This guide covers the selection and use of procedures for testing water-borne architectural coatings to be used on exterior, interior, or both types of surfaces. The properties that can be examined by the test methods listed herein are as follows: liquid paint properties (skinning, condition in container, coarse particles and foreign matter, density or weight per gallon, fineness of dispersion, flash point, odor, absorption, colorant acceptance, dilution stability, package stability, heat stability, and settling); coating application and film formation characteristics (brush application properties, brush drag, roller application properties, roller spatter, spray application properties, touch-up uniformity, consistency (low-shear viscosity), rheological properties of non-Newtonian liquids, sag resistance, levelling properties, and drying properties); appearance of dry film (color appearance, color differences by visual comparison, color differences using instrumental measurements, directional reflectance, gloss, sheen, hiding power, and yellowness index); properties of dry film (abrasion resistance, adhesion, flexibility, resistance to household chemicals, color change of white enamels, washability and cleansability, blister resistance, exposure resistance, chalking, checking, cracking, erosion, flaking, mildew resistance, and fume resistance); and Coating Analysis (chemical analysis, volatile content, nonvolatile volume content, water content, pigment content, pigment analysis, nonvolatile vehicle content, vehicle separation, and nonvolatile vehicle identification).

1.1 This guide covers the selection and use of procedures for testing water-borne coatings to be used on exterior, interior or both types of surfaces (Note 1). The properties that can be examined or, in some cases, the relevant test procedures are listed in Table 1 and Table 2.

Note 1—The term "architectural coating" as used here combines the definition in Terminology D 16 with that in the FSCT Paint/Coatings Dictionary, as follows: "Organic coatings intended for on-site application to interior or exterior surfaces of residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial buildings, in contrast to industrial coatings. They are protective and decorative finishes applied at ambient temperatures. Often called Trade Sales Coatings."

Note 2—Architectural coatings that are designed to give better performance than most conventional coatings because they are tougher and more stain and abrasion resistant are covered by Guide D 3730.

1.2 The types of organic coatings covered by this guide are as follows:

(1) Type 1Interior Latex Flat Wall Paints,

(2) Type 2Exterior Latex House Paints,

(3) Type 3Water-Borne Floor Paints, and

(4) Type 4Interior Latex Semigloss and Gloss Paints.

1.2.1 Each is intended for application by brushing, rolling, spraying or other means to the material appropriate for its type, which may include plaster, masonry, wallboard, wood, steel, previously painted surfaces, and other architectural substrates.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.