Surface cleanliness

Surface cleanliness

Surface cleanliness covers all test equipment required to assess cleanliness prior to coating. This includes the Bresle test according to ISO 8502-6/-9 for determining soluble salts, the determination of dust level according to ISO 8502-3 as well as detection of grease, oil and particle contamination. In addition, climate and dew point measurements (ΔT) according to ISO 8502-4 are performed to check processing conditions. All test equipment is standard-compliant, calibratable and designed for mobile use.

Applications & benefits

The systems are used in blasting shops, at shipyards, in steel and plant construction, for tank rehabilitation and in industrial coating. Properly configured kits detect salt and ion contamination at an early stage, reliably assess the dust level, check ΔT and surface temperature and document grease, oil and particle residues. The result: adhesive surfaces, minimal rework and audit-proof evidence for coating release.

Measurement tasks & kit configuration

Salt testing (ISO 8502-6 / -9): Performed with Bresle patches and syringes to determine conductivity and ion content on the surface. Optionally, chloride test strips or titration methods can be used for a more detailed analysis of specific ion concentrations.

Dust level (ISO 8502-3): Visual assessment of dust contamination using standardised comparison plates and supplementary photo documentation. The result provides an objective evaluation of surface cleanliness prior to coating.

Grease / oil / particles: Detection of contamination using suitable chemical or visual test methods according to the relevant specification. These checks ensure that no adhesion-impairing residues affect coating quality.

Climate / dew point (ISO 8502-4): Measurement of ΔT, relative humidity, air and surface temperature to assess the risk of condensation during surface preparation or application. The results feed directly into process release decisions.

Documentation: Use of sample bottles, calibration solutions and QR/label sets for unique identification. Digital data recording with automatic unit conversion enables complete traceability and audit-compliant archiving.

Product areas & integration

The range includes standard and project-specific kits with data loggers, app/cloud connectivity and interfaces for digital inspection reports. We define the scope of testing, the relevant standards (ISO 8502-6/-9/-3/-4) and the measurement point plan and integrate the systems into existing quality workflows, photo and report archives and audit processes. This creates thoroughly traceable, standard-compliant and audit-ready documentation.

Key advantages at a glance

• Everything in one case – Bresle/salts, dust level, ΔT & documentation
• Standard-compliant – ISO 8502-6/-9, ISO 8502-3/-4, traceable calibration
• Digital documentation – labels/QR, photos, PDF/CSV & traceability
• Less rework – reliable limit evaluation & release

Leading manufacturers – surface cleanliness

• Elcometer – Bresle patches/conductivity, dust level & reporting.
• DeFelsko – PosiTector SST (soluble salts), climate & app/cloud documentation.
• TQC Sheen – Bresle accessories, dust level plates & reference materials.
• BYK-Gardner – Visual assessment/lighting for cleanliness testing.
• 3M – Sampling/cleaning accessories & PPE for inspections.
• Helmut Fischer – Laboratory/reference standards & evaluation.
• ElektroPhysik – Test equipment & accessories for inspections.
• Neurtek – Conductivity/ion testers & laboratory accessories.
• Mahr – Precision measuring technology for QA/laboratories.
• Rubert – Reference standards for surface evaluation.
• KSJ – Portable inspection instruments & gloss meters.
• Testo – Climate/dew point measurement according to ISO 8502-4.
• PCE Instruments – Conductivity/environmental measuring instruments & loggers.
• Extech – Environmental/electrical measuring instruments for field use.
• Rotronic – Humidity/temperature & data loggers.
• OMEGA – Sensors, probes & data acquisition.
• Phoenix Instrument – Laboratory/test technology & media analysis.
• Grant – Temperature/data loggers & stability control for test environments.
• SIS Verlag – Standards/guidelines & training materials.
• SATA – Test and accessory components for compressed air.
• beschicht. – QA templates, QR/label sets & customer-specific cases.

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