What action should be taken if the surface of the SFRM test shows excessive irregularities during thickness testing?

When conducting thickness testing on Spray-Applied Fire-Resistance Materials (SFRM), if the surface reveals excessive irregularities, repositioning the thickness gauge to a more uniform area is essential for obtaining accurate measurements. This approach ensures that the results reflect the actual performance characteristics of the SFRM application rather than anomalies that could skew the data.

Uniform areas are critical as they allow for a reliable representation of the overall thickness and effectiveness of the fireproofing material. This practice helps assess whether the application meets the specified thickness requirements and performance standards outlined in relevant building codes and industry guidelines.

Additionally, ignoring irregularities would compromise the quality assurance process, and measuring in the same irregular area would not provide a true reflection of the material’s thickness. Reapplying SFRM to those irregularities may be necessary, but it is not the immediate action during the testing process itself; accurate measurements first need to be established. Hence, repositioning the gauge to a uniform area is the most logical and effective choice when faced with excessive irregularities.