What to think of the kds test panels?

February 2011

One of our reader, Mrs Fabienne DUFOUR, R & D and HSE Manager and REACh Coordinator of the French Babb Co company, sent us the following comment:

‘‘We read your last DPC in December and it turns out that your information is not updated.

The Twin KDS Panels currently manufactured are made in a different way than previously. Their name has been changed accordingly.

Previously, there were indeed both the ‘‘WW type Twin KDS Panels’’ and the ‘‘PE type Twin KDS Panels’’. Now, there is only one type of Twin KDS Panels simply called ‘‘Twin KDS Panels’’.

Furthermore, the acronym KIDS has never been used and it remains KDS.

We mail you the Sherwin’s document dealing with the Twin KDS panels, dated August 20, 2010, and you may see that they are now similar to the PSM-5 panels as for the cracks’ sizes.

Sherwin had deleted any production of the “old stuff”, and they decided to manufacture the new KDS as they do for the PSM-5. However, the thickness of the panel and of the chromium coating is no longer advertised in the Sherwin’s document.’’

Our answer:

‘‘We thank you for these pieces of information.

We wrote our paper in December 2009, i.e. more than a year ago.

We are going to update our DPCNewsletter N°032.

We did not know of the Sherwin’s document that you sent us, and it is neither on your Website, nor on Sherwin’s. The Sherwin Website still displays the “old type” KDS Twin Panels, i.e.:

• MODEL WW : For use with water-washable (Method A) penetrants;

• MODEL PE : For use with nonwater-washable (Method B, C & D) penetrants

However, the document you sent us deals with one type only.

As you explained us, SHERWIN is currently rebuilding its website.’’

Conclusion

In order to prevent any problem with auditors, may we suggest that your procedures mention the right type(s) you are using on your installations?