
2
Reference
1
3
Rating
1
4
Test report
1
Figure 1 Cracking without preferential direction
2
Figure 2 Cracking with one preferential direction
3
Table Rating scheme for the designation of the size of cracks
1
Publications referred to
Inside back cover

BSI 03-1999

ii

blank

Licensed Copy: chris sharkey, March 26, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

BS 3900-H4:1983

0 Introduction

Licensed Copy: chris sharkey, March 26, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

This International Standard is one of a series of

standards dealing with the sampling and testing of
paints, varnishes and related products.
The other parts of ISO 4628 already published or in
course of preparation are:
Part 1: General principles and rating schemes;
Part 2: Designation of degree of blistering;
Part 3: Designation of degree of rusting;
Part 5: Designation of degree of flaking;
Part 6: Designation of degree of chalking.1)
Part 1 of ISO 4628 defines the system for
designating the quantity and and size of common
types of defects of paint coatings and outlines the
basic principles of the system in respect of
designation of the quantity and size of defects, in
particular the defects caused by ageing and
weathering.
Parts 2 to 6 provide auxiliary pictorial or other
reference scales for rating particular types of defect.
As far as possible, these scales are based on existing
well-established schemes.

1 Scope and field of application

This part of ISO 4628 provides pictorial standards
for designating the degree of cracking of paint
coatings.

2 Reference
ISO 4628/1, Paints and varnishes Evaluation of
degradation of paint coatings Designation of
intensity, quantity and size of common types of
defect Part 1: General principles and rating
schemes.

3 Rating
Rate the quantity of cracking by reference to Table 2
of ISO 4628/1 and using as examples Figure 1
or Figure 2, depending on the type of cracking.
NOTE Figure 1 shows cracking without preferential direction
and Figure 2 shows cracking in one preferential direction which
occurs with anisotropic substrates such as wood. Other forms of
cracking occur, but the principles of rating of quantity remain the
same.

Designate the average size of the Cracks according

to the classification given in the table.

1)

Table Rating scheme for the designation of

the size of cracks
Class

Size of cracks

not visible under X 10 magnification

only visible under magnification up to X 10

just visible with normal corrected vision

clearly visible with normal corrected vision

large cracks generally up to 1 mm wide

very large cracks generally

more than 1 mm wide

If possible, indicate the depth of cracking by

reference to the level in the coating system to which
the cracks penetrate.
Three main types of failure by cracking are to be
distinguished:
a) surface cracks which do not fully penetrate the
top coat;
b) cracks which penetrate the top coat, the
underlying coat(s) being substantially
unaffected;
c) cracks which penetrate the whole coating
system.

4 Test report
The test report shall contain at least the following
information:
a) the type and identification of the product
tested;
b) a reference to this International Standard
(ISO 4628/4);
c) the numerical rating of the quantity of
cracking;
d) the numerical rating of the size of cracking;
e) the depth of cracking (a, b, or c), where
possible, for example:
cracking 2 (S3) b
If necessary, the standard assessment may be
amplified in words, for example linear
cracking. The use of such comments shall,
however, be avoided wherever possible;
e) the date of the examination.

At present at the stage of draft.

BSI 03-1999

Licensed Copy: chris sharkey, March 26, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

BS 3900-H4:1983

Figure 1 Cracking without preferential direction

[Panels of 1 to 2 dm2 (see Table 2 of ISO 4628/1)]

BSI 03-1999

Licensed Copy: chris sharkey, March 26, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

BS 3900-H4:1983

Figure 2 Cracking with one preferential direction

(for example due to brush marks or wood grain)
[Panels of 1 to 2 dm2 (see Table 2 of ISO 4628/1)]

BSI 03-1999

blank

Licensed Copy: chris sharkey, March 26, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

BS 3900-H4:1983

Publications referred to

Licensed Copy: chris sharkey, March 26, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

See national foreword.

BSI 03-1999

Licensed Copy: chris sharkey, March 26, 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

BSI
389 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 4AL

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