Two new international standards have just been approved., both based on French standards which they will replace on publication. They are :

- EN ISO 20340 : "Performance qualification for offshore paint systems" which will replace NF T 34-600 which is the basis of certification for ACQPA C5M systems

- EN ISO 19840 : "Measurement and acceptance criteria of paint dry film thickness" which will replace NF T 30-124, basic standard for inspectors of paint systems for anticorrosion protection.

We cannot emphasise the importance of these two international standards and will keep you informed when they appear..

The CCTG (General technical specifications) is being revised. This fascicule covers the technical aspects of public contracts for anticorrosion protection of infrastructure.

The revision is needed due to international standardisation and ACQPA certification of systems and operators since the fascicule dates from 1985. This also offers an opportunity to re-examine guarantees.

The working group for the revision represents public authorities and professionals from painting (manufacture and application) and galvanisation. The work should be finished at the end of the year and submitted to the Central Contracts Commission for approval.

As part of its reorganisation, the French Navy wishes to see an evolution in the SPN (Naval Programme Department) approval procedures for paint and paint system for corrosion protection of naval vessels, towards third party certification. For this, the SPN will entrust the ACQPA with paint system certification.

Initially (during 2002), this will involve only manufacturing of "set formula" materials and of "brand name" materials.
Paint system certification based on performance referentials in the traditional ACQPA manner, will require further time to define performance and to develop referentials. A meeting of the manufacturers involved was held on November 21 at ACQPA by the French Navy.

A third Certification campaign concerning the color stability of topcoat has just been launched with the exposure in Florida of more than 200 colors. Back in one year and results on the end of 2003. We remind you that the end user of a paint system certified by ACQPA has already the choice among almost 700 stable color topcoats (conform to the french standard NF T 34554) and belonging to the 23 colors of the ACQPA's color chart.

All paint system certifications can be consulted on line at the website.

The catalogue of certified systems can be downloaded from the site. A printed version can be obtained from the "materials" secretariat at ACQPA (produits@acqpa.com).

Two new technical secretaries for ACQPA :

- Mme Patricia FOUILLADE replaces Mme Françoise BRIVOT at the technical administration for products : LCPC 58 Bd Lefebvre 75732 Paris cedex 15, tél : 33 (0)1 40 43 51 54 ; fax : 33 (0)1 40 43 65 14 and e-mail : produits@acqpa.com

- Mme Martine AUBRY replaces Mme Evelyne FLIPO at the technical administration for operators and inspectors : 10 rue du Débarcadère 75852 Paris cedex 17, tél : 33 (0)1 40 55 12 08 ; fax : 33 (0)1 40 55 11 95 and e-mail : opérateurs (ou inspecteurs)@acqpa.com

Welcome to Patricia and Martine

For the operators who have been certified for 3 years, don’t forget to ask for the renewal of your certificate to ACQPA. After these 3 months maximum time limit (see article 6 of our particular regulation) we will consider that you don’t want to renew your certificate… So pay attention !

ACQPA has just edited a new presentation brochure which can be obtained from the association secretariat (secretariat.general@acqpa.com).