The Difference Between Painting and Site Coatings Inspection
While painting and site coatings inspection may appear similar at first glance, the key difference between the two lies in where the protective treatments are applied and the environmental conditions they are designed to withstand.
Painting Inspection
Painting inspection focuses on protective paint systems applied to above-ground structures, such as steelwork, plant, and other assets exposed to the atmosphere. These systems are typically covered under the BGAS-CSWIP Painting Inspector qualification and the PA10 specification.
Because these coatings are used above ground, they are exposed to sunlight, weather, and temperature variations, making UV degradation a major factor affecting coating performance and service life. As a result, painting inspection places strong emphasis on surface preparation, paint application, curing, film thickness measurement, and long-term durability in atmospheric conditions.
Site Coatings Inspection
Site coatings inspection, on the other hand, relates to protective coating systems applied to below ground or buried assets, most commonly pipelines. These coatings operate in a very different environment from above-ground paint systems.
Below ground, coatings are not exposed to UV radiation. Instead, they are subject to soil conditions, moisture, and electrolytic environments, which significantly increase the risk of corrosion. For this reason, below-ground coating systems are typically designed to work in conjunction with cathodic protection (CP), which provides additional corrosion control through electrochemical means.
Site coatings inspection therefore requires an understanding of how coatings perform underground, how damage or defects can affect CP performance, and how coating integrity contributes to overall asset protection.
TWI offers several CSWIP-BGAS Inspector Courses including the ones mentioned below:
- BGAS-CSWIP Painting Inspector - Grade 2
- BGAS-CSWIP Painting Inspector - Grade 2 Online Live Course
- BGAS-CSWIP Painting Inspector - Grade 1
- BGAS-CSWIP Site Coatings Inspector
- BGAS-CSWIP Site Coatings Inspector Online Live Course
Advance your skills and knowledge with TWI
Once you have passed your paint or coating inspection course, you can consider any of the other courses that TWI offers.
Key Differences Summary:
Painting Inspector (PA10) covers above-ground paint systems and is subject to UV degradation and atmospheric exposure. While, Site Coatings Inspector, on the other hand, covers below-ground or buried coating systems and is used alongside cathodic protection (CP) to manage corrosion.
Understanding this distinction helps ensure inspectors are trained appropriately for the environments in which the protective treatments are employed.
For more information, please visit our website or send email at trainexam@twi.co.uk