ASTM D5588-97(2017)

Standard Test Method for Determination of the Microbial Condition of Paint, Paint Raw Materials, and Plant Areas

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Spoilage of paint in the container is often related to the use of contaminated raw materials, water (particularly recycled washwater), vessels, piping, and equipment in the manufacturing plant. There is a need for a simple method to determine the presence or absence of microorganisms in plants that manufacture paints and coatings. Such a determination enables the manufacturer to establish the point of contamination (that is, raw materials or problem housekeeping areas in the plant) to help in solving the spoilage problem.
Note 1: Some contamination in plant areas is to be expected, since microorganisms are ubiquitous and cannot generally be eliminated practically (it is what an in-can preservative is supposed to control). Excessive levels of contamination or contaminated raw materials can exceed the capability of the preservative. If you have excessive contamination in the plant, there are methods for decontamination including steam, preservatives, bleach, etc. These should be discussed with your biocide supplier and used with care. Recovery of spoiled or contaminated products is often not feasible, so an adequate level of the appropriate biocide in conjunction with good plant housekeeping practices are essential. Your biocide supplier can also help here.  
3.2 This test method may be used by persons without basic microbiological training, but some training on aseptic techniques would be recommended.
Note 2: The reliability of the results obtained from this test method is extremely dependent on the techniques employed. Improper techniques can result in a sterile sample appearing to be contaminated, and even worse, a contaminated sample appearing to be sterile (see also 5.1). It is recommended that you consult with your biocide supplier, raw material supplier, or an independent testing laboratory to confirm questionable results.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for the determination of the microbial condition (contamination or sterility) of raw materials used in the manufacture of paint, and the microbial condition of paint and paint manufacturing areas.  
1.2 The values in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2017
• ICS: 87.040 - Paints and varnishes
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.28 - Biodeterioration

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D5588 − 97 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Test Method for
Determination of the Microbial Condition of Paint, Paint Raw
1
Materials, and Plant Areas
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5588; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope ing plant. There is a need for a simple method to determine the
presence or absence of microorganisms in plants that manu-
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for the determina-
facture paints and coatings. Such a determination enables the
tion of the microbial condition (contamination or sterility) of
manufacturer to establish the point of contamination (that is,
raw materials used in the manufacture of paint, and the
raw materials or problem housekeeping areas in the plant) to
microbial condition of paint and paint manufacturing areas.
help in solving the spoilage problem.
1.2 The values in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
NOTE 1—Some contamination in plant areas is to be expected, since
The values given in parentheses are for information only.
microorganisms are ubiquitous and cannot generally be eliminated prac-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tically (it is what an in-can preservative is supposed to control). Excessive
levels of contamination or contaminated raw materials can exceed the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
capability of the preservative. If you have excessive contamination in the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
plant, there are methods for decontamination including steam,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
preservatives, bleach, etc. These should be discussed with your biocide
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
supplierandusedwithcare.Recoveryofspoiledorcontaminatedproducts
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
is often not feasible, so an adequate level of the appropriate biocide in
conjunction with good plant housekeeping practices are essential. Your
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
biocide supplier can also help here.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 3.2 This test method may be used by persons without basic
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical microbiological training, but some training on aseptic tech-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. niques would be recommended.
NOTE 2—The reliability of the results obtained from this test method is
2. Summary of Test Method
extremely dependent on the techniques employed. Improper techniques
can result in a sterile sample appearing to be contaminated, and even
2.1 This test method outlines procedures to (1) obtain
worse, a contaminated sample appearing to be sterile (see also 5.1). It is
samples for sterility testing from wet or dry materials and plant
recommended that you consult with your biocide supplier, raw material
sites, (2) conduct the sterility testing on those samples to see if
supplier, or an independent testing laboratory to confirm questionable
they are contaminated, (3) evaluate the degree of
results.
contamination, if any, and (4) provide a guide for some
indication of the type of contamination present (bacterial, 4. Apparatus and Materials
fungal, yeast, etc.). This test method is not designed to include
4.1 Balance, capable of weighing to 0.10 g.
all the necessary precautions to maintain the level of sterility
4.2 Incubator, or other device capable of maintaining a
required to provide the most accurate results. Some familiarity
constant temperature between 28 and 32°C.
with microbiological techniques is recommended.
4.3 Refrigerator.
3. Significance and Use
2 3
4.4 TrypticSoyAgar(TSA)Plates, pre-prepared. (SeeNote
3.1 Spoilage of paint in the container is often related to the
3).
use of contaminated raw materials, water (particularly recycled
washwater), vessels, piping, and equipment in the manufactur-
2
Please note that Tryptic Soy and Trypticase Soy are names used interchange-
ably. Pre-prepared TSA plates, BBL# 21185, are available from various microbio-
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint logical supply companies.
3
and Related Coatings, Materials, andApplications and is the direct responsibility of Agar plates (media) may be purchased pre-prepared using the indicated Difco
Subcommittee D01.28 on Biodeterioration. or BBL number from microbiological supply companies, or both. Media may also
Current edition approved June 1, 2017
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D5588 − 97 (Reapproved 2012) D5588 − 97 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Test Method for
Determination of the Microbial Condition of Paint, Paint Raw
1
Materials, and Plant Areas
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5588; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for the determination of the microbial condition (contamination or sterility) of raw
materials used in the manufacture of paint, and the microbial condition of paint and paint manufacturing areas.
1.2 The values in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Summary of Test Method
2.1 This test method outlines procedures to (1) obtain samples for sterility testing from wet or dry materials and plant sites, (2)
conduct the sterility testing on those samples to see if they are contaminated, (3) evaluate the degree of contamination, if any, and
(4) provide a guide for some indication of the type of contamination present (bacterial, fungal, yeast, etc.). This test method is not
designed to include all the necessary precautions to maintain the level of sterility required to provide the most accurate results.
Some familiarity with microbiological techniques is recommended.
3. Significance and Use
3.1 Spoilage of paint in the container is often related to the use of contaminated raw materials, water (particularly recycled
washwater), vessels, piping, and equipment in the manufacturing plant. There is a need for a simple method to determine the
presence or absence of microorganisms in plants that manufacture paints and coatings. Such a determination enables the
manufacturer to establish the point of contamination (that is, raw materials or problem housekeeping areas in the plant) to help
in solving the spoilage problem.
NOTE 1—Some contamination in plant areas is to be expected, since microorganisms are ubiquitous and cannot generally be eliminated practically (it
is what an in-can preservative is supposed to control). Excessive levels of contamination or contaminated raw materials can exceed the capability of the
preservative. If you have excessive contamination in the plant, there are methods for decontamination including steam, preservatives, bleach, etc. These
should be discussed with your biocide supplier and used with care. Recovery of spoiled or contaminated products is often not feasible, so an adequate
level of the appropriate biocide in conjunction with good plant housekeeping practices are essential. Your biocide supplier can also help here.
3.2 This test method may be used by persons without basic microbiological training, but some training on aseptic techniques
would be recommended.
NOTE 2—The reliability of the results obtained from this test method is extremely dependent on the techniques employed. Improper techniques can
result in a sterile sample appearing to be contaminated, and even worse, a contaminated sample appearing to be sterile (see also 5.1). It is recommended
that you consult with your biocide supplier, raw material supplier, or an independent testing laboratory to confirm questionable results.
4. Apparatus and Materials
4.1 Balance, capable of weighing to 0.10 g.
4.2 Incubator, or other device capable of maintaining a constant temperature between 28 and 32°C.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.28 on Biodeterioration.
Current edition approved June 1, 2012June 1, 2017. Published July 2012June 2017. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 20082012 as
D
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