Overview
EN ISO 12944-1:2017 (Paints and varnishes - Corrosion protection of steel structures by protective paint systems - Part 1: General introduction) is the introductory part of the ISO 12944 series. It defines the overall scope of the series, provides core terms and definitions, and gives a structured introduction to the remaining parts. Part 1 also contains a general statement on health, safety and environmental protection and practical guidance (Annex A) on how to apply the ISO 12944 series to a specific project.
Keywords: ISO 12944-1:2017, EN ISO 12944-1, corrosion protection, protective paint systems, steel structures, coatings standards.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Establishes the framework for corrosion protection of steel structures by paint systems and clarifies the intended users and limitations of the ISO 12944 family.
- Terms and definitions: Core definitions used across ISO 12944 (references to Parts 2–9 and ISO 4628 series) to ensure consistent interpretation of concepts such as “coat,” “corrosion,” and “corrosion damage.”
- Normative references: Lists related standards required for implementation (notably ISO 4628 series and ISO 12944 Parts 2–9).
- Introduction to other parts: Summarizes the content and relationships of subsequent parts (environment classification, design considerations, surface preparation, protective paint systems, laboratory tests, execution and supervision, specification development, and offshore requirements).
- General considerations: High-level requirements for specifying durable protective paint systems, including durability classes and the need for sample areas and project-specific specification development.
- HSE and environmental protection: General guidance on health, safety and environmental aspects relevant to coating selection and application.
- Guidance for project use: Annex A provides practical steps for selecting and applying relevant parts of ISO 12944 for a given project.
Applications and users
EN ISO 12944-1:2017 is used to establish a consistent basis for corrosion protection projects and is relevant to:
- Asset owners and facility managers specifying long-term protection and maintenance strategies.
- Designers and engineers integrating corrosion protection into structural design.
- Coating specifiers and material manufacturers developing or validating paint systems.
- Contractors and applicators preparing surface treatment and application procedures.
- Inspectors and quality assurance personnel creating acceptance criteria and inspection plans.
- Consultants preparing project specifications and lifecycle cost assessments.
Practical uses include developing project specifications, defining environment and durability classes, coordinating surface preparation and paint-system selection, and aligning testing and inspection protocols.
Related standards
- ISO 12944‑2 to ISO 12944‑9 - Environment classification, design, surface preparation, paint systems, laboratory tests, execution, specification development, and offshore-specific guidance.
- ISO 4628 series - Evaluation of coating degradation (blistering, rusting, cracking, flaking, etc.).
EN ISO 12944-1:2017 provides the essential entry point for applying the entire ISO 12944 suite to achieve reliable, consistent corrosion protection of steel structures using protective paint systems.
