OTHER SERVICES LIST | qualitest-ndt

Other Services

Paint Inspection Services

QualiTest NDT help owners of industrial and commercial structures mitigate the risks of corrosion by verifying the quality and longevity of protective coating systems. Verification of the application quality is highly desirable when structures of any type are undergoing repair, or replacement of exterior coatings or interior linings.

The coating process requires inspection at every stage to ensure compliance to the specification. From the preparation of the surface to be coated, through climatic condition monitoring to the dry film thickness evaluation, visual assessment and gauge-based testing will ensure adequate process control.

QualiTest NDT can offer the follwing:

ROUGHNESS CHECK

Total angular roughness of the surface shall be measured after preparation and recorded or an impression made with:

Tested “Press-O-Film” pads or equivalent.
Electronic roughness tester (perthometer type or equivalent)

A minimum of two measurement or impression shall made per square meter of prepared surface. This must be checked by paint inspection services company.

All surfaces shall be blast cleaned to obtain a total angular roughness including:

Between 30 and 50 microns when total thickness of the coat of paint applied is less than 400 microns.
Between 50 and 80 microns when total thickness of the coat of paint applied is greater than 400 microns.

THICKNESS CHECK

Dry paint thickness shall be measured using the Elcometer 456 Coating Thickness Guage or equivalent. It is imperative that the magnetic probe be calibrated for each thickness of coating steel support with a non-magnetic block whose thickness is as close as possible to the coating being checked.

Each coat’s thickness and total thickness shall be checked. Make five (5) separate spot measurements spaced evenly over each section of the structure 10 square meters in area (divide the entire surface in 10 square meter areas).

On each spot, make 3 readings by moving the probe a short distance for each new gage reading. Discard any unusually high or low reading that cannot be repeated consistently. Take the average of the three (3) gauge readings as the spot measurement.

ADHERENCE CHECK

Paint adherence shall be checked as per ASTM method D 3359 using the Elcometer 107 Cross Hatch Cutter or equivalent. Method A (X cut) shall be used for paint film thicker that 125 microns, Method B (lattice pattern) shall be used for paint films up to 125 microns.

Test method A: An X-cut is made in the film to the substrate, pressure-sensitive tape is applied over the cut and then removed. Acceptable ratings are 5A (No peeling or removal) or 4A (trace peeling or removal along incisions or at their intersections).

Test method B: A lattice pattern with either six or eleven cuts in each direction (cross cut) is made in the film to the substrate, pressure – sensitive tape is applied over the lattice and then removed, and adhesion is evaluated by comparison with descriptions and illustrations. Spacing between the cut lines shall be 1mm for film thicknesses up to 50 microns and 2mm for film thicknesses form 50 to 125 microns. Acceptable results are a rating of 5B (The edges of the cuts are completely smooth, none of the squares of the lattice is detached) or a rating of 4B (small flakes of the coating are detached at intersections less that 5% of the area is affected).

If the test is unsatisfactory, the entire surface shall be blast cleaned and repainted. Recoating after this destructive test is at the Applicator’s expense.

TEST AND INSPECTION RESULTS

All test and inspection results shall be written up into reports. All reports shall be submitted to the purchaser and owner during provisional acceptance of the paint.

Paint Inspection

Rope Access NDT

WHAT IS ROPE ACCESS ?

It is a form of work positioning developed from techniques used in climbing and caving. The industry has an exemplary safety record which derives from rigorous adherence to the following safety characteristics:

A rope access engineer always has attachments, each having an independent anchorage point.
When the engineer is supported by ropes, each of the engineer’s ropes will have a failsafe descent mechanism.
All secondary tools and equipment (e.g. UT sets and magnets) are attached by lanyards to the engineer’s harness.
A minimum of two engineers are required for any work.
All engineers are independently assessed by I.R.A.T.A. (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association.) from the U.K. Training includes rescue procedures.
All equipment is regularly inspected and maintained

WHAT WORK IS DONE WITH ROPE ACCESS ?

There many applications in which rope access can be used. Our main concern is

1). Inspection and Testing:

Non-destructive testing, structural surveys, safety surveys.

If required, we have the manpower to supply engineers for the following type of work: -

2). Maintenance and Repair:

Sealant installation and reinstatement of localised concrete repairs ,secondary fixings, maintenance pylons and masts, replacement of cladding and glazing panels.

WHAT BENEFITS ARE PROVIDED BY ROPE ACCESS ?

Rapid installation and dismantling of the access system causes minimal disruption to building occupants, pedestrians and traffic flow.

Rope systems are installed and dismantled quickly. They can also be removed from site at the end of each shift. This minimises the potential for vandalism or theft.

There is only a single point of contact for the client as we provide both the access and the N.D.T.

Rope Access is a practical and safe solution with the ability to solve awkward and troublesome problems for clients, which could otherwise absorb a disproportionate amount of time and money.

Key Factor: Rope Access can generate considerable cost saving.

WHAT FACTORS ARE DRIVING THE DEMAND FOR ROPE ACCESS SERVICES ?

Rope Access is one of the few growth sectors in the construction industry. The principle factors behind this are:

The Health and Safety executive U.K. (equivalent of the S.U.V.A.) have made changes in the design of new buildings and in the maintenance of existing structures.
Increasing cost (and associated penalties) of road closures and track possessions favour the flexibility of rope access.
Greater awareness and acceptance of rope access by clients.
Greater professionalism and quality of service from I.R.A.T.A. trained engineers.
Budget restrictions on property managers have increased the requirement for temporary / small-scale survey and maintenance work at the expense of major projects.

SAFETY

Clients that have never used Rope Access services usually make initial comments such as…

…that must be dangerous……?

…is it safe hanging up there……?

…how can you inspect on a rope……?

…what about health and safety regulations……?

The answer given by ourselves is that Rope Access is potentially hazardous, but the hazards can be identified and the risks managed in order to produce a safe system of work. Taking a progressive and pro-active stance towards risk management, with the acknowledged goal of zero accidents has led to documented accident rates being low in comparison to other access industries.

WHY CHOOSE QUALITEST N.D.T.

Certified to ISO 9001.
We are the only Rope Access N.D.T. company in Switzerland.
Safety will not be compromised under any circumstance.
Twin rope system used at all times.
20 Years experience in all NDT methods.
Fully qualified NDT engineers to EN 473 / EN4179.

All Rope Access projects are performed together with Ropelink Ltd (UK) as part of our strategic alliance agreement.

Rope Access