Painting Standards
Inspecting Surfaces from a Normal Viewing Position
AS/NZS 2311:2009
Generally, variations in surface colour, texture and finish of walls, ceilings, floors and roofs, and variations in glass and similar transparent materials are viewed where possible from a normal viewing position.
A normal viewing position is looking at a distance of 1.5-2.0 metres (600mm for appliances and fixtures) with the surface or material being illuminated by “non-critical” light. “Non-critical light” means the light that strikes the surface is diffused and is glancing or parallel to the surface. Slight in colour and finish or materials do not constitute a paint defect.
STANDARD OF PAINTING
Coatings used are to be suitable for the relevant conditions and relevant wear and tear. Unless documented otherwise, painting is defective if it does not comply with the manufacturer’s installation instructions or AS/NZS 2311 - Guide to the painting of buildings.
SURFACE FINISH OF PAINTWORK
Paintwork is defective if application defects or blemishes such as paint runs, paint sags, wrinkling, dust, bare or starved painted areas, colour variations, surface cracks, irregular and coarse brush marks, sanding marks, blistering, uniformity of gloss level and other irregularities in the surface that are visible from a normal viewing position at a distance of 1.5-2.0 metres (600mm for appliances and fixtures) with the surface or material being illuminated by “non-critical” light. “Non-critical light”
Excessive over-painting of fittings, trims, skirting, architraves, glazing and other finished edges is a defect.
NAIL AND SCREW FIXINGS
Fixings of unfilled depressions caused by fixings are defects in painted or stained surfaces if they can be seen from a normal viewing position.
MECHANICAL DAMAGE AND NATURAL DEFECTS IN SURFACES
Holes and any other unfilled depressions in painted or stained timber surface defects caused by mechanical damage, natural characteristics such as gum pockets or surface splits are defects if they can be seen from a normal viewing position.
PAINT DURABILITY
Unless documented otherwise, coatings are defective if they fail by lifting, blistering, flaking, fading etc. the minimum period shown in table below.