Many powder coating applicators are committing a federal offense and may not even know it.
Scott Andrews and Sandee AndrewsMIL-SPEC powder coatings are not standard coatings; they are unique and highly specialized coatings tested to meet the standards set down by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) or the Navy Research Laboratory (NRL).
Powder coating manufacturers must submit their powders to one of these certifying agencies for full-scale testing to verify that the coatings meet the specifications they developed. This is expensive and time-consuming, but once a powder has passed the testing regimen, it is given a Qualified Product Listing (QPL).
Shops Might Be Breaking Federal Law
Here is where you might be misled by a few powder manufacturers: some powder coatings are marketed as meeting the Federal Standard color. This is also known as AMS-STD-595A; the old designation was FED-STD-595 #XXXXX.
Chances are the shop owner will be guilty of committing a federal offense with no recourse. Is that decision worth it?
But please note this: If you purchase these coatings and apply them for a MIL-SPEC project that requires certification to MIL-PRF-24712B or MIL-PRF-32348 (CARC), you are committing a federal offense, and the military or government agencies do not take this offense lightly.
Just because a color is being marketed as meeting the color requirement, it is not the same as a MIL-SPEC certified powder coating.
When a shop certifies that a coating meets the MIL-SPEC specification, it is essentially swearing under law that the coatings being applied are proper MIL-SPEC coatings. If that powder does not have a proper QPL but only meets the color specifications of AMS-STD-595A, it is not a certified powder coating.
These manufacturers that market their powder coatings to meet the FED-STD or AMS-STD-595A specification subversively put their clients and the military/aerospace industry at risk.
Consider for a moment that you are using a powder for a proper MIL-SPEC project and apply that powder that only meets the color standard. You believe you are in compliance; however, an investigation will ensue if that product goes into service and there is a system failure. A simple flame spectroscopy test will reveal what powder was used. If it is not a proper QPL-certified powder, and that coating caused a failure through corrosion or other system disruption, you are now under a microscope. You will probably be federally prosecuted with severe financial implications and prison time.
Federal Standard Colors are Not the Same as MIL-SPEC Certified
MIL-SPEC powder coatings are not standard coatings; they are unique and highly specialized coatings tested to meet the standards set down by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) or the Navy Research Laboratory (NRL). The shop owner is responsible for confirming that the used powder coatings meet the specifications and have a QPL. A few manufacturers advertise their powders as “federal standard” colors, but this is not the same as MIL-SPEC certified, and it is dangerous marketing by those manufacturers. By doing this, the manufacturer is preying on powder coating applicators who are poorly educated in MIL-SPEC specifications and how they truly work.
The manufacturer will not be at fault or liable for this failure; they will say that they never marketed the coatings as meeting that specification. The shop—and specifically, the shop owner—will be left holding the bag with the consequences of the decisions on what product was applied. Chances are the shop owner will be guilty of committing a federal offense with no recourse. Is that decision worth it?
These manufacturers that market their powder coatings to meet the FED-STD or AMS-STD-595A specification subversively put their clients and the military/aerospace industry at risk. It is so easy for a buyer to select these coatings for a MIL-SPEC project that it puts their company at serious peril. This is very deceptive marketing and is boosting the manufacturers’ sales improperly. Is your purchasing staff unknowingly putting your business at risk? Have you trained yourself and your employees on this subject? Are you operating in a world that you are not truly familiar with? Applicators must be educated and make decisions that are compliant with these stringent specifications.
Just because a color is being marketed as meeting the color requirement, it is not the same as a MIL-SPEC certified powder coating. Powder manufacturers that market their products improperly need to change. Their deceptive marketing tactics are hurting the industry and causing coaters to commit dangerous mistakes.
The bigger solution is to change how powder coating applicators are chosen. If the Government and specification writers mandated that coaters have their AS-9100, it would eliminate the risk. Having this hard-earned certification forces companies to learn to comply with a Quality Management System (QMS) that insists that specifications are followed properly. It is time for the industry to become educated on this topic. This will serve the industry and the end user military/aerospace clients that need these coatings to help their systems perform as intended.
Sandee Andrews and Scott Andrews are owners of Andrews Powder Coating in Chatsworth, California. APC is AS9100 and ISO 9001 certified and Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings (CARC) approved; have Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) approvals for MIL PRF 24712, which includes 46 powder coatings approved for all types and classes; Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) approvals for WSD-C-0181A with approved products; Mil-Spec and Qualified Products List (QPL) coatings certified to actual QPL products; AAMA 2605 certified for eight years; and use FDA-compliant coatings are used in medical and food safety industries. Visit https://powdercoater.com.
