Using the Elcometer 456 IPC in accordance with SSPC-PA2 & NSI 009-32

Reduce coating thickness inspection times on blast cleaned steel substrates with the Elcometer 456 IPC Dry Film Thickness Gauge. Pre-calibrated with 4 profile ranges to ensure accurate coating thickness measurement on blasted substrates, the Elcometer 456 IPC Thickness Gauge is fast and very easy to use.


The Elcometer 456 Industrial Protective Coating Thickness Gauge provides a new method for accurately measuring dry film thickness on blast cleaned surfaces.

When steel surfaces are cleaned using an abrasive blast cleaning process, the surface is left with a profile. Creating an acceptable level of surface profile increases the surface area and provides an anchor pattern for the coating to adhere to, leading to optimised coating performance and efficient material usage.

Coating thickness gauges are set up and calibrated during the manufacturing process using a smooth metal surface because these are easier to characterise and reproduce than a textured or profiled surface. It is the case that a gauge set up to measure known thicknesses on a smooth steel surface will show an error when used to measure the same thickness on a profiled surface, such as one achieved by blast cleaning.

The Elcometer 456 IPC Dry Film Thickness Gauge has been designed specifically to take into account the effect of a profiled surface, allowing the coating thickness gauge to accurately measure the thickness of the coating on a blasted steel surface.

With a reading rate of 70+ readings per minute, the coating thickness gauge displays three individual thickness readings together with the average, significantly reducing inspection times and is ideal for taking spot measurements in accordance with SSPC-PA2. In addition to the fast measurement rate, each Elcometer 456 IPC gauge is pre-calibrated with 4 surface profile ranges, in accordance to the NAVSEA Standard Item (NSI) 009-32.

A recent 12 month study by the National Shipbuilding Research Program, found that by using a pre-calibrated Elcometer 456, they were able to measure coatings in half the time of the current dry film thickness measurement method, whilst still maintaining accuracy.

Click here to view the NSRP Report – “Reducing inspection costs using the latest digital inspection tools”.

The Elcometer 456 Industrial Protective Coating Thickness Gauge, as well as improving inspection times, can also speed up inspection reporting. By transferring the readings via Bluetooth® or USB to ElcoMaster®, or your own software application, you can instantly create inspection reports.

Key features of the Elcometer 456 IPC Dry Film Thickness Gauge include:

  • Pre-calibrated with 4 profile ranges
  • Displays 3 individual readings together with their average in microns or mils
  • Built in integral probe for stable, repeatable readings on flat or curved surfaces
  • Easy to use menu structure in multiple languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese & Japanese
  • USB or Bluetooth® data output to the ElcoMaster® or your own software application

Click here to download the script in English