DSS-Ch.06.03 — Anti-Graffiti Coating Ghost (chemically altered)

Anti-graffiti coating ghost is an appearance change on glass resulting from application, partial removal, or chemical alteration of anti-graffiti barrier products (sacrificial wax/polymer films or “permanent” polysiloxane/fluoropolymer systems). After cleaning events (alkaline/solvent/oxidizer) or weathering, the barrier can leave optical veils, patch maps, edge laps, and in aged cases very shallow micro-texture within affected zones. Classification is appearance-only per VIS (method-agnostic). Inspect after Non-Invasive Reveal under VIS lighting/geometry; record surface numbering and worked-surface status. Treat unknown residues as chemical exposure zones; document per site safety.

• Patchy sheen with rectilinear or roller/cloth arcs reflecting prior application/removal paths; edge-lap lines and holidays (“missed” islands) may be visible.
• Water-behavior contrast (beading vs. sheeting) across patch boundaries if hydrophobic character remains.
• Aged or chemically attacked films can show dirty tide lines (preferential soil load) and, at raking, very fine modeled micro-texture.

Surface-catch class (MSRT)

• Commonly SC-0 (film/wetting difference only).
• SC-1 (slight) may appear on aged / cross-linked or chemically attacked zones; SC-2 uncommon.
• Perform one light, non-marring pass on a revealed test patch (substrate) only; polymer stylus if a factory functional coating may be present. MSRT supports classification only.

Visual signature

• Application geometry: roller stops, cloth arcs, rectangular mask lines, or overlap seams; optical veil/patch within boundaries.
• No chip-flank sparkle (not mechanical scoring); no discrete fused nodules/pits (not hot-particle).

Functional cue (optional wetting test).

• Light mist test may reveal contact-angle contrast across the ghost boundary (beading on treated side). Photograph immediately; avoid flooding IGU edges.

Viewing / lighting

• Evaluate clean & dry at 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal incidence and oblique sweep (~60°-120°); use raking light for boundary/veil readability. Record distances/angles in-frame.

Location / access

• Record pane ID and surface numbering (#1-#4; laminate-internal). If fixed parallax indicates between-pane condition (cavity contamination), classify CAT-5 by location and refer.

Mechanism cue (context)

• Evidence of graffiti response (tags, removal notes), contractor logs citing anti-graffiti products, pressure-washing / chemical removal, or remaining masking lines.

Assign CAT by visibility impact and MSRT after reveal. Depth values are indicative-field measurement not required.

• CAT-1 (Benign / non-relief): Optical veil/patchiness or wetting contrast only; SC-0; visible mainly in angle/raking. Indicative relief: 0-10 μm (optical).
• CAT-2 (Light): Persistent halo/patch with SC-1 on aged/altered zones; limited impact at standard view. Indicative relief: ~10-40 μm.
• CAT-3 (Moderate): Broader patch map / edge-lap network legible at standard distance; SC-1 → SC-2 in most affected areas. Indicative relief: ~40-120 μm.
• CAT-4 (Severe): Rare for anti-graffiti alone; where pronounced matte fields or widespread micro-texture exist, consider mixed chemistry (alkali/oxidizer stacks) and re-evaluate under applicable DSS. Indicative relief: ~120-300 μm+.
• CAT-5 (by condition/location): Between-pane/inaccessible by parallax, integrity indicators (active cracks/pane movement), or confirmed functional-coating loss on the surface to be worked → CAT-5.

CAT is appearance-based; acceptance is separate under VIS-A at 12/36/72 in. For factory functional coated faces, see VIS §6.2.e (appearance on worked coated surfaces).

• vs. Hydrophobic coating mismatch (Ch.06.02): Both show wetting edges; mismatch halos track consumer hydrophobics with crisp arcs/blocks across open glass fields; anti-graffiti ghosts often correlate with graffiti-adjacent zones and removal patterns (roller/brush rectangles, pressure-wash fans).
• vs. Silane/siloxane migration (Ch.06.01): Migration halos align to masonry treatment geometry/weep paths; anti-graffiti ghosts align to glass-only application/removal and graffiti events.
• vs. Mineral staining/etch (Ch.03): Mineral phenomena show rings/runs and may exhibit modeled micro-texture within those footprints; ghosts exhibit boundary maps from coating work, often with wetting contrast.
• vs. Residue films (R-family): General films lack distinct application geometry and wetting discontinuities.
• vs. Coating anomalies (Co-family manufacturing): Factory coating rub/patchiness resides typically on #2/#3 faces and follows production/handling logic; anti-graffiti ghosts are field-applied on the exposed face and correlate with graffiti mitigation.

• Photo set (VIS): 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal + oblique; include raking macros of edge-lap lines, patch interiors, and any holiday regions; add context frames (tag remnants, masking, equipment). Record distance/angle in-frame.
• Wetting behavior documentation (supplemental). Light mist test straddling a boundary; photograph immediate beading/sheeting contrast. Avoid flooding edges/IGU seals.
• MSRT result: One light, non-marring pass on a clean test patch; record SC-class (SC-0/SC-1/SC-2). Polymer stylus if a factory functional coating may be present.
• Forms: Pane ID; product family & surface numbering; worked surface Y/N; functional coating present on worked surface? (Y/N/Unknown); reveal status; lighting/time; geometry checklist; wetting test photos attached.
• Acceptance split: Post-restoration acceptance per VIS-A §6; classification ≠ acceptance. Coated-face appearance rules apply per VIS §6.2.e when the worked surface is a factory functional coating.

• Ch.06.03 Anti-Graffiti Coating Ghost (chemically altered) - Patch/edge-lap map with optical veil on surface #___; mist test shows wetting contrast across boundaries. Post-reveal test patch reads [SC-0/SC-1]; visible at [12/36/72 in] under VIS geometry. Morphology: roller/cloth arcs, rectangular mask lines, holidays; no chip-flank sparkle, no discrete pepper. Classification: CAT-[1/2/3/4] by visibility and SC-class; CAT-5 if between-pane, integrity cues, or coating-side loss on the surface to be worked. Forms + photo + wetting documentation attached; acceptance per VIS-A §6.

⭐ DSS-R

Damage Specification Standards 2026

DSS-R Residues/Films/Transfers

Draft v1.0

R.01 Sealants & Adhesives

• R.01.01 Silicone smear / tool‐mark film
• R.01.02 Butyl/PIB/IG sealant smear
• R.01.03 Polysulfide/polyurethane smear
• R.01.04 Mastic/bitumen/tar transfer
• R.01.05 Adhesive label/sticker ghost
• R.01.06 Protective film adhesive residue (aged)

R.02 Construction Overspray & Films

• R.02.01 Paint overspray film (latex/alkyd)
• R.02.02 Drywall mud/plaster film
• R.02.03 Stucco/lime film (residue)

R.03 Handling & Packaging

• R.03.01 Suction cup rings (residue/pressure mark)
• R.03.02 Separator pad ghost / “waffle” print
• R.03.03 Roller/handling rail transfer

R.04 Operations/Maintenance Films

• R.04.01 Detergent/surfactant film
• R.04.02 Fabric softener/cleaner additive film
• R.04.03 HVAC aerosol/oil film
• R.04.04 Kitchen grease/aerosol film
• R.04.05 Nicotine/tar film

R.05 Rubber/Plastic Transfers

• R.05.01 EPDM gasket black rub
• R.05.02 PVC plasticizer smear/migration film
• R.05.03 Neoprene roller transfer

R.06 Metallic Transfer

• R.06.01 Aluminum rub/grey smear
• R.06.02 Steel/ferrous rub/black smear