Standards Development
This Technical Specification provides uniform methodologies to consistently characterize biofouling accumulation on surfaces. These methodologies may be used to evaluate the performance of coatings, materials, systems design, and other strategies meant to prevent fouling.
The scope of this specification encompasses methods and procedures for conducting exposures of samples, for quantifying and characterizing biofouling accumulation, assessing how easily fouling can be removed from a surface, and for recording and presentation of data for use by industry and researchers. Criteria for sample standards are provided to enable the comparison of different materials and for exposures conducted in different geographical locations.
Biofouling is the unwanted accumulation of cells, organisms, and organic matter on a surface. The deleterious effects of biofouling increase with time and include progressively worsening hydrodynamic drag, increased weight, and accelerated corrosion. Biofouling on both fixed and mobile systems also significantly contributes to the spread of invasive aquatic species. These effects can diminish performance (i.e., energy production, operating time, and system life) and significantly add to the frequency and cost of operations and maintenance activities. To mitigate these effects and costs, marine renewable energy industries need to be able to evaluate and select materials of construction and protective coatings that will prevent or delay the onset and progression of fouling and facilitate cleaning.
Marine energy systems have different geometries and operate under different conditions than ships (e.g., lower relative velocity). Because biofouling accumulation and the mechanism of action of antifouling coatings are highly dependent upon hydrodynamic forces on surfaces, testing and measurement of fouling for marine energy systems must take into account the unique aspects of design and operations.
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