Standard specifications are issued by nationally recognized authorities. At times, the Navy specifies coating materials by formula, requiring manufactures to follow a "recipe" during manufacturing and testing. Commercial testing specifications are followed where applicable to the coating being tested. Paint testing of coatings for government use involves testing raw materials, testing the finished coating, and performance-testing using standardized test methods and procedures.

View Federal Specifications & Standards : http://apps.fss.gsa.gov/pub/fedspecs/

Federal Test Method Standard 141D, Paint, Varnish, Lacquer and Related Materials: Methods of Inspection, Sampling and Testing describes additional coating tests required by the Navy. Some common test material characterization and performance tests are as follows:

1. Coating Material Characterization Tests
2. Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis
3. Volume Solids
4. Non-Volatile Content
5. Density/weight per gallon
6. Drying Time
7. Coating Performance: Adhesion, Tensile Adhesion, Hardness,
   Flexibility, Impact Resistance, Abrasion Resistance, Accelerated
   Weathering
8. Corrosion Resistance: Salt Fog, Prohesion, Humidity
9. Chemical Resistance

Federal Standard 595C, Colors Used in Government Procurement, presents the colors used by Government activities in a format suitable for color selection, color matching and for quality control inspection. It also describes the designation and use of color chips associated with the standard.

Look here for a complete listing of published SSPC consensus documents. Get the name, date, and a brief description of every current SSPC standard, guide, and specification

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American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

ASTM International Standards

British Standards

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

NATO Preservation Publications