Inspection equipment

Almost everyone associated with the painting industry has some form of inspection equipment. Inspection equipment should be selected to assure accuracy of the measurements being taken. It mandates the use of thermometers with ranges between 10 and 100 F but provides no other guidance on the type of equipment to be used. The accuracy of the handheld IR thermometer is primarily determined by the distance-to-spot ratio (D/S). Surface temperature measurements should be taken where the work is to occur and take into account the direction of the sun or heat source on the surface. One should check liquid thermometers frequently for liquid separation, which is the largest single cause for the failure of thermometers. All thermometers should be exposed to the environment they will be used in for sufficient time to allow them to stabilize.