DSS-R.02.01 — Paint Overspray Film

Paint overspray film is an appearance change on glass from aerosolized paint/primer (airless/spray-can/HVLP) depositing as micro-droplets that coalesce into a speckled film or misted veil. It ranges from discrete dots to a uniform haze and may exhibit tide lines where masking failed or wind drifted plume edges. Classification is appearance-only per VIS (method-agnostic). Inspect after Non-Invasive Reveal under VIS lighting/geometry; record surface numbering and worked-surface status.

• Fine dot field (0.05-0.5 mm) visible in specular view; densest on windward panels or masking laps.
• Veil/mist zones with soft feathered edges tracing spray plume or masking gaps; drips/legs are uncommon unless heavy application.
• Color cue: Often the paint color tone (white/grey most common) or clear binder gloss for clear coats/primers.

Surface-catch class (MSRT)

• Typically SC-0 (dot/binder film sits on top; non-etch).
• SC-1 can appear in aged/cross-linked overspray with soil embed or where binders partially fused in heat/sun. SC-2 is rare.
• Perform one light, non-marring pass on a small revealed test patch; use polymer stylus if a functional coating is suspected. MSRT supports classification only.

Visual signature

• Speckled micro-droplets under raking; uniform mist in denser zones; feathered boundary matching spray pattern or masking edge.
• No chip-flank sparkle (not mechanical scoring); no fused metal nodules/pits (not hot-particle).

Viewing / lighting

• Evaluate clean & dry at 12 / 36 / 72 in, with normal incidence and oblique sweep (~60°-120°); raking macros to resolve droplet field, plume edge, and any tide lines. Record distances/angles in-frame.

Location / access

• Record pane ID and surface numbering (#1-#4; laminate-internal). If parallax fixes deposition between panes (#2/#3), classify CAT-5 by location (out of in-place scope) and refer.

Mechanism cue (context)

• Nearby spray painting, priming, aerosol touch-ups, airless/HVLP equipment; wind or masking failure evidence.

Assign CAT by visibility at acceptance geometry and MSRT after a controlled reveal test. Depth values are indicative-field measurement not required.

• CAT-1 (Benign / non-relief): Light dot field/veil; SC-0; mainly angle/raking visible; minimal at standard view. Indicative relief: 0-10 μm (optical film).
• CAT-2 (Light): Persistent denser veil with SC-1 at test patch (aged/cross-linked binder + soil); limited standard-view impact. Indicative relief: ~10-40 μm.
• CAT-3 (Moderate): High-density overspray/mist legible at standard distance; SC-1 → SC-2 in worst patches (rare). Indicative relief: ~40-120 μm (film stack).
• Reclassify when: If underlying micro-texture or etch remains after true film removal → evaluate under Ch.04 (chemical) families as indicated.
• CAT-5 (by condition/location): Between-pane/inaccessible by parallax, integrity indicators, 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. Do not abrade to “force” removal during classification.

• vs. Drywall/plaster film (R.02.02): Drywall leaves chalky particulate with powder transfer; paint overspray shows coalesced droplets and binder gloss.
• vs. Stucco/lime residue (R.02.03): Stucco/lime veils alkaline, often with grain, rings/runs and may progress to etch; overspray is organic binder with speck pattern.
• vs. Mineral staining (Ch.03.02): Mineral films follow water arcs/runs; overspray reflects spray plume geometry and masking lines.
• vs. Hydrophobic mismatch (Ch.06.02): Mismatch presents wetting edges; overspray shows colored dots/mist without wetting discontinuity.
• vs. Hot-particle peppering (Th.01.02): Grinder sparks leave metallic pepper with tiny pits and potential rust halos; overspray has soft dots without pit under magnification.

• Photo set (VIS): 12 / 36 / 72 in, normal + oblique; raking macros of droplet field and plume edges; context frames of paint operations or masking. Record distance/angle in-frame.
• MSRT result (substrate): After a small reveal test patch, perform one light, non-marring pass; record SC-class (SC-0/SC-1/SC-2).
• 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; 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.

• R.02.01 Paint Overspray Film - Speckled micro-droplet field / mist veil on surface #___; post-reveal test patch shows [SC-0/SC-1]; visible at [12/36/72 in] under VIS geometry. Morphology: spray plume feather edge, masking lap, color/binder gloss; no chip-flank sparkle, no discrete pits. Classification: CAT-[1/2/3] by visibility and SC-class; CAT-5 if between-pane, integrity cues, or coating-side loss on the surface to be worked. Forms + photo set attached; acceptance per VIS-A §6.