ISO 17652-3:2003

Overview

ISO 17652-3:2003 specifies a laboratory test method to determine how a shop primer affects the maximum usable speed for thermal cutting processes. The procedure quantifies the primer's impact on cutting performance and provides a reproducible basis for quality control, process selection and safety assessment when preparing primed structural steel for cutting.

Key practical elements in the standard include use of hot-rolled S275 steel test plates (1000 × 1000 mm, nominal 10 mm thick), defined surface preparation (including one plate blasted to SA 2½), controlled primer application and drying, and evaluation of cut surface quality against EN ISO 9013 criteria.

Key Topics

• Test pieces and preparation: Plates from the same heat, uniform shop-primer film thickness per supplier instructions; drying at least 10 days at surface temperatures >10 °C and <40 °C and minimum air humidity of 50 % (alternative storage must be monitored and reported).
• Cutting procedure: Determine approximate maximum cutting speed for uncoated and coated plates, then perform stepped-speed cuts (zones at 0.95 v, 0.975 v, v and 1.025 v) to identify the maximum acceptable speed for required cut quality.
• Cut quality assessment: Evaluate cut surfaces in accordance with EN ISO 9013. The acceptance level is chosen so speed is the primary variable.
• Cutting processes covered: Mechanised oxygen–fuel (acetylene or propane), mechanised laser (YAG or CO2) and mechanised plasma cutting; parameter selection aims to achieve maximum cutting speed for the required quality.
• Reduction factor: The primer influence is expressed as a reduction factor R based on the measured maximum cutting speeds with and without primer (reported values v_p and v_0).
• Reporting requirements: The standard defines required test report contents to ensure traceability and reproducibility.

Applications

• Quality control of shop-applied primers to verify suitability for downstream thermal cutting operations.
• Specification and procurement: provide objective performance data for primer selection where cutting productivity is critical.
• Welding and fabrication planning: optimize cutting parameters and equipment choice (oxygen–fuel, laser, plasma) when components are primed.
• Safety and environmental planning: informed decisions about cutting speed and process reduce rework, emissions and nozzle soiling risks.

Related Standards

• EN ISO 17652-1:2003 - General requirements for shop-primer tests
• EN ISO 17652-2 - Welding properties of shop primers
• EN ISO 9013 - Thermal cutting: classification and quality tolerances
• EN 10025 / S275 technical delivery conditions
• EN ISO 2808 and EN 10238 - film thickness and prefabricated primed products

Bold, standardized test methods and controlled reporting under ISO 17652-3:2003 help fabricators, coating suppliers and test laboratories measure and compare the effect of shop primers on thermal cutting productivity and quality.