Document No.

DE0521 Rev 8

Automotive Service Solutions QMS

Paint Standard
1. Purpose: This standard details the physical, coverage, and cosmetic requirements of paint finishes.
Physical requirements are listed for the three types of paint used: Air Dry or Oven Bake Liquid Paints
and Powder Paint Finishes. Cosmetic requirements are stated based upon customer quality
requirements and fitness for use concepts. The intent of this standard is to communicate the cosmetic
and coverage requirements so that the painted product is of uniform visual appearance quality at the
most economical cost.
2. Scope: This standard shall be utilized by Automotive Service Solutions internally, as well as
suppliers and partners externally when manufacturing product to an Automotive Service Solutions
design, or when third-party partner product are sourced and compliance with this paint standard is
explicitly required on the design documentation. This standard applies to all Service Solutions
locations and supplier network where paint is required on the drawing.
3. Definitions:
3.1. Air Dry Paint Paint which is applied automatically or with hand equipment which does not
require an oven bake to cure. Paint may be baked at up to 71 C. (160 F.) part temperature to aid
in drying and increase durability. Air dry paints require 72 hours to fully cure after paint
application.
3.2. Hardness The ability of a dry paint film to withstand indentation. This is often measured in
production situations with a pencil point.
3.3. Hook Marks Marks left on the Part where it was attached to the holding fixture in the painting
process.
3.4. Orange Peel An irregularity in the surface of the paint film resulting from the inability of the
coating to level out during cure cycle. Orange peel occurs as a characteristically uneven or
grainy surface to the eye, but usually feels smooth to the touch.
3.5. Oven Bake Paint Liquid or Powder paint applied either automatically or with hand equipment.
Bake temperature range from 71 C. (160 F.) to 232 V C. (450 F.). (Note: Assemblies with
rubber products in them cannot be baked above 71 C. (160 F.) part temperature. Temperatures
above this will result in damage to the product.
3.6. Runs and Sags The downward flow of a paint film as a result of its being applied as too heavy
or too fluid a wet coat.
3.7. Viewing Conditions For paint inspection, part should be viewed from approximately 914 mm
(36) under normal shop florescent lighting (of approximately 100 candle power) for no longer
than 5 seconds per surface. This applies to Class B, C & E surfaces only.

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Document No. DE0521 Rev 8

Automotive Service Solutions QMS

4. Deviation
4.1. Existing design documentation will not be updated for the sole purpose of updating the paint
color specification. When design documentation is updated for other technical reasons, all
reasonable efforts shall be made to update the paint color to comply with Table 1 at that time.
4.2. In the event that a product or part must be manufactured and the drawing has not been updated
with the new paint color, Table 1 shall be used to cross-reference previous color requirements
with the color standards required by this design standard. This shall be considered a standing
deviation with the end result being a painted finish which complies with this standard fully. No
other deviations are permitted under this deviation, such as (but not limited to) changing paint
color to a color other than what has already been approved in Table 1, changing coverage
requirements, etc.
4.3. All other deviations related to paint, color, gloss, or any other area covered by this standard shall
follow Service Solutions Waiver Process, SU0161.
5. Paint Standard
5.1. Documentation Requirements
5.1.1. The requirement for paint shall be indicated in the design documentation.
5.1.2. The design documentation shall specify the paint color, according to the RAL color scale
shown in Table 1.
5.1.3. When an Engineering document specifies only a paint color and no additional paint
requirements, the following specifications shall apply:
5.1.3.1.
Oven bake enamel, powder paint, or other approved coating is acceptable.
5.1.3.2.
Class B finish is the required cosmetic coverage code for all external surfaces.
5.1.3.3.
Class C finish coverage code is required for all internal accessible surfaces.
5.1.3.4.
Class D finish coverage code applies to all internal inaccessible areas.
5.1.3.5.
Gloss Defined in section 5.4.2.
5.1.4. When an Engineering document specifies masking or no paint for specific areas of the
part, Class E is the required cosmetic and coverage code in the indicated area.
5.2. Coverage
5.2.1. Unless otherwise specified, all dimensions, features, and tolerances required on the design
documentation shall apply after painting.
5.2.2. Masking - The design documentation may explicitly require features, or specified areas to
be completely free from paint by calling-out Mask or No Paint, and then defining the
affected area on the drawing. The affected area which is to be free from paint shall be fully
defined.
5.2.3. Threaded Areas Regardless of paint classification, threads must remain functional after
paint. Fully functional is defined by the following inspection method(s):
Go/ No-go gauge
5.3. Environmental
5.3.1. All paint and application methods shall be compliant to the following standards:
RoHs
REACH

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Document No. DE0521 Rev 8

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5.4. Cosmetic Requirements
5.4.1. Color Colors shall be defined using the RAL color system. No noticeable difference in
color shall be apparent when production parts are compared to the RAL standard using the
defined viewing conditions (Sec 3.7).
5.4.2. Gloss Unless otherwise specified on the design documentation, the default gloss shall be
70% minimum at an angle of 20 degrees, as verified either through testing per ASTM D523,
or by suppliers submission of certification of compliance. Gloss shall be consistent across
entire coverage area under the defined viewing conditions (Sec 3.7).
5.4.3. Orange Peel Using the Powder Coat Institute (PCI) smoothness reference standard, for
Class A of B finishes, the #5 panel is the maximum acceptable orange peel.
Note: Color and Gloss, or Orange Peel Standards, Do Not apply to the following:
Mechanically cleaned or abraded surfaces
External machining ribbed surfaces (i.e. milled surfaces, saw cuts)
Castings with rough surfaces
Pre-painted surfaces or parts with scale
Forgings
5.4.4. Finish Classes
5.4.4.1.
Class A Finish are required on products where appearance is critical to the
customer, in areas normally visible in the assembled product. Class A areas are to be
noted on the part print. Viewing conditions for a Class A Finish are different than the
defined viewing conditions of this specification. View from approximately 12 under
normal shop florescent lighting (of approximately 100 candle power) for 5 seconds per
surface. Requirements include:
Conformance to the chemical and physical requirements of the coating product.
Conformance to the RAL color scale.
Complete coverage. No bare areas, hook marks, light paint or transparency is
allowed.
Smooth finish similar to base metal finish
Orange Peel must meet a #5 to #10 panel of the (PCI) reference standards, with #5
as minimum acceptable, #10 as a perfect smoothness condition.
Overspray and dry appearances not permitted.
Runs, sags, chips, dirt particles and scratches not permitted.
Well-adhered dust particles are permitted, at the discretion of Service Solutions,
provided they are covered by paint and blend well with the surface finish of the
paint.
5.4.4.2.
Class B Finish is the standard finish on Service Solutions products in areas of a
product that are visible to the consumer. Coverage shall have a uniform appearance
when viewed using the defined viewing conditions (Sec 3.7). If there are no visible
defects at this point, the product is visually acceptable. If there are any visible defects,
use the AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE SOLUTIONS Defect Size rules (Sec. 5.6) to
determine if the condition is acceptable (bubbles, scattered dirt, dust, bumps, etc.) Class
B finishes must conform to all chemical and physical requirements of the coating
product.
5.4.4.3.
Class C Finish is required where corrosion protection is desired but cosmetics
are of minor importance. Blemishes are permitted proved corrosion protection is not
compromised. Class C finishes must conform to all chemical and physical
requirements of the coating product using defined viewing conditions (Sec 3.7).
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Document No. DE0521 Rev 8

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5.4.4.4.
Class D Finish areas are areas noted on the part print that does not require
painting, but where incidental overspray is allowed. There is no coverage or cosmetic
requirements for D areas. Class D finishes must conform to all chemical and
physical requirements of the product.
5.4.4.5.
Class E Finish areas are areas noted on the part print that requires masking.
Using defined viewing conditions (Sec 3.7), any overspray present after masking must
be removed.
5.4.4.6.
Minor Rework areas Small rework areas may be touched up using air dry paint on
class B or C (does not apply to Class A) finishes if the resulting touched up area
blends in well with the existing paint finish when viewed using defined viewing
conditions (Sec 3.7).
5.5. Packaging Requirements
5.5.1. It is the suppliers responsibility to package product being shipped to AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE SOLUTIONS in a manner which will prevent damage to the product during
shipment. It is also the suppliers responsibility to take precautionary measures to ensure that
product shipped to AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE SOLUTIONS is free from rust. To prevent
rust on unpainted surfaces the supplier may use: VCI paper, VCI bags, light oil, or other rust
preventatives. Parts shall be fully cured prior to packing for shipping.
5.6. AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE SOLUTIONS Defect Size rules for use:
5.6.1. Inspect the part under the defined viewing conditions (Sec 3.7). If no problems are
identified at this point, the product is visually acceptable.
5.6.2. If a problem is detected, use these criteria to determine if the condition is acceptable.
Bubbles, scattered dirt, dust, bumps from whatever source or other contamination are
acceptable if they:
Are covered by paint
Are well adhered
Fit within the 1.5 mm (.060) circle
Have a density of 3 or less 152 x 152 mm (6 x 6) area
5.6.3. Except for Class A finishes, runs, sags, and hook marks are acceptable if they fit within the
13 mm (.500) circle and do not end in a breakable bubble. Minor lightness or transparency
is allowable in inaccessible or hard to paint areas, at the discretion of Service Solutions.
5.7. Physical Requirements (after cure/dry)
5.7.1. It is Service Solutions responsibility to furnish the supplier with: rust free, and heat treat
scale free parts. In general, Service Solutions does not accept rusted parts. It is the
suppliers responsibility to inspect unpainted parts for rust, heat treat scale, and other defects
prior to painting. Supplier shall notify Service Solutions of defects on parts affecting their
ability to comply with this standard prior to application of paint.
5.7.2. Application Methods Acceptable application methods include powder coat, or liquid
paint. Other methods may be acceptable with prior approval from Service Solutions.
5.7.3. Thickness Paint film thickness shall be uniform as required to meet the physical,
coverage, and cosmetic requirements.
5.7.4. Adhesion All paint finishes shall be properly adhered to the base material as defined by
ASTM-D-3359, Method B (Cross-hatch adhesion test) with a minimum of a 4B rating.
5.7.5. Pencil Hardness The minimum hardness of paint finished shall be H rating per ASTMD-3363.
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Document No. DE0521 Rev 8

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Table 1 Color Specification and Cross-Reference

RAL Color Standard with Cross-Reference

Old Code
New RAL Number RAL Description
-YE3
RAL 1021
Rape Yellow
-OR9
RAL2002
Vermillion
-RE3
RAL 3001
Signal Red
-RE2
RAL 3002
Carmine Red
-BL2
RAL 5005
Signal Blue
Kent-Moore Blue
RAL 5005
Signal Blue
-GR9
RAL 6002
Leaf Green
-GR14
RAL 6021
Pale Green
-GR5
RAL 6025
Fern Green
-TA2
RAL 7002
Olive Grey
Caterpillar Buckskin RAL 7002
Olive Grey
-WH2
RAL 7004
Signal Grey
-GY3
RAL 7004
Signal Grey
-GY4
RAL 7004
Signal Grey
-GY9
RAL 7004
Signal Grey
-BR13
RAL 8003
Clay Brown
-BR4
RAL 8008
Olive Brown
RAL 9003
Signal White
-BK2
RAL 9004
Signal Black
-GY8
RAL 9006
White Aluminum
Note: RAL 9004 can be substituted for RAL 9005 (black)

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