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Genuine epoxy paint and counterfeit paint can look very similar on the outside, but they differ on the point that matters most: genuine paint can be traced from the manufacturer to the batch in your hands, while counterfeit paint cannot. This article does not promise a single visual sign that settles genuine versus fake at a glance, because no such sign exists. Instead, it sets out a six-point check chain, so you can spot risk early and act correctly when in doubt.
Why counterfeit paint is more dangerous than a quality issue
Counterfeit paint risks more than durability or adhesion. For a project that requires acceptance, untraceable goods can fail the materials file, even if the finished floor looks normal. For a project serving overseas clients, missing batch documents can also affect the project’s whole handover file. In other words, buying suspect goods buys a documentation risk, not just a technical risk.
The six-point check chain
1. Packaging, seals, and labels
Check the product code, batch number, expiry date, and manufacturer information on the packaging. Blurred labels, a missing batch number, a missing expiry date, or careless printing are all warning signs. However, an attractive label does not mean genuine goods, because labels can also be faked.
2. Match the TDS and SDS to the code
The technical document and the safety document must match the product code on the packaging. If the accompanying documents belong to a different code, or if no documents come with the goods, stop and ask for them to be supplied before installation.
3. CO, CQ, and invoice per batch
A CO is a certificate of origin issued by a competent authority, and a CQ is a certificate that the goods conform to the published standard. Both must be tied to the batch actually delivered, not generic documents for a different batch. The invoice must also state the correct code and the quantity delivered.
4. A traceable buying channel
Buying through a channel with a clear address, able to provide documents and support verification, carries lower risk than buying from the grey market. A channel of unclear origin, that issues no invoice and cannot provide technical documents, is a high-risk channel.
5. Physical checks are only indicative
Consistency, smell, and drying time may hint at a problem, but they cannot settle genuine versus fake. Diluted paint, expired paint, or paint stored incorrectly can all feel abnormal while still being genuine in origin, and conversely, sophisticated counterfeits can feel normal. Never judge by feel alone.
6. Verify the batch number with the manufacturer or dealer
When in doubt, the surest route is to verify the batch number with the manufacturer or the dealer who sold the goods. Keep the tins intact, keep the documents, and photograph the batch number clearly before contacting them, so the verifying party has enough information to cross-check.
Warning-sign table
| Sign | Correct meaning |
|---|---|
| Price far out of line with the general market | High risk; check the document chain before buying |
| Blurred label, missing batch number or expiry date | Not traceable; ask for the documents to be supplied or stop the transaction |
| TDS does not match the code on the packaging | The documents do not prove anything for this batch |
| No invoice | No basis for traceability or for protecting your rights if problems arise |
| No CO or CQ per batch | Missing documents, high risk, ask for them to be supplied — do not conclude on your own that the goods are fake |
One point must be stated clearly: missing documents does not mean a conclusion of counterfeit. Correctly put, missing documents mean the goods are not traceable, the risk is high, and the documents must be requested. The conclusion of genuine versus fake belongs to the manufacturer after checking the batch number, not to the buyer’s impressions.
What to do if you bought suspect goods
- Stop installing the suspect materials; do not mix them with another batch.
- Keep the tins intact, keep the invoice and all accompanying documents.
- Photograph the product code, batch number, expiry date, and packaging labels clearly.
- Contact the seller and the manufacturer to verify the batch number.
- Only resume installation once there is clear written confirmation.
Continuing installation while doubt remains destroys evidence and makes exchange or complaint far harder.
Buying safely from the start
The safest way is to reverse the sequence: fix the product code, ask for the TDS for the correct code, ask for batch documents, and only then pay and accept delivery. On delivery, count the codes and batch numbers, check that tins are undented and unleaking, and check expiry dates before signing. These steps take a little extra time at purchase, but cost far less than dealing with a problem after installation.
To choose a suitable buying channel, you can revisit the article on manufacturers, dealers, and contractors, and compare your planned system — such as RollCoat, LevelFlow, StatGuard, and AquaBase — before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Does scanning the QR code on the tin prove the goods are genuine?
No. A QR code can be copied. It is only one link in the check chain, and still needs to be cross-checked against the TDS, batch documents, and manufacturer verification when in doubt.
Can smell or colour tell counterfeit paint apart?
No. Impressions are not sufficient evidence for a conclusion. Genuine paint stored incorrectly can also feel abnormal, and sophisticated counterfeits can feel normal.
If there is no CO or CQ, is it certainly fake?
Not certainly. Correctly put, missing documents mean the goods are not traceable and the risk is high, and the documents must be requested. A conclusion of counterfeit requires verification from the manufacturer by batch number.
Should I publicly accuse a specific brand when in doubt?
No public accusation should be made before verification. The correct route is to keep the evidence, contact the seller and the manufacturer for verification, and only act further on the result of that verification.
Next step: send photos of the label and batch number, plus the TDS you have, for guidance on cross-checking via the quotation page or the contact page (Hotline/Zalo 0899355489, WeChat wxid_95o54joujyrr12). This article guides cross-checking; it does not replace the manufacturer’s conclusion on genuine versus fake.
