MPI / MANUALS & PUBLICATIONS / Frequently Asked Questions About MANUALS & PUBLICATIONS

MPI Manuals & Publications FAQ

What are the MPI Specification Manuals and who would benefit from using them?

The MPI specifications Manuals are reference guides that help to choose the appropriate coating systems. Specification manuals are designed for people who write paint project specifications. It is also for people who need a technical coating reference. Using these manuals will help to make better decisions and will save time and money.

What formats are the manuals available in?

The MPI Specification Manuals are available in both hard copy printed in a binder and as an online subscription. With the online subscription you will receive all of the same information as the printed ones, in a digital format.

Why two manuals?

The ‘Architectural Painting Specification Manual’ covers new construction and the application of coatings to newly finished surfaces.

The 'Maintenance Repainting Manual' focuses on repaint and maintenance projects, with an emphasis on determining surface degradation and necessary surface preparation before painting.

What is the APL (Approved Products List)?

The APL is a catalog of coatings that have been tested to and met our exacting standards. Within the APL you will find sections for each type of coating, showing the gloss levels, environmental information and the different listing manufacturers details.

What's in the Identifiers - Defects and Failures booklet?

Recognize unwanted results in this full color 27 page catalog of coating failures. Learn the causes of each failure, any corrective measures available and the steps you can take to stop failures from happening again.

What can I use the Master Painter's Glossary for?  

Find out the terminology used for coating properties, conditions, preparations, techniques and decorations. Each one of the 1600 terms is clearly defined and organized alphabetically on 85 pages. This glossary is an essential tool for the professional and an excellent learning guide for new painters.

I can't find the option for renewal of my subscription in the shopping cart. How can I renew the subscription?

You won't see the option for renewal in the shopping cart. However, once you set up the User ID and if your subscription is still active you will see the option to renew on the User Portal. You will also get reminder email(s) which include a link for renewal. You can also contact us (1-888-674-8937 or Contact US and we will send the link for your renewal.

How and where do I become a User and access the User Portal?

When you first make a purchase from the MPI Store, you will be prompted to set up a User ID and Password

What happens if I forget my Password?

Please contact us at 1-888-674-8937 or Contact US and we will provide you with your credentials.

Can I edit my User ID and Password

No, you can't edit it currently. However if you would like to change your User ID and password, please Contact US at 1-888-674-8937 or Contact US

What are the benefits of the new User Login?

No waiting for a User ID and password to be sent to you.
You will be creating your own “easy-to-reUse” User ID and password.
This will make it easier for you to move through the MPI store and checkout much faster and easier.
You will be able to store and edit billing and shipping addresses easily.
You will only need one User ID and password for all your MPI products.
There will be a one click, fast process to re-order products when necessary through your User portal.
ShapeYou will be able to access all your products through your User Portal

Is ordering online secure?

All credit card and personal customer information is sent to our shopping cart using the Internet-standard SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol. All credit card details are deleted once an order is processed. This is an added security measure to ensure that your customer's details are always safe! If an order is placed over the phone, all of the information you provide during the ordering process is restricted to our staff, and we make sure that all of our employees up-to-date on our security and privacy policies.

How do I gain access to the Standards PDF downloads?

 At the end of any order that involves a digital download, the shopping cart will provide a secure hyperlink to the file.

How do I gain access to the Standards PDF downloads?

At the end of any order that involves a digital download, the shopping cart will provide a secure hyperlink to the file.

Can I copy and freely distribute PDFs that I download from your website?

PDFs that are downloaded from our site are intended for individual use only.

How do I view what’s in my cart?

To view the contents of your cart, click on the “View cart” icon in the upper-right corner of the webpage. Once you click on this icon, you can easily change the number of copies you want to purchase of an item in your cart by updating the quantity listed and then clicking the “Update” link. You can also delete any item in your cart by clicking the “Remove” check box to the left of that item and then updating your cart with the "Update" link.

How do I add items to my cart?

To add a publication or other item to your cart, navigate to the page of the item you are interested in and then choose your desired version of that item. When you click the “Order” link, you will be brought to your "Shopping cart" page where you can then enter the quantity of the item that you would like to order using the "Quantity" field on the right side of the screen. After you have entered a quantity, you can continue shopping or choose to proceed to Checkout

How do I remove items from my cart?

First, click on the “View cart” link in the upper-right corner of the shopping cart. This will allow you to view all items currently in your cart. Once you have identified the item that you would like to delete, click on the “Remove” check box to the left of the item description and then click "Update” in the lower-right corner to have your changes reflected.

How do I change the quantity of an item in my cart?

First, click on the “View cart” link in the upper-right corner of the shopping cart. This will allow you to view all items currently in your cart, as well as the quantities that you have chosen for each item. To change the quantity of an item in your cart, move your cursor to the box that appears under the "Quantity" header for this item and type in the quantity desired, then click the “Update cart” link. Once you do this, the quantity and associated dollar amount (if applicable) will automatically change and reflect the correct amounts for both the quantity and the cost.

 How can I sign into “My Account” on the store and/or edit the information in my account?

If you have previously purchased a publication or downloaded a standard, then you will have created a personal account in our system.  If so, you can access this account by clicking on the “Login” link in the upper-right corner of the shopping cart. This takes you to a page where you will be prompted to enter your User ID and Password that you registered with us when you created the account.  

How will I know that you have received my order?

 After you complete the checkout process, you will receive an order confirmation via e-mail that we have received your order. (Please be sure to enter your e-mail address correctly on the order form so that we can be sure to deliver your confirmation to you)

What is your returns policy?

We want you to be completely satisfied with your order. If for some reason you are not, and you wish to return your purchase, you’ll need to call Customer Service at 1 888 674 8937.

Can I "return" a purchase of an item in electronic format (Online Manual / Standard)

Online Manuals and PDF download purchases are final. There are no returns for these items.

What currencies do you accept?

For all our Canadian customers, transactions will be in CAD. For all our American and International Customers, transactions will be in USD. Please make sure that you choose the correct region in the upper right-hand corner of the website by selecting the Canadian Flag for Canadian customers or the US Flag for USA/International customers.