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Corrosion testing on HVAC coatings can be conducted according to a number of standards, including ASTM-B117, ISO 9227, ISO 12944-6, and ISO 20340. Of these tests, the one we believe represents actual service environments most closely is ISO 12944-9 (formerly ISO 20340) vs. the more common ASTM B-117.
ISO classifies environments in corrosivity categories of C1 through CX based upon long-term material weight loss and surface degradation testing in different corrosive environments. These categories are updated as needed; the 2018 update to corrosion categories replaces the C5-I and C5-X categories with C5 for harsh onshore environments and CX for offshore environments.
It is important to note; paint systems are typically tested against higher levels of corrosivity because a coating that can protect against the most severe C5 or CX environments is certainly capable of providing protection in a less severe environment.
The corrosivity categories are:
C1 – Very Low
C2 – Low
C3 – Medium
C4 – High
C5 – Very High
CX – Extreme
See a table of surface/thickness loss by corrosivity category
When the corrosivity category is known, it can be a useful tool for selecting the right coating for your HVAC/R equipment. However, it is important to note that a coating capable of providing protection at a higher level also protects well at every corrosivity level below the level tested – without impacting coil efficiency. Therefore, to provide maximum chance for equipment life extension AND coil efficiency, it is best to choose a coating with a higher corrosivity category.
If you’re wondering which Heresite protective coating is right for your environment, please contact us. Heresite coatings have been tested against a variety of environments and we can help you select the right HVAC-R coating for your environment.
Editor’s Note: this blog post was originally published in October, 2017 and has been updated to reflect changes in ISO Corrosivity Categories and test standards.