PDCA Standards

Painting & Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) Standards

Of all of the functions performed by an association, there is perhaps none more important or more public-spirited than that of establishing industry standards. By undertaking to define what constitutes the proper, or more specifically, professional way of doing things in an industry, and then communicating those standards to the general public, it removes the “veil of secrecy” that so often exists between an industry and the public. Thus, by making clear to consumers the terms and understandings by which an industry’s members communicate with the public and each other, the opportunities for confusion and disagreements are substantially diminished.

PDCA embarked on just such a venture, to make the painting and decorating industry less opaque both to those who rely upon it to make their living, as well as to those who purchase its services. Each Standard is organized into seven sections: (1) scope; (2) significance and use; (3) reference documents and standards; (4) definitions; (5) standard specification; (6) comments; and (7) disclaimer of liability. The Standards discuss a range of issues that commonly become the subject of misunderstandings or, in extreme cases, contract disputes and provide guidance for both the contractor and the layman about how such differences can best be avoided.

All participants in the architectural, engineering, design, construction, and painting & wallcovering industry benefit from the use and propagation of the PDCA Standards. All consumers benefit from the use of PDCA Standards by those they contract with, to provide best value for their painting and decorating expenditures.

Introduction to the PDCA Standards - define what constitutes the proper – or more specifically, professional – way of doing things in an industry,

Why Use PDCA Standards - The in’s and out’s of using a standard.

All PDCA Standards (one zipped file)

P1-04 “Touch-Up Painting & Damage Repair: Financial Responsibility”

P2-04 “Third-Party Inspections: Qualifications, Responsibilities & Procedures”

P3-04 “Designation of Paint Colors”

P4-04 “Responsibility for Inspection and Acceptance of Surfaces Prior to Painting and Decorating”

P5-04 “Benchmark Sample Procedures for Paint and Other Decorative Coating Systems”

P6-04 “Acceptance of Completed Wallcovering Installations”

P7-04 “Job Sequencing”

P8-04 “Contracting Entity’s Responsibility for Maintenance of Paints
and Coatings”

P9-04 “Definition of Trade Terms”

P10-04 “Measurement of Surface Area for Estimating Painting and Decorating Work”

P11-05 “Painter’s Caulk, Implied Requirements”

P12-05 “Levels of Block Filler”

P13-06 “The Inspection and Acceptance of Architectural Paints on the Interior Surfaces of Structures When Dry Film Thickness Is Specified”

P14-06 “Levels of Surface Preparation for Repainting and Maintenance Projects Receiving Architectural Coatings”

P15-07 “Painting of Shop-Primed Siding and other Architectural Features ”

P16-07 “Wallcovering Removal in Preparation for Painting”

P17-08 “Field Painting of Smooth-Faced Tilt-Up “Concrete”

P18-08 “Recommended Protocol for Documenting Extra Work to a Contract”

Technical Paper “Responsibilities and Limitations Regarding Efflorescence in
Paper 100 Masonry, Stucco, and Cementitious Substrates”

PDCA Available from: Standard Index of PDCA Industry Standards