Coating inspection
Independent third-party inspection, from surface preparation to the final film.
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Suffolk · East Anglia · UK
Independent coating consultancy, inspection, quality assurance and technical training.
Supporting protective coating projects across the UK, from surface preparation to final sign-off, with a strong presence throughout Suffolk and East Anglia.
Evidence, not opinion
Every job leaves a record like this.
Once a coat is on, the one beneath it can never be checked again. So we measure at every hold point and hand you traceable records your client can rely on.
- Steel condition, preparation grade and blast profile
- Dust and soluble salt test results
- Air and steel temperature, humidity and dew point margin
- Wet and dry film thickness, coat by coat
- Adhesion and final visual inspection where specified
- Photographs, non-conformances and how they were closed
- ICorr Level 2 Coating Inspector
- AMPP (formerly NACE) Coating Inspector Level 2
- ICorr Level 3 inspectors available in the company
- ISO 9001 audit experience
- Qualicoat and Qualisteelcoat
- Working to ISO 12944
From the spray booth to sign-off
Practical coating expertise backed by independent inspection, quality assurance and consultancy experience.
Most inspectors learn coatings from the outside. We learned them on the line: surface preparation, wet spray, powder coating and metal spraying, then quality management for multi-process finishers.
That is why we know where problems really start, usually well before the paint, and how to stop them before they cost you a rejected delivery or a failed coating.
Most coating failures are decided before the first coat goes on.
What we do
Independent inspection at every critical stage of the coating process.
From the specification to the final signature, we cover every stage where a coating can go right or wrong.
Quality assurance and QC
Inspection and test plans, QC systems and documentation your clients will trust.
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Specification development
Coating specifications and system selection matched to environment, life and budget.
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Failure investigation
Root-cause analysis of coating defects, with clear evidence and corrective actions.
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Coating project management
One point of contact for coating packages, from specification to handover.
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SOPs and process development
Documented, repeatable finishing processes, from R&D trials to production SOPs.
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Accreditation and audit support
Get ready for ISO 9001, Qualicoat, Qualisteelcoat and coating-manufacturer audits.
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Technical training
Technical training for the coatings industry, delivered at your premises in English, Polish or Slovak.
Training options
How a coating system is built
Every layer inspected, before the next one hides it.
A typical three-coat protective system for a C4 environment. Once a coat is on, the one beneath it can never be checked again, so each stage has its own hold point.
- 1
Surface preparation
Steel blast cleaned to Sa 2½ with a medium profile, free of dust and soluble salts.
Hold point: Grade, profile, dust and salts checked before priming.
- 2
Zinc-rich primer
Applied only when the steel is at least 3 °C above the dew point, inside the overcoating window.
Hold point: Climate logged, primer film thickness measured.
- 3
Intermediate coat
The barrier coat builds most of the thickness, with stripe coats on edges, welds and bolts.
Hold point: Edge and weld coverage, cumulative film build.
- 4
Topcoat
Colour, gloss and UV resistance, and the finish your client actually sees.
Hold point: Total DFT, adhesion where specified, final visual.
How we work
Independent verification. Documented compliance. Confidence at handover.
The same disciplined sequence on every job, whether it is one fabrication package or a full project.
- 01
Specify
We review the specification, data sheets and programme, and agree hold points before work starts.
- 02
Prepare
Surface preparation inspected: steel condition, cleanliness grade, profile, dust and soluble salts.
- 03
Apply
Climate monitored against the dew point, wet film checked and overcoating windows respected.
- 04
Inspect
Dry film thickness, cure, adhesion and appearance measured against the acceptance criteria.
- 05
Report
Clear, traceable records with readings, photographs and any non-conformances closed out.
- 06
Hand over
A complete documentation pack your client can rely on for the life of the coating.
How we inspect
Inspection standards and expertise.
Recognised methods, calibrated equipment and readings anyone can check. These are photographs from our own inspections.
- ICorr coating inspection methodologies
- AMPP (formerly NACE) coating inspection practices
- Inspection of chemical and mechanical surface preparation
- Environmental monitoring and dew point assessment
- Surface cleanliness and profile verification
- Dry film thickness (DFT) measurement and assessment
- Inspection reporting and technical documentation
Steel assessed before surface preparation
Blast profile checked against a comparator
Surface profile measured with replica tape
Soluble salt testing with a Bresle patch
Surface temperature checked before coating
Gauge verified against a certified foil
Dry film thickness, checked in microns
Pull-off adhesion tested on site
Industries
Industries we support.
From data centres to nuclear: the same independent discipline, whatever the steel is for.
- Data centres
- Nuclear
- Energy and utilities
- Infrastructure projects
- Bridges and highway structures
- Marine and offshore
- Structural steel
- Architectural aluminium
- Industrial manufacturing
- Powder coating facilities
- Commercial construction
- Protective coating contractors
Not on the list? If it is metal and it needs a coating to last, we can almost certainly help. Ask us.
Why choose us
Why choose East Anglia Coating Solutions?
Independent, qualified and hands-on, on every project we support.
Independent and unbiased coating consultancy and inspection services
ICorr and AMPP coating inspection expertise
Expertise in chemical and mechanical surface preparation
Experience with powder coating and wet paint systems
Corrosion protection and coating performance expertise
Quality assurance and quality control support
Failure investigation and root-cause analysis
UK-wide project coverage
Experience supporting data centres, nuclear, infrastructure, manufacturing and architectural projects
Case studies
Three investigations, with the client left out.
This work was carried out by our lead specialist before East Anglia Coating Solutions was established. The client and the previous employer are not named.
Failure investigation
Premature coating failure on exposed structural steel
Flaking and delamination on externally exposed structural steel, investigated so the project team could plan a repair from evidence rather than guesswork.
ReadPretreatment
Qualicoat pretreatment performance and adhesion tests
A powder coating line asked whether its chemical pretreatment could meet the performance Qualicoat expects. The first panels failed. Adjusted dwell times put the next set right.
ReadCoating inspection
Structural steel coating inspection and compliance
An inspection of structural steel where primer thickness, access and surface preparation had been questioned, with a survey that separated compliant steel from steel that needed work.
Read
Areas we cover
Based in East Anglia. Supporting projects throughout the UK.
Our base is in Ipswich, with a strong presence throughout Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. For larger projects and inspection packages, we work throughout the UK.
Boundaries: Office for National Statistics. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right. Roads approximate.
Resources
Free tools and plain-English guides.
The questions we answer every week, written up properly: standards explained, defects diagnosed and a dew point calculator for site.
Standards guides
ISO 12944, ISO 8501 and more, in plain English.
OpenCoating defect library
What each defect looks like, why it happens, how to prevent it.
OpenInsights
Practical articles on inspection, specification and quality.
OpenDew point calculator
Check steel temperature against the dew point on site.
Open
Questions
Straight answers.
If yours is not here, call us. We are happy to talk a problem through before you commit to anything.
What does a coating inspector actually check?
The things that decide whether a coating lasts: steel condition and surface preparation grade, surface profile, dust and soluble salt contamination, air and steel temperature against the dew point, wet and dry film thickness, cure, adhesion and the finished appearance. Each check is recorded against the specification so the result is traceable.
Are your inspectors qualified?
Our lead inspector holds ICorr Level 2 and AMPP (formerly NACE) Level 2 coating inspector certification. ICorr Level 3 and AMPP-certified inspectors are available in the company where a project needs senior sign-off.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based in Ipswich, with a strong presence throughout Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. We also support projects and inspection packages across the UK.
Do you work with powder coating as well as wet paint?
Yes. Our background covers industrial wet spray, powder coating, blast cleaning, zinc metal spraying and chemical pretreatment, so we can advise on and inspect liquid, powder and duplex systems.
Can you train our painters and finishers?
Yes. We deliver practical technical training for painters, finishers and supervisors at your premises, in English, Polish or Slovak. See the training page for what we cover.
How do I get a quote?
Send us the enquiry form with as much detail as you have, such as the specification, drawings or photos, or simply call. We respond to all enquiries within one working day.
Need an inspector, a second opinion or a plan?
Tell us about the job. We respond to all enquiries within one working day, with a clear scope and price.
Prefer to talk? Call 07810 022184