Holiday (Continuity) test on coatings

Holiday test or a Continuity test is one of the non destructive test method applied on protective
coatings to detect unacceptable discontinuities such as pinholes and voids.

The test involves checking of an electric circuit to see if current flows to complete the electrical
circuit.

A Holiday test or Continuity test is performed by applying low voltage (connected in series with
an LED or noise-producing component such as a piezoelectric speaker) across the chosen path.

If the electrical flow is detected then the test area is termed as conductive indicating presence of
discontinuities such as pinholes and voids.

This test is commonly used in the offshore industries where piping and structures are coated with
non-conductor coatings.

LMATS professionals are trained in Holiday (Continuity) test method in accordance with AS
3894.1, ASTM G62 and similar national and international standards.

Definition - What does Holiday Testing mean?

Holiday testing is a non-destructive test method applied on protective coatings to detect

unacceptable discontinuities such as pinholes and voids. The test involves checking an electric
circuit to see if current flows to complete the circuit. This testing is used to find coating film
discontinuities that are not readily visible.

The testing is usually performed on tank interiors, chemical storage vessels and buried structures
because of the importance of maintaining adequate coating protection in aggressive service
environments.

Holiday testing is also known as continuity testing.

Holiday testing is a non-destructive test carried out on a coating, such as rubberized

waterproofing coating on concrete, where holes through the coating are detected by the
formation of an electrical circuit in areas where there is insufficient coating to resist the electrical
charge. If an electrical flow is detected, then the test area is termed as conductive, indicating the
presence of discontinuities such as pinholes and voids. This test is commonly used in the
offshore industries where piping and structures are coated with non-conductive coatings.

A holiday detector is an electrical device used to determine the location of a gap or void in the
anticorrosion coating of a metal surface. There are various techniques and equipment available
for holiday detection. It can be performed by applying low voltage or high voltage across the
chosen path. Coatings applied to concrete substrates can also be tested for discontinuities using
either low-voltage or high-voltage holiday detectors, depending on the coating thickness.
Low-voltage holiday testing is used when the coating system is less than 500 microns (20 mils)
thick. High-voltage holiday testing is used when the coating system is thicker. High-voltage
holiday testing requires special care not to damage the coating or cause injury to the operator.