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Anonymous
 
Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2008 - 01:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

A client questioned why we specify a paint product that is ranked low by Consumer Reports in the March 2008 issue. How would you reply?
Nathan Woods, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 229
Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2008 - 01:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

The Consumer Reports data is collected from all over the country, right? If you have had good expereiences with it in your local climate/market, then I think you should stick with you know works in your area.
George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: geverding

Post Number: 397
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2008 - 02:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

What was the testing procedure used by CR? What did they test? What do you typically use as standards when you specify? What is the owner expecting?

In sum, was the CR test applicable to your project?
Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI
Senior Member
Username: rliebing

Post Number: 783
Registered: 02-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2008 - 02:22 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Following George's thought, if we specify products tested by UL, ASTM, MPI (Masters Painters Institute), SSPC (Society for Protective Coatings}, are their test methods comparable, at any level, to CR's methods? Not aware of any spec using CR as a reference standard.

But this is a tough situation where client questions information that may well be quite divergent, irrelevant one to another and the proverbial apples and oranges.
Ronald L. Geren, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: specman

Post Number: 617
Registered: 03-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2008 - 08:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Most likely, the products tested by Consumer Reports are the manufacturer's consumer line of products. The products used on construction projects are typically the manufacturer's professional line of products, and are usually of higher quality.
Lynn Javoroski CSI CCS LEED™ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 720
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Friday, February 01, 2008 - 09:02 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Except for paint...consumer quality paint is usually of higher solids content than commercial/construction quality paint.
David J. Wyatt
Senior Member
Username: david_j_wyatt_csi_ccs_ccca

Post Number: 102
Registered: 07-2005
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 09:00 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

What criteria did CR evaluate? If they are convenience-related, such as packaging, low odor, price, ease of clean-up, then they may not be relevant to a commercial construction product. It would be interesting to know.
George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: geverding

Post Number: 404
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 04:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I attended a seminar given by Barry Law, the president of MPI, and I happened to mention this discussion to him. Coincidentally, MPI was in process of evaluating the CR tests. Barry emailed me the othert day that the article on CR is now available on the MPI website. For those interested, it is http://www.paintinfo.com/ or click here: MPI

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