Film Thickness Test Building Codes & Rules

- Film Thickness Test Tools™ simplifies the National Construction Code (NCC) with interactive graphics, including deemed to comply & best practices.

Non-destructive

Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Wet Film Test^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Measure within 3 mins of application
This allows applicator to immediately rectify thickness errors

Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Film Thickness Test^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Measured in in millimetres or microns

For vertical or slanted planes, consider

Paint Density
Pigment Density : Water Density
Expressed in Specific Gravity
Surface tension
Dictates leveling, dispersing, & adhesion of a coating
See Product Data Sheet for product application rate (m² / litre)

Testing Waterproofing Membranes

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WPM Thickness TEST

NCC 2022 V3

Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Test around all low points on the Waterproofing Membrane^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}
Critical Areas for WP
Penetrations
Joints
Drains
Structural Connections
See product specifications for recommended thickness
Test thickness in multiple locations

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Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Dry Film Test^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Cured material i.e. all liquid has evaporated
Determined by destructive & non-destructive methods
DFT = WFT x % volume solids (see Product Data Sheet)

Callibration

Mould

Plastic Shim

Destructive

Internal Waterproofing Overview

Destructive Film Thickness Gauge

Microscopic examination of coatings
Done through cut samples
Will require repair of sampled surface

Destructive Film Thickness Gauge

NCC 2022 V1

Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Testing^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Remove a small sample of dry coating from the surface
Using the gauge, cut the sample horizontally and vertically
Make sure both coating and gauge are free of debris
Position the gauge so the microscope is over the crosscut
Illuminate the cuts
Position the hash marks or scale lines to be parallel with the cut
Measure width of the coating by counting the hash marks
Repair the surface where sample was taken

Cleaning^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Clean gauge with soft, lint-free cloth and mild detergent after each use

Microscopic examination of coatings
Done through cut samples
Will require repair of sampled surface

Film Thickness Test Points

Digital Film Thickness Gauge

Suitable for smooth, rough, thin, and curved surfaces
Use gauge and probe compatible with coating and substrate

Digital Film Thickness Gauge

NCC 2022 V1

Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Testing^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Allow coating to be fully cured according to Manufacturer’s Recommendations
Make sure both coating and gauge are free of debris
Press the probe perpendicular to the surface
Gauge display will show coating thickness
Make 3 measurements at each point, and take the average

Cleaning^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Clean with soft, lint-free cloth and mild detergent, after use

Calibration^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Calibrate gauge as Manufacturer advises

Suitable for smooth, rough, thin, and curved surfaces
Use gauge and probe compatible with coating and substrate

Wet Film Wheel

Suitable for flat and curved surfaces
Numerous measurement ranges

Wet Film Wheel

NCC 2022 V1

Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Testing^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Apply coating on compatible substrate as recommended by Manufacturer
Hold central spindle of wheel
Place gauge evenly on wet film
Maximum reading must touch the substrate
Roll wheel along coating through 180° or 360°
Lift gauge from surface
See if the central wheel is coated with wet film
Locate first point of contact on central wheel
Read thickness from scale on outside of wheel
Take biggest value
See coating's Product Data Sheet for Volume to Solids Ratio

Film Thickness^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Dry Film Thickness (DFT), usually thinner than Wet Film Thickness (WFT)
All wet film layers have to be summed up to get the DFT

Cleaning^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Clean gauge with suitable solvent after each use

Volume to Solids Ratio

NCC 2022 V1

Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Volume Solids Content^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Is the material left behind after all liquid has evaporated from the coating
Expressed as percentage
WARNING: Do not add thinner unless permitted by Manufacturer

Computation

• See Product Data Sheet for Volume Solids Content

Computation Examples

Without thinner

WFT = DFT ÷ % volume solids

Specified DFT = 600 to 1000 µm

Volume Solids Content = 60%

WFT = 600 ÷ 0.60 = 1000 µm (1mm)

= 1000 ÷ 0.60 = 1,666.66 µm (1.66mm)

If application is between 1000 & 1700 µm (1 & 1.7mm), the specified DFT is achieved

With thinner

WFT = DFT ÷ Adjusted Volume

Adjusted Volume = Volume Solids Content ÷ (100% + % of thinner added)

Specified DFT = 600 to 1000 µm

Volume Solids Content = 60%

Thinner Volume = 15%

(eg. 1.5 gals thinner : 10 gals coating)

Adjusted Volume = 60% ÷ (100% + 15%) = 52%

WFT = 600 ÷ 0.52 = 1,153.84 µm (1.15mm)

= 1000 ÷ 0.52 = 1,923.07 µm (1.92mm)

If application is between 1200 & 2000 µm (1.2 & 2mm), the specified DFT is achieved

Suitable for flat and curved surfaces
Numerous measurement ranges

Wet Film Comb

(Notched Gauge)

Suitable for flat surfaces
Numerous measurement ranges

Wet Film Comb

NCC 2022 V1

Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Testing^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Apply wet coating on substrate
Place gauge perpendicularly into wet coating
Check deposit on the notches
Observe which notch is dry next to the deepest wet notch
Take average value between these two notches
If no notch is wet, rotate gauge to lower range
If all notches are wet, rotate gauge to higher range
Gauge must be wiped off for each individual reading

Average Thickness^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Reinsert gauge on different areas of wet coating
Wet film thickness target (WFT)
Achieved by getting required dry coating thickness
Dry coating thickness, as recommended by Manufacturer
See coating's Product Data Sheet for Volume to Solids Ratio
Dry Film Thickness (DFT), usually thinner than Wet Film Thickness (WFT)
All wet film layers have to be summed up to get the DFT

Cleaning^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Clean gauge with suitable solvent after each use

Volume to Solids Ratio

NCC 2022 V1

Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Volume Solids Content^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Is the material left behind after all liquid has evaporated from the coating
Expressed as percentage
WARNING: Do not add thinner unless permitted by Manufacturer

Computation

• See Product Data Sheet for Volume Solids Content

Computation Examples

Without thinner

WFT = DFT ÷ % volume solids

Specified DFT = 600 to 1000 µm

Volume Solids Content = 60%

WFT = 600 ÷ 0.60 = 1000 µm (1mm)

= 1000 ÷ 0.60 = 1,666.66 µm (1.66mm)

If application is between 1000 & 1700 µm (1 & 1.7mm), the specified DFT is achieved

With thinner

WFT = DFT ÷ Adjusted Volume

Adjusted Volume = Volume Solids Content ÷ (100% + % of thinner added)

Specified DFT = 600 to 1000 µm

Volume Solids Content = 60%

Thinner Volume = 15%

(eg. 1.5 gals thinner : 10 gals coating)

Adjusted Volume = 60% ÷ (100% + 15%) = 52%

WFT = 600 ÷ 0.52 = 1,153.84 µm (1.15mm)

= 1000 ÷ 0.52 = 1,923.07 µm (1.92mm)

If application is between 1200 & 2000 µm (1.2 & 2mm), the specified DFT is achieved

(Notched Gauge)

Suitable for flat surfaces
Numerous measurement ranges

Mechanical Film Thickness Gauge

(Banana Gauge)

Cost-effective and ideal for metallic surfaces
Utilized in high-risk areas

Mechanical Film Thickness Gauge

NCC 2022 V1

Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -

Testing^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Make sure both coating and gauge are free of debris
Adjust dial to value higher than expected thickness
Position gauge on surface
Press button on handle to attract the magnet to surface
Carefully roll dial backwards until it clicks & magnet lifts
Read measurement value aligned to index line
Take multiple readings at different points of the surface

Cleaning^{Manufacturer's Recommendation - -, -}

Use adhesive tape to wipe particles off the magnet
Clean with soft cloth to get rid off clingy residue

(Banana Gauge)

Cost-effective and ideal for metallic surfaces
Utilized in high-risk areas