Congrats to the A&K Team for Attaining MPI Level 1 Accreditation!

Congratulations to members of the A&K Painting team for completing the MPI level 1 training course and obtaining their certification!

MPI is the Master Painters Institute. In their own words:

MPI aims to raise the performance of paints and coatings produced by manufacturers and applied by painters and contractors by holding them accountable to higher industry standards mandated by asset owners, architects, and specifiers in the architectural, commercial, and industrial coatings industries.

MPI also works to reduce the architects, specifiers, and asset owner’s risk, assure the public of the skill, reputation, and probity of the paint applicator (master of craft), while ultimately yielding a better product for the owner.

MPI is the only independent third-party organization that sets performance standards for commercially available paints and coatings that has been adopted by the US and Canadian governments.

Additionally, MPI provides education on the quality and application of paint and has developed a decision-tree software that aligns the selection of coatings to the intended building substrate and service environment.

MPI has been providing these services in North America for over 20 years.

MPI Level 1 Certification: Essentials of Paint and Painting Technology

MPI’s level 1 training course teaches the essential principles and practices of commercial and architectural paints and coatings, focusing on professionals who are directly involved in commercial and architectural painting projects.

The course takes 90 days to complete, requires a final exam, and covers the following topics:

Basic Specification

  • Painting specifications and their purpose
  • Sections of a specification and where to find the info you need
  • Four types of MPI Guide Specifications and how to use them

    • Coatings Technology

  • The definition of paint and its main components
  • Paint binder types and resins
  • Pigments, including white, color, metallic, extender and functional
  • Solvents
  • Additives, including surfactants, driers and catalysts, rheology modifiers, and more

    • Paint Types and Manufacture

    • Descriptions of the most common types of paint found on the market, focusing heavily on products for architectural applications
    • Discussion on how paint is made, including:
      • How and why coatings are made in “batches,” what’s on batch cards, and the importance of batch numbers
      • The equipment used to mix and produce paint
      • The quality control tests and procedures used throughout the paint manufacturing process: why they’re necessary and how they’re done

    Color

    • General information about the source of color and how color is seen by the human eye
    • Color theory:
      • The primary color system, etc.
      • Dimensions of color
      • Systems developed to identify and measure color
    • How paint and coatings get their color
      • Pigments
      • Tints
    • Description of the difference between gloss and light reflectance
    • Psychology of color and how it affects humans

    Application

  • Brushes: Types of brushes and the methods/techniques used
  • Rollers: Types of rollers, general methods/techniques, and additional equipment used
  • Spray equipment: Four basic types of spray equipment, general methods/techniques used, and the advantages/disadvantages for each type

    • Safety

  • Product safety: Description of an SDS (safety data sheet)
  • Best practices for safe use of different types of access equipment and ladders
  • Personal protection, including head, ear, eye, body, hands, feet and respiratory
  • Best practices for storage, handling, and transport of paint
  • Lead-based paint and the roles and responsibilities involved in its removal
  • Potential safety hazards, including fire and electrical

    • Upon completion of the course, graduates with passing exam scores receive their Architectural Coating Technologist (ACT) accreditation.

    What This Means for Our Clients

    As always, our valued clients can expect a high level of service and expertise when they choose us for their architectural, commercial, and industrial painting projects. We are committed to keeping up with industry standards and providing members of our team continued training and education to ensure we always meet and exceed the expected standards of service and safety.

    We look forward to continuing to serve our community at the highest level!