Approvals & certifications, explained.

ASME PCC-2, Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping

ASME PCC-2 is a post-construction standard that provides methods for the repair of pressure equipment, piping, pipelines, and associated ancillary equipment after it has been placed in service. Its nonmetallic composite-repair articles (Article 4.1 for high-risk applications and Article 4.2 for low-risk applications) set out the design, qualification, fabrication, examination, and testing requirements for composite (fiber-reinforced) repair systems applied over a defect. A repair material that is "qualified to" or "compliant with" ASME PCC-2 has passed the standard's prescribed pre-qualification test program, demonstrating it meets the mechanical and performance criteria needed to engineer a code-compliant repair.

ASME PCC-2 is one of the two primary international standards (alongside ISO 24817) for engineered composite pipe and equipment repairs, widely specified by refineries, petrochemical plants, and pipeline operators across Louisiana's industrial corridor. Belzona composite wrap systems such as SuperWrap II are pre-qualified to ASME PCC-2 Article 4.1, allowing asset owners to make in-service, no-shutdown repairs to corroded or leaking piping with documented code compliance rather than full replacement.

ISO 24817 — Petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries — Composite repairs for pipework — Qualification and design, installation, testing and inspection (current edition ISO 24817:2017)

ISO 24817 is the international standard governing the external application of composite (non-metallic) repair systems to corroded or damaged pipework, pipelines, tanks, and vessels in the petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas industries. It sets out the requirements for qualification, engineering design, installation, and subsequent testing and inspection of these repairs. A repair system qualified to ISO 24817 has demonstrated, through defined testing, that it can restore or maintain the structural integrity of the repaired component to documented performance criteria.

Composite wrap repairs let plants reinstate the integrity of leaking or wall-thinned piping and equipment without hot work, welding, or shutting down the line — a major safety and uptime advantage across Louisiana's refineries, petrochemical plants, and pipeline infrastructure. ISO 24817 qualification gives owners and inspectors documented assurance that the repair was designed and applied to a recognized engineering standard rather than as an improvised patch.

NSF/ANSI/CAN 61: Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects

NSF/ANSI 61 is the American National Standard that sets minimum health-effects requirements for materials, components, products, and coatings that come into contact with drinking water. It is a performance-based standard: certified products undergo extraction (leaching) testing to confirm that contaminants migrating from the material into water stay below maximum allowable levels derived from EPA drinking-water regulations and toxicological data. Passing means a third party has verified the product is safe for use in a potable-water system, with certification maintained through ongoing testing and annual production audits.

For industrial coatings, NSF/ANSI 61 is the governing certification for any lining or coating that contacts potable water - the interior of water storage tanks, clearwells, pipe, and treatment-plant equipment - since its scope explicitly includes barrier materials such as paints, coatings, and tank liners. Nearly all U.S. states require it by law, regulation, or policy for potable-water contact, so it is a gating credential for coatings work on Louisiana municipal water systems, utilities, and any industrial site with drinking-water infrastructure.

WRAS Approved (Water Regulations Approval Scheme) — Material / Product Approval under the UK Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations, tested to BS 6920

WRAS Approval certifies that a product or material is safe and suitable for contact with water intended for human consumption (potable/drinking water) and complies with the UK Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations / Scottish Byelaws. Non-metallic materials such as epoxy and polyurethane coatings are tested to BS 6920, which evaluates effects on water quality including taste and odour, appearance/colour, growth of aquatic microorganisms, leaching (extraction) of metals and other substances of concern to public health, and cytotoxicity. A WRAS Material Approval confirms the cured material itself passes these tests; a Product Approval covers a finished product. Passing means the coating does not contaminate or adversely affect the quality of drinking water it contacts.

For industrial coatings, WRAS approval is the UK benchmark for any lining or coating that contacts potable water — drinking-water storage tanks, reservoirs, pipework, valves, and treatment assets. While it is a UK scheme (Louisiana/US potable-water work typically relies on NSF/ANSI 61), a WRAS-approved Belzona coating demonstrates that the product has independently passed rigorous drinking-water safety testing, which is meaningful for water/wastewater utilities, food and beverage plants, and clients with UK or international specifications.

Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) Regulation 31 Approval

Regulation 31 approval, administered by the UK Drinking Water Inspectorate, is the legal authorization required for products and materials used by water companies that come into contact with public drinking water in England and Wales. It is mandated under Regulation 31 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended) and applies to items used from the source of the water up to the point of delivery to the consumer's building, including pipes, tanks, linings, and site-applied or in-situ coatings such as epoxy and polyurethane resins. Gaining approval means the product has been tested and assessed to confirm it does not leach harmful substances or otherwise compromise water quality or public health, after which it is added to DWI's list of approved products; approvals are subject to a re-approval process five years after the initial approval date.

For an industrial coatings distributor, this approval signals that a lining or coating is suitable for use on potable-water assets such as storage tanks, reservoirs, and pipework. While DWI Regulation 31 is the UK regime, it is one of the most rigorous internationally recognized potable-water contact approvals, so a product carrying it demonstrates a high standard of suitability for drinking-water service that Louisiana water-utility and industrial clients can weigh alongside US approvals like NSF/ANSI 61.

USDA Authorization for Incidental Food Contact (USDA Nonfood Compounds / Prior Approval program; continued since 1999 as the NSF International Nonfood Compounds Registration Program)

"USDA Incidental Food Contact" refers to a material that meets the requirements of the USDA's program for compounds used in federally inspected meat and poultry plants, in applications where the product may come into occasional, unintended (incidental) contact with food — as opposed to direct, continuous food contact. For a coating, this acceptability is grounded in the underlying ingredients being compliant for incidental food-contact use, commonly demonstrated against FDA 21 CFR 175.300 (resinous and polymeric coatings). It means the product is considered acceptable for use on surfaces and equipment in food-processing areas where brief, occasional food contact could occur.

Louisiana has a substantial food and beverage processing sector (seafood, sugar, rice, poultry, packaged foods, beverages), where plant floors, drains, tanks, walls and equipment must be repairable and recoatable without compromising food safety. A coating carrying USDA/NSF incidental-food-contact acceptability lets a distributor's customers perform repairs and protective coating work in food-processing zones while staying inside their sanitation and regulatory framework.

U.S. FDA Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR) compliance for direct food contact — primarily 21 CFR 175.300, "Resinous and polymeric coatings"

"Direct food contact" refers to a material that forms the surface actually touching food, rather than only incidental or indirect contact. For coatings, FDA compliance is governed mainly by 21 CFR 175.300, "Resinous and polymeric coatings," which permits a coating to serve as the food-contact surface provided it is built only from FDA-permitted components and, once cured, stays within strict extractive (migration) limits — for example, chloroform-soluble extractives measured in milligrams per square inch — when tested with solvents such as water, heptane, and dilute alcohol at time/temperature conditions representing the relevant food type. Importantly, the FDA does not "approve" or certify individual coating products; a manufacturer self-determines compliance by formulating from permitted substances and confirming the cured film meets the regulation's requirements for its intended conditions of use.

Louisiana hosts extensive food, beverage, sugar, and agricultural processing alongside its petrochemical base, where tanks, hoppers, chutes, troughs, and conveyors need durable linings that can safely touch product. A coating compliant for direct food contact lets facilities repair and protect food-contact surfaces without compromising product safety or regulatory standing. Buyers should confirm each product's specific compliant conditions of use (food types, temperatures, contact duration) on its technical data sheet, since compliance is application-specific.

ABS Type Approval (Product Design Assessment), American Bureau of Shipping

ABS Type Approval is a certification program run by the American Bureau of Shipping, a marine and offshore classification society, for products used aboard ABS-classed vessels and offshore facilities. Full Type Approval has two parts: a Product Design Assessment (PDA), an engineering review and prototype testing that confirms a product's design complies with ABS Rules and recognized standards, plus a Manufacturing Assessment (MA) verifying the production facility's quality systems. For coatings, ABS issues a Product Design Assessment certificate confirming the product has been evaluated and documented against ABS requirements and listed in the ABS Type Approval directory, which streamlines its acceptance for use on classed assets.

For industrial coatings, an ABS Product Design Assessment signals that a product has been independently evaluated by a recognized classification society for marine and offshore service, where corrosion, erosion, and immersion resistance are critical. This matters to Louisiana's heavy marine, shipyard, and port infrastructure work, where specifiers and surveyors often look for materials recognized under ABS for use on classed vessels and structures.

China Classification Society (CCS)

China Classification Society (CCS) is China's national ship classification society, established in 1956 (originally as the Ship Registration Bureau, adopting the China Classification Society name in 1986) and headquartered in Beijing, and a full member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). It sets technical rules for ships and offshore installations and operates a marine product inspection program that issues type approvals and product certificates verifying that materials and equipment meet its requirements for use aboard CCS-classed vessels and structures. A CCS type approval on a coating means the product's formulation and performance have been reviewed and tested against the society's requirements for the marine/offshore service for which it is approved.

For Louisiana operators with shipyard, barge, and marine terminal assets, a CCS approval signals that a coating has met an internationally recognized classification-society standard, which matters when vessels or structures are built, repaired, or classed for Chinese-flag or Chinese-yard work or for owners who require IACS-member approvals. It gives specifiers added third-party assurance for protective coatings used in marine environments.

DNV GL Type Approval (now issued under the name DNV)

DNV GL Type Approval is a product certification issued by the classification society DNV (known as DNV GL from 2013 until it returned to the name DNV on 1 March 2021). It is granted after DNV reviews a product's design and documentation, witnesses type testing against the applicable DNV rules and standards, and assesses the manufacturer's production and quality systems. A product holding a valid Type Approval Certificate is recognized as accepted for installation on vessels and offshore units classed by DNV, subject to ongoing periodical surveillance and re-evaluation.

For an industrial-coatings and repair-composite distributor, a DNV (DNV GL) Type Approval signals that a product has been independently assessed by a leading marine classification society and is suitable for use on classed vessels and offshore structures. This is directly relevant to Louisiana's marine, shipyard, oil and gas, and port industries, where owners and surveyors often require class-recognized materials for repairs and protective coatings.

Lloyd's Register (LR) Certificate of Approval / Type Approval

Lloyd's Register is a maritime classification society that sets rules for ship safety and certifies that materials, equipment, and components meet those rules. A Lloyd's Register certificate (issued through its Type Approval or material/manufacturer certification schemes) confirms that a product has been independently tested and assessed against LR's published Rules and the relevant marine and regulatory requirements. Holding the certificate means the product can be specified and used aboard LR-classed vessels and is listed among LR's Type Approved Products.

For an industrial coatings distributor, LR approval signals that a product is qualified for marine and shipping applications, where independent classification-society sign-off is often a procurement requirement. In a port and waterway state like Louisiana, this matters for repairs and protective work on vessels, barges, and marine infrastructure that must satisfy classification-society rules.

ASTM E84 (Class A) — Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

ASTM E84 measures how a material's surface contributes to fire spread using the Steiner Tunnel test, a roughly 24-foot tunnel in which a specimen is exposed to a controlled gas flame for 10 minutes. The method produces two ratings: a Flame Spread Index (how fast flame travels across the surface) and a Smoke Developed Index (how much smoke is generated), both indexed against two calibration materials, red oak (assigned an index of 100) and inorganic reinforced cement board (assigned an index of 0). A "Class A" result is the highest classification, requiring a Flame Spread Index of 0–25 and a Smoke Developed Index of 450 or less.

For an industrial coating, a Class A ASTM E84 result means the cured film has low flame spread and low smoke development, which is required by building and fire codes (IBC/IFC) for many interior surfaces and helps it qualify for use in occupied plants, refineries, and commercial facilities common across Louisiana industry. It is a code-driven specification point that lets specifiers confirm the coating will not be the limiting factor for fire performance on a wall, ceiling, or structural surface.

Class 0 (Class O), as defined in the UK Building Regulations (Approved Document B, Fire Safety)

Class 0 (commonly written "Class O") is a national fire-performance classification defined within the UK Building Regulations, specifically Approved Document B (Fire Safety), rather than being a single standalone test. To achieve it, a material's surface had to meet two requirements under the BS 476 series: a Class 1 rating for Surface Spread of Flame (BS 476-7) and the Fire Propagation test (BS 476-6) with a fire propagation index (I) of not more than 12 and a sub-index (i1) of not more than 6. Passing meant the material strongly limited both how far flame could spread across its surface and how much heat it contributed to a developing fire, making it the highest of the UK national reaction-to-fire classes for wall and ceiling linings.

For industrial and commercial coatings, a Class 0 rating signalled that a coating or lining could be specified on wall and ceiling surfaces in higher-risk areas such as corridors, stairwells and escape routes, where the Building Regulations historically demanded the top surface-spread classification. For Louisiana plants and facilities working to UK or international project specifications, it indicates a coating engineered to resist flame spread and limit heat contribution during a fire. Note: Class 0 is a UK national classification that is being phased out — the BS 476-based classes were removed from England's Approved Document B with effect from 2 March 2025, superseded by the BS EN 13501-1 reaction-to-fire classes.

EN 13501-1 - Fire classification of construction products and building elements - Part 1: Classification using data from reaction to fire tests (classification C-s2-d0)

EN 13501-1 is the harmonized European ("Euroclass") standard that classifies the reaction-to-fire behavior of construction products and building elements using data from standardized fire tests, and it forms the basis of CE marking for these products. It assigns a main class (A1, A2, B, C, D, E or F, from non-combustible to highly flammable) plus two sub-classifications: smoke production (s1-s3) and flaming droplets/particles (d0-d2). A classification of C-s2-d0 means the product is a combustible material with a limited (medium) contribution to fire growth, has moderate ("average intensity") smoke production (s2), and produces no flaming droplets or particles during the test (d0, the best droplet rating).

For industrial coatings used in occupied or enclosed structures, an EN 13501-1 reaction-to-fire classification documents how the cured material contributes to fire growth, smoke, and burning droplets - relevant where coatings, linings, or claddings face fire-safety requirements. It is a European (CEN) standard, so for Louisiana facilities it most often appears on the product data sheets of globally specified materials rather than as a US code requirement; specifiers can cross-reference it alongside US fire ratings.

ETA-Danmark A/S — issuer of European Technical Assessments (ETAs) under the EU Construction Products Regulation

ETA-Danmark A/S is a Danish Technical Assessment Body (TAB), notified/designated to issue European Technical Assessments (ETAs) under the EU Construction Products Regulation. A European Technical Assessment is a documented evaluation of a construction product's performance against its essential characteristics, used for products that are not covered, or not fully covered, by a harmonised European standard. Holding an ETA gives the manufacturer a voluntary route to draw up a Declaration of Performance and affix the CE marking, so that the assessed product can be legally placed on the European market.

For an industrial coating or repair composite, an ETA from a body such as ETA-Danmark provides an independent, EU-recognized assessment of the product's performance for its intended construction use, supporting CE marking and acceptance on European projects. For Louisiana industrial clients with European parent companies, EU operations, or export-facing facilities, this signals the material has been formally assessed to a recognized European framework rather than relying solely on manufacturer data.

ASTM D6083 / D6083M, Standard Specification for Liquid-Applied Acrylic Coating Used in Roofing

ASTM D6083 is a material specification that defines the minimum physical and performance properties a liquid-applied, water-based acrylic latex elastomeric roof coating must meet. It sets acceptance values for properties such as tensile strength, elongation, tear resistance, low-temperature flexibility, adhesion, water-swelling resistance, permeance and fungi resistance, measured both before and after accelerated weathering. A coating described as compliant has been tested against these defined methods and meets or exceeds the specification's minimum benchmarks for an acrylic roof coating.

For an authorized Belzona distributor serving Louisiana's industrial, commercial and petrochemical facilities, ASTM D6083 is a recognized benchmark for roof coatings applied to large flat and low-slope roofs. Compliance gives facility owners and specifiers an objective, third-party-referenced measure of weathering durability and elastomeric performance under the region's intense UV, heat and rainfall, supporting roof refurbishment and leak-protection decisions.

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR is the U.S. government-backed program for identifying energy-efficient products, established by the EPA in 1992 and run jointly with the DOE. For coatings, the relevant criteria came from the ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for Roof Products, which qualified "cool roof" surfaces based on solar reflectance and thermal emittance, measured both initially and after three years of weathering (for example, low-slope roofs required a minimum solar reflectance of 0.65 initial and 0.50 aged). Qualifying reflective roof coatings reflect more sunlight and re-radiate absorbed heat, which lowers rooftop temperatures and reduces a building's air-conditioning load. Products earned the label through testing in EPA-recognized laboratories and certification by EPA-recognized third-party certification bodies.

For Louisiana's hot, sun-intensive climate, reflective "cool roof" coatings can meaningfully cut roof-surface temperatures and building cooling costs, making this designation a recognized marker of energy-efficient roof restoration. An ENERGY STAR association on a coating signaled it was independently tested for high solar reflectance and emittance rather than relying on manufacturer claims alone. Note: the U.S. EPA sunset the ENERGY STAR Roof Products specification effective June 1, 2022, so the ENERGY STAR roof-product label is no longer issued; solar reflectance is now rated through the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC).

Lead Sheet Association (LSA)

The Lead Sheet Association is the long-established United Kingdom authority on the design, specification and installation of rolled lead sheet for construction, roofing and weatherproofing. It publishes the recognized technical guidelines (the LSA/LSTA Rolled Lead Sheet Manual) used by architects, surveyors, conservation officers and specialist contractors as the benchmark for correct, compliant leadwork. Where the LSA "recommends" or "approves" a product — such as a flashing sealant, patination treatment or liquid-applied repair coating — it means the product is recognized by the LSA as suitable and compatible for use in leadwork applications in line with its best-practice guidance.

For an industrial coatings audience, an LSA recognition signals that a sealing or weatherproofing material is fit for use alongside traditional lead flashings and detailing — relevant for repairing or sealing leadwork on roofs, gutters, parapets and around penetrations. It is a UK building/roofing reference point rather than a chemical or potable-water standard, so its weight in Louisiana industry is mainly as a credibility marker for the product's roofing and weatherproofing performance.

Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance (NOA)

A Notice of Acceptance (NOA) is an official product-approval document issued by Miami-Dade County's Product Control Section certifying that a building product has passed the county's rigorous testing requirements and is approved for use within the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) of the Florida Building Code. Products are evaluated against Miami-Dade Test Application Standards (TAS) — protocols that generally exceed national ASTM standards through requirements such as cyclic wind-pressure, large-missile impact, and wind-driven-rain testing. An NOA covers building-envelope products including roofing and roof coatings, wall cladding, windows, doors, skylights, and shutters; each NOA carries a unique number, defined limits of use, an approval date, and an expiration date subject to periodic renewal.

For industrial and roofing coatings, a Miami-Dade NOA demonstrates that a roof maintenance or restoration coating has been validated to perform under hurricane-zone conditions — meaningful credibility for the wind-, rain-, and storm-exposed assets common in hurricane-prone coastal climates. While NOAs are mandated specifically in South Florida's HVHZ, the approval is widely recognized as one of the most stringent benchmarks of weather and uplift resistance in the U.S., which is reassuring for Louisiana facility owners specifying coatings on roofs and exterior structures in a hurricane-prone climate.

KC Mark (Korea Certification) — the unified national product certification of the Republic of Korea

The KC Mark (Korea Certification) is the Republic of Korea's unified national conformity mark, introduced in 2009 to consolidate roughly a dozen separate mandatory Korean certification schemes into a single mark administered by KATS under MOTIE. It signifies that a product has been tested and certified to meet applicable Korean safety, health, and quality standards (the "K Standards"), and for products that fall within a mandatory regulatory scope it must be obtained before the product can legally be sold, imported, or used in the Korean market, with the KC Mark applied to certified products. Note, however, that Korea operates several distinct certification regimes, and a "KC"/"K"-labelled approval on a water-contact coating may instead refer to Korea's separate drinking-water hygiene-and-safety certification rather than the general KATS safety mark (see notes).

For an industrial-coatings distributor, a Korean national listing indicates that a Belzona product has been evaluated against applicable Korean standards, supporting use on projects in or supplying the South Korean market. National gateway approvals of this kind (broadly comparable to the EU's CE mark) can matter for Louisiana operators in petrochemical, marine, and energy supply chains that build, export, or service equipment destined for Korean facilities or Korean-built/Korean-flagged assets — and, where the approval is the drinking-water variant, for potable-water immersion linings specified to Korean water-utility requirements.