Overview
EN ISO 13803:2014 - Paints and varnishes: Determination of haze on paint films at 20° - specifies a laboratory test method for measuring haze on high‑gloss coatings. The standard is intended for non‑textured coatings on plane, opaque substrates and uses a 20° measurement geometry (matching the 20° gloss geometry in ISO 2813) to improve differentiation between very high‑gloss surfaces, e.g., when assessing dispersion and micro‑texture effects.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability: Suitable for non‑textured coatings on flat, opaque substrates; intended to quantify the milky opalescence perceived on high‑gloss finishes.
- Measurement geometry: Incident beam at 20.0° ± 0.1° to the surface normal; receptor and source apertures and angular fields are specified to ensure reproducible results.
- Apparatus (hazemeter): A light source and receptor assembly that simultaneously measures specular reflection and adjacent scattered light (haze sensors adjacent to the gloss detector). Photoelectric detector linearity and absence of vignetting are required.
- Test panels and preparation: Reference to standard panels, coating application, drying/conditioning, and film thickness control to ensure consistent results.
- Calibration and standards: Use of certified measurement standards and routine calibration checks (zero point, calibration/adjustment) to maintain traceability.
- Measurement output and interpretation: Haze correlates with visual perception; readings are displayed on a logarithmic scale so that lower haze = better surface clarity.
- Precision and reporting: The standard includes precision information (repeatability and reproducibility limits) and specifies required information for test reports and supplementary test conditions.
Practical applications and users
EN ISO 13803:2014 is used for:
- Quality control in coatings manufacturing (paints, clearcoats, varnishes)
- Automotive, furniture, appliance and consumer‑goods finish evaluation
- Powder coating and industrial coating R&D to compare dispersion or leveling effects
- Supplier/contract compliance testing and specification development
Typical users: coating formulators, QC laboratories, R&D teams, inspection bodies and OEM specifiers who need objective, repeatable haze data for high‑gloss surfaces.
Related standards
- ISO 2813 - Gloss measurement at 20°, 60° and 85° (closely related geometry and instrumentation)
- ISO 1514 - Standard panels for testing
- ISO 2808 - Determination of film thickness
- ISO 4618 - Terminology (definition of haze)
Keywords: EN ISO 13803:2014, haze measurement, haze on paint films, 20° geometry, hazemeter, paints and varnishes, gloss measurement, ISO 2813, coating quality control.
