Currently Used Procedures for Dry Film Thickness Measurement and Recording for Coatings on Railcars

This AMPP technical report is intended for use by North America-based rail car manufacturers, owners, operators, and repairers who are seeking guidance concerning DFT measurement of coatings applied to rail cars.

The procedures currently being used to measure and record the DFT of coatings on railcars are usually company-specific procedures that often vary drastically from one company to another. In some cases, these procedures are formal written documents that are used by the applicator or inspector while taking and recording DFT readings. In other cases, there are no formal written documents to follow, the procedure is based on institutional knowledge or on-the-job training.

Inherently, these inconsistent procedures and the discretionary use of SSPC-PA 2 create varied inspection results that can lead to unnecessary repairs or complete rework.