GSO 2591:2023
مواصفة قياسية  خليجية 
الدهانات  والورنيشات  – دهانات  الألكيد اللامعة وشبه  اللامعة 
والمطفأة للأسطح  الداخلية  والخارجية 
Gulf Standard
Paints and Varnishes – Gloss, Semi-Gloss and 
Matt Alkyd Enamel Paint for Interior and 
Exterior Surfaces
ICS: 87.040
English Language – اللغةالإنجليزية Edition 2 – 03/05/2023 – 2 الطبعة 
© GCC Standardization Organization 2023 – All rights reserved 
© هيئة التقييس  لدول  مجلس  التعاون  لدول  الخليج  العربية 2023   –جميع  الحقوق محفوظة 
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ﺍﻟﻄﻠﺐ ﺭﻗﻢهذه  الوثيقة  محمية بالقانون 
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
جميع  الحقوق محفوظة لهيئة لتقييس  لدول  مجلس  التعاون  لدول  الخليج  العربية . ما لم ينص على خلاف  ذلك،  لا يجوز  إعادة  
إنتاج  أي جزء  من هذا  المنشور أو استخدامه  بأي  شكل آخر  أو بأي  وسيلة،  إلكترونية  أو ميكانيكية، بما  في ذلك  التصوير،  أو 
النشر على الإنترنت  أو الإنترانت،  دون  إذن  كتابي  مسبق  من هيئة التقييس  لدول  مجلس  التعاون  لدول  الخليج  العربية  على 
العنوان أدناه  أو الدول  الأعضاء في الهيئة داخل  بلدانهم .
All rights reserved to GCC Standardization Organization (GSO). Unless otherwise specified,  no part 
of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic 
or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior 
written permission. Permission can be requested from either GSO at the address below or GSO's 
member body in the country of the requester.
Outreach Dept, Knowledge Management Section
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO)
P.O.Box: 85245 Riyadh 12511
Kingdom of Saudi Arabiaإدارة  التواصل،  قسم  إدارة  المعرفة 
هيئة التقييس  لدول  مجلس  التعاون  لدول  الخليج  العربية  )GSO(
ص. ب: 85245  الرياض 12511
المملكة العربية  السعودية 
Tel: +966115208000هاتف :
Fax: +966115208010فاكس:
E-Mail: csc@gso.org.saبريد  إلكتروني :
Website: www.gso.org.saموقع ويب:GSO 2591:2023 Gulf Standard
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ﺍﻟﻄﻠﺐ ﺭﻗﻢتقديم 
هيئة التقييس  لدول  مجلس  التعاون  لدول  الخليج  العربية  هيئة إقليمية تضم  في عضويتها  أجهزة  التقييس  الوطنية في الدول  
الأعضاء ، ومن مهام الهيئة إعداد  المواصفات القياسية  واللوائح الفنية الخليجية  بواسطة  لجان  فنية متخصصة .
قرر  المجلس  الفني لهيئة التقييس  لدول  مجلس  التعاون  لدول  الخليج  العربية  في الاجتماع  الـ )55 (بتاريخ 1444/10/12 
هـ ،الموافــق2023/05/03م اعتماد  تحــديث  ترجمة  المواصــفة القياســية  الخليجية  رقم  GSO 2591:2023 وعنوانهــــا 
"الدهانات  والورنيشات  – دهانات  الألكيد اللامعة وشبه  اللامعة والمطفأة للأسطح  الداخلية  والخارجية " إلى اللغة الانجليزية  
التي  تم  دراستها  ضمن برنامج  عمل اللجنة  الفنية الخليجية  للمواصفات الكيميائية والغزل  والنســيج  )TC01 (المدرجة  فــي 
خطة  دولة  الكويت . ويعتبر  النص العربي  هو المرجع  الأساس  في حال وجود  اختلاف  بين  النصين. على أن تلغي  وتحل  محل 
المواصــفة القياسية  رقم  GSO 2591:2021  .على أن تلغي  وتحل  محل المواصــــفتين  القياسيتين  GSO 1250:2002 و 
GSO 1096:2002 . 
Foreword
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional organization which consists of the national 
standardization bodies of GCC member states. One of GSO main functions is to issue gulf standards 
and technical regulations through specialized technical committees.
GSO Technical Council in its meeting number (55) held on 12/10/1444 H, which corresponds to 
03/05/2023, has approved the update of the translation of Gulf Standard GSO 2591:2023 titled 
"Paints and Varnishes – Gloss, Semi-Gloss and Matt Alkyd Enamel Paint for Interior and Exterior 
Surfaces" in English language which was studied through the technical program of GSO Technical 
Committee for Chemical and Textile Products (TC01) in KUWAIT schedule . (Arabic) text is 
considered the official  text in case of any conflicts  between the two. This document will cancel and 
replace the Gulf Standard GSO 2591:2021. This document will cancel and replace the Gulf 
Standard(s) GSO 1250:2002 and GSO 1096:2002. Gulf Standard GSO 2591:2023
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  Paints  and Varnishes  – Gloss,  Semi -Gloss  and Matt  Alkyd  Enamel  Paint  
for Interior  and Exterior  Surfaces  
 
 
1-  SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION:  
 This Gulf Standard  is concerned  with air-drying gloss, semi -gloss  and matt paints  
for use on primed  or unprimed interior  and exterior  wood, metal,  or masonry 
surfaces.  
2-  COMPLEMANTRY REFERNCES  
2.1  GSO ISO 15528 " Paints & Varnishes - Examination And Preparation Of 
Sampling For Testing".  
2.2  GSO ISO 1513 " paints  and varnishes - examination and preparation  of sampling  
for testing".  
2.3  GSO ISO 3251 “Paints,  varnishes  and plastics -Determination  of non- volatile - 
matter  content”.  
2.4  GSO ISO 2884 -2 " Paints and varnishes — Determination of viscosity using 
rotary viscometers — Part 2: Disc or ball viscometer operated at a specified 
speed" . 
2.5  GSO ISO 3668 "Paints and varnishes - Visual  comparison  of the color  of paints".  
2.6  GSO ISO 1524 “Paints,  varnishes  and printing inks -Determination  of fineness  of 
grind ".  
2.7  GSO ISO 3856- 1 “Paints  and varnishes  – determination  of " soluble  " metal  
content  – part1:  determination  of lead content  - flame  atomic  absorption 
spectrometric method and dithizone  spectrophotometric  method ". 
2.8  GSO ISO 1523 Determination  of flash  point - Close  Cup Equilibrium method ". 
2.9  GSO ISO 9117- 4 Paints and varnishes —  Drying tests —  Part 4: Test using a 
mechanical recorder ". 
2.10  GSO ISO 28199- 1 Paints  and varnishes  --   Evaluation    of    properties     of 
coating  systems related  to the application process  Part 1:   Relevant  vocabulary  
and preparation of  test panels ". 
2.11  GSO ISO 28199- 2 "Paints and varnishes  -- Evaluation    of   properties    of 
coating  systems related  to the application process   Part 2: Color  stability,  
process  hiding power, re-dissolving, overspray  absorption, wetting,  surface  
texture and  mottling".  
2.12  GSO ISO 28199- 3 "Paints and varnishes  -- Evaluation    of   properties    of 
coating  systems  related  to the application process  - Part 3: Visual  assessment  of 
sagging,  formation  of bubbles, pin holing and  hiding power" . 
2.13  GSO ISO  1519 " Paints  and varnishes  -- Bend  test (cylindrical  mandrel)" . 
2.14  GSO ISO 1518- 1 " Paints and varnishes — Determination of scratch 
resistance — Part 1: Constant -loading method".  
 
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  2.15  GSO ISO 1518 -2:2012 " Paints And Varnishes - Determination Of Scratch 
Resistance — Part 2: Variable -Loading Method" . 
2.16  GSO 2655 " Requirements Of Environmental Criteria’ s For Indoor And Outdoor 
Paints And Varnishes". 
2.17  GSO ISO 6504-3 " Paints  and varnishes — Determination of hiding power — Part 
3: Determination of hiding power of paints for masonry, concrete,  and interior use ". 
2.18  GSO ISO  11507 " Paints  and Varnishes -Exposure  of coatings  to 
artificial  weathering  -- Exposure to fluorescent  UV lamps and water ". 
2.19  GSO  ISO  2813"Paints  and varnishes - Determination  of gloss value  at 20  
degrees,  60 degrees and  85 degrees" . 
2.20  GSO ISO 16474- 3 " Paints and varnishes — Methods of exposure to laboratory 
light sources — Part 3: Fluorescent UV lamps".  
2.21  GSO ISO 2811 -1" Paints and Vaenishes – Determination of Density – Part 1: 
Pyknometer ". 
2.22  ASTM D2486-17 " Standard Test methods for Scrub Resistance of Wall Paints" 
2.23  GSO ISO 2812 -4:2015" Paints and Varnishes -- Determination of Resistance to 
Liquids -- Part 4: Spotting Methods". 
2.24  GSO ISO 11890- 1 " Paints and varnishes — Determination of volatile organic 
compound (VOC) content — Part 1: Difference method " . 
2.25  GSO ISO 11890- 2 " Paints and varnishes — Determination of volatile organic 
compounds (VOC) and/or semi volatile organic compounds (SVOC) content — 
Part 2: Gas -chromatographic method ".  
2.26  GSO ISO 6272 -1 " Paints And Varnishes – Rapid – Deformation (Impact 
Resistance) Tests – Part 1: Falling – Weight Test,  Large – Area Indenter "  
2.27   ASTM D1475 " Standard Test Method For Density of Liquid Coatings, Inks, and 
Related Products ". 
2.28  GSO ISO 16474- 3 Paints and varnishes - Determination of total lead - Flame 
atomic absorption spectrometric method ". 
3-  DEFINITIO NS 
3.1  Enamel (enamel  paint): 
 One of  a class  of finishes obtained  by melting  siliceous  materials.  The term is also 
used in the paint  industry to describe varnishes or paints which  simulate  in 
appearance the flow,  smoothness, and gloss  of vitreous. The same  broad 
definition  applies  to enamel  paint and hard  gloss paint. 
3.2  Gloss:  
 The degree to which  a painted  surface possesses the property of reflecting  light in 
mirror -like manner (specular  reflection).  
3.3  Vehicle:  
 The liquid  portion of the paint  in which  the pigment is dispersed, and it is 
composed of the binder, additives, and  the thinner if any. 
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  3.4  Pigment:  
 The insoluble  dispersed  particles  in a paint  which  give the dried  film its 
characteristic properties  of color  and opacity.  
3.5  Binder:  
 The non-volatile  portion of the vehicle of a paint.  It binds  or cements  the pigment  
particles  together  and the paint  film to the material  to which  it is applied.  
3.6  Thinner:  
 Volatile  liquids  added  to paints  or varnishes  to facilitate  application  and to aid 
penetration  by lowering gather  viscosity.  They  should  be completely  miscible  
with the paints  or varnish at ordinary  temperature  and should not cause  
precipitation  of the non-volatile  portion either  in the container  or in the film 
during drying.  For some  purposes  thinner  containing a small proportion of non- 
volatile  material may be used. 
3.7  Skinning:  
 The formation of  a surface  skin on paints  or varnishes  in the  container.  
3.8  Flash  point : 
 Minimum temperature of a liquid  at which  the vapor's  given off are sufficient  to 
form  a flammable mixture  with air  under  specified  conditions  of test.  
3.9  Drying : 
 The process  of change  of a coat of  paint  or varnished from  the liquid to solid state,  
due to evaporation  of solvent, physical -chemical  reaction  of binding  medium  or 
combination  of these causes.  
4 –  Category  
4.1  Classification according to use  
- For exterior surfaces  
-  For interior surfaces  
4.2         Final appearance  
- Shiny  
-  Semi glossy  
-   Matt.  
5  REQUIREMENTS:  
5.1  Composition : 
 The gloss  enamel  paint  shall consist  of pigments  of pure type free from  extenders  
and have  good color  performance.  The white  pigment  shall be chalk -resisting  
titanium dioxide  of rutile  type, zinc oxide  may be used up to 10% maximum  of 
the total mass  of pigment.  The vehicle shall  be of a suitable  type of alkyd resin  
with thinners  and driers,  anti-skinning agents,  wetting  agents  and suspension  
agents.  The vehicle  shall  be free from  rosin or  rosin derivative.  
 
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  5.2  Condition in container:  
 The material shall have  no evidence of biological  growth, levering, skinning, and 
putrefaction,  hard settling  of the pigment, lumps,  or corrosion  of the container.  
Any settled  pigment  shall be readily  dispersible  in the liquid  medium  by stirring  
with paddle  to produce  smooth homogeneous  emulsion  paints,  free from  
persistent  foam.  The material  shall have no irritating of  offensive  odor. 
5.3  Non-volatile content : 
 The percent  of non-volatile  content  of the gloss , semi -gloss and matt  enamel  
shall  not be less than 55% by weight  when  tested  according to clause (2.3). 
5.4  Consistency : 
 The paint must be in a ready state so that with stirring it easily produces a smooth, 
homogeneous mixture of good consistency according to clause (2.2).  
5.5          Color:  
 The color  of the paint  shall  be close to the approved  reference sample  and as 
written  on the  container  when  tested  according  to clause (2.5).  
5.6     Fineness  of grind:  
      The partial size of the paint  when  tested shall be according to clause  (2.6): . 
- shall be between  40-50 micrometers for semi- gloss paint. 
-  No more than 30 micrometers for glossy paints.  
-  Not to exceed 50 micrometers for matt paints.  
5.7  Lead  content:  
 The lead content  shall  not exceed  0.009%  of the total mass  of the paint  when  
tested  according  to clause (2.7).  
5.8  Flash  point : 
 The flash  point  of the gloss and semi -gloss  paint  shall  not be less than 30 °C 
when  tested  according  to clause (2.8).  
5.9  Application properties : 
 The paint  shall be suitable  for application  by brush, roll or spray. 
 The resul ting paint film shall be smooth glossy uniform film free from any seed's 
suns, streaks and any other surface defects.  
 When the paint is brushed it shall be easily brushed possess good leveling properties free from brush marks.  
5.10  Dry time : 
-  The surfa ce drying time of the paint should not exceed 4 hours.  
-  The solid drying time of the paint shall be no more than 24 hours for a 100 μm                       thick wet layer coated on a test plate of glass at a temperature ( 23±2) ºC.                        
and a relative humidity of no more than (50 ±5) % his  is when the test is                      
carried out in accordance with Clause ( 2.9). 
 
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  5.11  The appearance of the dry film:  
 When the paint layer has completely dried according to the time period specified 
in item (5.10) It should be smooth, tightly adhered, and completely free from 
staining or color separation. The final appearance of the paint layer prepared in the same way and at the same time shall not be less than the reference  sample 
agreed upon when performing the test in accordance with clause (2.10,2.11,2.12). 
5.12  Flexibility and adhesion:  
      A layer (100 microns wet) of glossy, semi -gloss and flat  paints shall withstand a 
mandrel with a diameter of 3 mm and the bend shall be without chipping or peeling and shall remain tightly adhered to the test plate without the appearance of any fraying when performing the test in accordance with clause (2.13).  
5.13        Scratch resistance:  
 The paint film shall withstand a scratch  test load of not less than 800g. After  7 
days (aging) and temperature of (23 + 2) °C and maximum percentage humidity  
of (50 + 5) %, applying  the film or dry film thickness on (25-30) µm. The panel  
test should be made of tin or steel  when  tested  according  to clause  (2.14), (2.15). 
5.14     Dry opacity: (White & light (pastel) color):  
                    The paint when applied shall give a minimum dry film contrast ratio of more than  
or equal 90% for white paint and 95% for colored paint for 100 µm film thickness when tested according to clause (2.17). 
5.15           Accelerated Weathering (for external us e only): 
5.15.1      The paint layer shall show no blisters, chalking, discoloration, or any abnormal                    
appearance after 300 hours of accelerated weathering in the case of gloss enamel and 200 hours in the case of semi -gloss when tested according to clause (2.18), 
(2.21). 
                  Changes should not exceed 10% only, and this test is not applicable t o matt 
interior paints . 
 5.15.2    Criteria for Accelerated weathering test:  
•  Application rods: Aluminum rods in a suitable size and treated with chromate. 
•  Application: By the application machine (wire rod or hollow mold) with a  
thickness of 100 microns. 
•  Drying Time:  7 days, Temperature: (23 ± 2) ° C, Humidity: (50 ± 5)%,  followed 
by 72 hours in temperature of (40 ± 2) °C. 
•  Type of lamps: UVB lamps. 
•  Test Duration: according to clause (2.18), (2.21). 
5.16      Color fastness to light (for indoor use only): 
 The paint shall not show opacity or other changes in appearance when exposed to            
direct sunlight for seven days when the test is carried out in accordance with clause (2.18), (2.21). 
 
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  5.17     Gloss:  
                A film of the paint when applied by 150 μm gap Block or Wire Bar applicator on 
gloss panels of (15 cm x 10 cm x 2 mm) (The test panels should be dried for 24 
hours at a temperat ure of 25±1) and relative humidity (50±5)c °. shall have a 
specular gloss value not less than 70 for gloss enamel, and between 20 to 50 for 
semi -gloss and that the degree of glossiness does not exceed 10 for matt paints 
when it is measured at 60° angle. The panels for the test shall be dried for 24 hours at (25 ± 1) ° C and at a relative humidity of not more than 70%, according to clause (2.19). 
 
luster value  Angle measurement  Category  
70< 60º glossy  
20 to 50  60º Semi glossy  
≥15 85º matt 
 
5.18    Keeping properties:   
  The paint when stored under normal storage condition in shed at temperature does not exceed (38 ±1) ºC in the original sealed container shall retain properties specified in this standard for a period of not less than 12 months. 
5.19    Specific weight:  
 The specific weight should not be more than 1.8 kg/L 
5.20    Elasticity : 
          The elasticity of glossy paints should range between (5- 12) poise when carrying 
out the test mentioned in the standard specification mentioned in clause 2.4 and matt dyes  (20-10) Poise or what equivalence in cribs. 
5.21    Scrub resistance:  
 The thinner layer of dye shall pass the dye resistance test for washing with abrasion with water only for a period of 3000 cycles when the test is carried out according to the standard mentioned in clause (2.32). It is required that this test be 
applied to a film of paint with a wet thickness of 100 microns. 
 It is also required for the test sample to be acceptable that it does not exceed the exposed area 5 mm in a longitudinal direction with the movement of the mattress. 
5.22      The product must comply with the environmental standards mentioned in the Gulf 
standard mentioned in clause (2.16). 
5.23      Paints  should be stored in accordance with the special storage requirements stated 
in the Gulf standard mentioned in clause (2.16). 
5.24  Determination of organic matter 
 Organic substances should be determined according to the specifications mentioned in clause (28.2 ,27.2) and do not exceed 500 g / l. 
 
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  5.25    Impact test  
             The impact test of glossy paints shall be in accordance with the standard 
mentioned in clause ( 2.26)  (for a weight of 1000 g and a height of 85 cm).     
  6-    SAMPLING:  
   6.1      Take representative sample of the paint not less than 500 ml according to the  
methods mentioned in Gulf Standard in clause (1.2).   
6.2        Samples shall be prepared to test according to the methods mentioned in Gulf Standard in clause (2.2).  
7-     METHODS OF TESTING  
7.1    The following tests shall be carried out on the filled containers selected according to clause (6.1) after carrying out the visual examination of the labeling 
information. 
7.1.1  Visual  examination. 
7.1.2  Determination  of non – volatile content.  
7.1.3  Determination  of color.  
7.1.4   Determination of fineness of grind. 
7.1.5  Determination  of lead content. 
7.1.6     Determination of flash point.  
7.1.7    Determination of surface drying time. 
7.1.8    Determination of appearance of dried film (finish).  
7.1.9  Determina tion of flexibility and adhesion according to clause (2.13).  
7.1.10  Determination  of scratch resistance according to clause (2.22).  
7.1.11  Determination of dry opacity. 
7.1.12  Determination  of specular gloss  
7.1.13  Determination.  of Resistance to Accelerated Weathering  
7.1.14  Volatile organic matter according to clause ( 24.5) . 
7.1.15  Specific weight according to clause (2 7.2). 
7.1.16    Crash test according to clause (26.2).  
7.1.17    Textures . 
8-  PACKING  
        The paints shall be packed in suitable clean, dry and air -tight containers, the 
containers shall be filled as to have an ullage for 15% maximum. The allowed tolerance should be ±  2% of the content.  
 
   
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  9 -     LABELLING:  
 Each container shall be legibly and indelibly marked in Arabic or both Arabic & 
English by the following information:  
9.1    The name and the type of the paint. 
9.2    The color of the paint should be shown on the container.  
9.3  The name of the manufacturer or his trademar k. 
9.4  Country of origin. 
9.5  If the paint manufacturer is under license, it should be mentioned.  
9.6    Batch number (in English or Arabic) . 
9.7    Date of production (month- Year).  
9.8  Date of Expiry (month- Year).  
9.9  Volume in liter of the paint in the container (in Arabic or English).  
9.10  Application instruction. 
9.11  Any warning information concerning the paint. 
9.12  Warning : "Do not use this container for keeping food stuff". 
9.13  Warnings for the safe disposal of the material and its waste.  
9.14  Suitable temperature for storage.  
 
 
 
               
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  REFERENCES:  
 
- Saudi  Arabian  Standard  No. 
472/2002“Paints and  varnishes - oil 
alkyd  shiny and  not shiny "  
 
- Part 1303 from  US legalization  of 
Consumer  Products  Commission to 
reduce lead content  from 0.006%  to 
0.009 
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