How to Read a Dry Film Thickness Report for Steel Coating
Dry film thickness (DFT) is the thickness of the applied coating after it has dried or cured to the condition required for measurement. A useful DFT report connects the readings to a specified coating system and identifiable members. The project specification determines which coats or completed systems are checked, where readings are taken and how the results are accepted.
Read the report against the specification
| Report detail | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Member and area | Piece marks or locations that identify the steel covered by the readings |
| Coating stage | Whether the figures are for an individual coat, a partial system or the completed system |
| Instrument and checks | The gauge ID and the verification records required by the inspection plan |
| Readings and acceptance | The measured values or summaries, measurement units, and the project limits used to accept them |
| Repairs and rechecks | How nonconforming areas were resolved and where the recheck is recorded |
An overall average is difficult to evaluate without knowing where the readings were taken and what the acceptance rules allow. For example, ask which member or area a low reading relates to and which recheck applies after any required repair. Keep surface-preparation and application records alongside the DFT report when the inspection plan requires them. They answer different questions about the coating work.
Agree on handover records before coating
Include the specified coating system, thickness requirements, inspection method and release points in the fabrication enquiry. Agree on who signs the coating report and which records go into the handover pack. The AMPP guide to coating specifications and inspection explains how these requirements fit together. See our surface preparation and coating guide and Bhilai facility overview for related context.
About Kothari Chemicals (Engineering Division)
The Kothari Chemicals (Engineering Division) at Kothari Chemicals Engineering Division brings decades of combined experience in steel fabrication, quality assurance, and project management. We're committed to sharing knowledge that helps our industry grow.
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