Overview
EN ISO 27830:2017 - "Metallic and other inorganic coatings: Requirements for the designation of metallic and inorganic coatings" - defines a standard, consistent format for describing and specifying metallic and other inorganic coatings. It applies to international standards for electrodeposited, autocatalytic and vapour‑deposited coatings, and clarifies what information purchasers must provide to electroplaters or processors. It does not cover thermally sprayed or porcelain enamel coatings, nor does it replace the detailed technical requirements for individual coatings (these remain in the specific coating standards cited in the bibliography).
Key topics and requirements
- Standardized designation format: A modular designation comprising a description + International Standard number, an individual item module, and stage-by-stage codes for the coating sequence. Double separators indicate omitted stages.
- Information to be supplied by the purchaser:
- Essential: International Standard number and designation, significant surface(s), basis material condition, tensile strength, and any required heat treatments.
- Additional: appearance (bright/dull/colour), permitted defect locations, test and sampling standards, inspection/acceptance criteria, packaging/handling.
- Individual item module: Specifies basis material (chemical symbol or principal constituent), alloy where applicable, stress relief/heat treatment needs, undercoats, coating type and minimum local thickness, overcoats, and post-treatments.
- Annexes and guidance:
- Annex A: symbols for designating coatings.
- Annex B: examples of designations.
- Annex C: service condition numbers and severity guidance.
- Normative cross‑references: Includes related guidance such as ISO 9587 and ISO 9588 for hydrogen‑embrittlement pretreatment/post‑coating.
Applications and users
EN ISO 27830:2017 is used to remove ambiguity and ensure consistent, machine‑readable specifications across procurement, design and manufacturing workflows. Typical users:
- Specification writers and purchasers preparing contracts, purchase orders and engineering drawings.
- Electroplaters and coating processors receiving orders and implementing coating sequences.
- Design and manufacturing engineers who define surface finish and corrosion protection requirements.
- Quality assurance, test laboratories and inspectors who verify compliance with designated coating standards.
- Standards committees and document control teams harmonizing product standards and bill of materials entries.
Practical uses include specifying coating sequences on drawings, defining minimum local thickness and post‑treatment needs, and setting clear sampling and inspection criteria for coatings used in corrosion protection and functional finishes.
Related standards
- ISO 9587 - Pretreatment of iron/steel to reduce hydrogen embrittlement
- ISO 9588 - Post‑coating treatments to reduce hydrogen embrittlement
- Individual coating standards referenced by ISO 27830 (examples in the document bibliography): ISO 1456, ISO 2081, ISO 4527 - consult those for detailed technical requirements.
Keywords: EN ISO 27830:2017, metallic coatings, inorganic coatings, designation format, electrodeposited coatings, autocatalytic coatings, vapour‑deposited coatings, coating specification, electroplater.
