ISO 15091:2019 specifies a method for determining the electrical conductivity and the electrical resistance of coating materials. The conductivity is usually measured for water-borne paints and varnishes, including electrodeposition coating materials, and the resistance is usually measured for solvent-borne paints and varnishes. If required, the resistivity of the coating material is calculated from either of these measurements. The method is applicable to products having a conductivity less than 5 °S/cm, corresponding to a resistivity greater than 200 kΩ⋅cm.

The conductivity of coating materials influences their processibility in the presence of an electric field. This is particularly important for electrodeposition paints and coating materials which are processed electrostatically.