Boeing BAC 5034 Surface Protection Tape Guide
Boeing BAC 5034 Surface Protection Tape — Type IV, Class 1, Grade A Explained
What BAC 5034 covers, how BAC5034-4 differs from it, how to choose between paper and film, and which Protex tape matches your surface and process.
Boeing process specification BAC 5034 governs pressure-sensitive surface-protection and masking tapes used to protect aircraft surfaces during manufacturing, finishing and maintenance. The surface-protection classification is Type IV, Class 1, Grade A, and every Protex grade we stock is listed to it. Because they all share the same callout, the real decision is not "which tape meets the spec" — it is which one fits your surface, your process and your environment.
New to Boeing specs? BAC 5034 is a process specification, not a material specification like BMS 5-133 or BMS 5-146. See our BMS vs BAC guide → for what that difference means when you order.
A data sheet reports testing against the specification's criteria. Final compliance depends on the specific tape, substrate, process and approved procedure, and a cross-reference is not a substitution approval. Match the callout on your drawing before you order.
Callout reads BAC5034-4 rather than BAC 5034? Those are two different documents, and the "-4" on its own does not tell you which product to order. Jump straight to the breakdown.
BAC 5034 or BAC5034-4? →
Verify: Protex 5 spec sheet (PDF) · BAC 5034 Ty IV / Cl 1 / Gr A
Verify: Protex 10V spec sheet (PDF) · BAC 5034 Ty IV / Cl 1 / Gr A
Verify: Protex 20V spec sheet (PDF) · BAC 5034 Ty IV / Cl 1 / Gr A
Verify: 8216-2L spec sheet (PDF) · BAC 5034 Ty IV / Cl 1 / Gr A
What the BAC 5034 callout codes mean
A BAC 5034 surface-protection callout names a family, a class and a grade. Every Protex grade on this page carries the same baseline designation, so the codes rarely narrow your choice — the application does:
The product family. Type IV is the pressure-sensitive surface-protection and masking family the Protex line sits in — latex-saturated papers and polyester films designed to be applied, worked over and removed cleanly.
The performance band within the Type. Class 1 is the class all four stocked Protex grades are listed to.
The adhesion and performance tier. Grade A is the grade the Protex surface-protection range carries.
Not a spec code, but the decision that actually matters: paper for higher tack, scratch protection and machining, or polyester film for transparency, UV and heat. Both are listed to BAC 5034.
Read the Type, Class and Grade off your drawing, not off this page. What each designation requires is defined in the Boeing specification, which is the controlling document and which we do not republish. What we can tell you is which designation Mask-Off lists these products to — Type IV, Class 1, Grade A — and where to verify it on each spec sheet.
BAC 5034 and BAC5034-4 are not the same document
These two callouts get confused constantly, and getting it wrong sends you to the wrong tape entirely. Here is the distinction:
| If your drawing says… | What it is | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| BAC 5034, Type IV, Class 1, Grade A | The surface-protection and masking qualification. This is what the Protex papers and films are approved to. | The four grades above |
| BAC5034-4 plus a table number | A material-selection document. It does not name one material — it carries tables, and a product appears in the table matching the kind of protection needed. | Protex guide — table references |
| BAC5034-4 Sec. 5.1.a(1)(a) | A different section of that same document, covering double-coated carpet mounting tape. | Polyken 105C |
| BAC5034-4 Sec. 5.1.a(1)(b) | The flame-retardant version of that carpet section. | Polyken 108FR · BMS 5-133 guide |
A BAC5034-4 callout does not automatically mean carpet tape. Both the Protex protection materials and the Polyken carpet tapes are referenced in BAC5034-4 — in different parts of it. The Protex grades appear in its material-selection tables; the carpet tapes appear under section 5.1.a(1). So the part of the callout that tells you which product to order is the table or section number, not the "-4" on its own. If your drawing gives you only "BAC5034-4," send it to us and we will work out which branch you are in before you buy.
Paper or film?
Every product here is listed to the same BAC 5034 designation, so this is the choice that matters:
| If you need to… | Best fit | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Protect bare aluminum, titanium and painted exterior skins through routing, drilling and riveting | 4.1–5.1 mil linered kraft scratch-protection paper, printed warning | Protex 5 |
| Protect acrylic or polycarbonate windows, canopies and windshields with added abrasion resistance | 9–12 mil vinyl-coated latex paper, die-cuttable | Protex 10V |
| Take impact on windows, metal and graphite-composite tooling | 19–23 mil vinyl-coated latex paper | Protex 20V |
| See through the protection, or survive UV, outdoor exposure or heat | 2 mil transparent low-tack polyester film, tinted green, to 325°F | Protex 8216-2L |
Rule of thumb: reach for paper — 5, 10V, 20V — when you need higher tack and scratch resistance. Reach for film — 8216-2L — when you need transparency, UV resistance or clean low-tack removal. Within the papers, only Protex 5 is listed for working through the protection: it is the grade the spec sheet describes for routing, drilling, countersinking and riveting with the paper still on.
Side by side: the four BAC 5034 Protex grades
| Specification | Protex 5 | 10V | 20V | 8216-2L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backing | Latex-saturated kraft paper | Vinyl-coated latex paper | Vinyl-coated latex paper | Polyester film |
| Color | Tan, red print | Tan | Tan | Transparent green |
| Thickness | 4.1–5.1 mil | 9–12 mil | 19–23 mil | 2 mil |
| Adhesive | Natural latex | Natural latex | Natural latex | Acrylic latex, low tack |
| Adhesion to steel | 17–22 oz/in | 30–40 oz/in | 30–40 oz/in | 1–3 oz/in |
| Transparent | No | No | No | Yes — UV resistant |
| Outdoor / high temp | Test first | Test first | Test first | UV resistant, to 325°FStill test before outdoor use |
| Drill, rout & rivet through | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Die-cuttable liner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| BAC 5034 | Ty IV, Cl 1, Gr A | Ty IV, Cl 1, Gr A | Ty IV, Cl 1, Gr A | Ty IV, Cl 1, Gr A |
| Airbus AIMS 12-6-001 | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| National Stock Number | 8135-00-946-2090 | 7510-01-121-8267 | 8135-00-654-98347510-01-054-4067 | — |
| Roll sizes | 12–48″ × 60 yd | 12–48″ × 60 yd | 12–48″ × 30 yd | 12–48″ × 100 yd |
| Price from12″ roll | $119.99 | $199.99 | $139.99 | $219.99 |
Scroll the table sideways on a phone. A cell marked "—" means the value is not published on the spec sheet we hold, or the approval does not apply to that grade.
Want the full spec breakdown — tensile, tear, solvent and heat resistance, and the BAC5034-4 table references per grade?
Protex Guide →Where these tapes should not be used
None of the Protex surface-protection tapes are intended for fly-away applications. Each of the four spec sheets carries the same statement in the same words: “This product is not intended for fly-away applications.” They are manufacturing, finishing, transport and storage materials — they come off before the aircraft does. Where and how they are applied and removed still follows your controlling procedure.
All four sheets also say to test before use on copper, brass or anodized aluminum, and before outdoor exposure — the 8216-2L film included. The film is the only grade described as UV resistant and the only one rated to 325°F, which is why it is the one to reach for when light or heat is a factor, but its own sheet still calls for testing before outdoor exposure, and it adds that chemical resistance is recommended only after thorough initial testing. Shelf life on all four is one year, stored cool and dry out of direct sunlight.
Other Protex grades
Mask-Off qualifies further Protex grades we do not hold in stock — 20S, 50, 8216-2, 8216-5B, 1321D-3, 223-2 and 223-5. Note that Boeing BAC 5317, the composite-materials specification, covers Protex 50, 223-2 and 223-5 rather than the four grades above, so if your callout reads BAC 5317 you are looking at a different set. Our BMS vs BAC guide explains how process specs like BAC 5034 and BAC 5317 list their approved materials. Send us the grade or the callout and we will confirm availability and lead time.
Get pricing, lead time and a Certificate of Conformance
Send us these five things and we'll come back with the right Protex grade, stocked widths, lead time and pricing. A Certificate of Conformance is included with every order where available.
- Full callout, including table or section number
- Surface being protected
- Process it has to survive
- Width and roll length
- Quantity and required date
Frequently asked questions
What is Boeing BAC 5034?
BAC 5034 is a Boeing process specification for pressure-sensitive surface-protection and masking tapes used to protect aircraft surfaces during manufacturing, finishing and maintenance. The surface-protection classification is Type IV, Class 1, Grade A, and all four Protex grades we stock are listed to it.
What does Type IV, Class 1, Grade A mean?
Type IV identifies the surface-protection and masking family, Class 1 is the performance band these tapes are listed to, and Grade A is the adhesion and performance tier. All four stocked Protex papers and films carry the same designation, which is why the choice between them comes down to surface and process rather than the callout.
What is the difference between BAC 5034 and BAC5034-4?
BAC 5034 is the surface-protection qualification the Protex papers and films hold. BAC5034-4 is a separate material-selection document, and it does not name a single material — it carries tables, and different sections. The Protex grades appear in its material-selection tables; double-coated carpet tapes appear under section 5.1.a(1), where (a) points to Polyken 105C and (b), the flame-retardant version, points to Polyken 108FR. So a BAC5034-4 callout does not automatically mean carpet tape — the table or section number is what tells you which product to order.
Should I use a paper or a film tape for BAC 5034?
Use paper — Protex 5, 10V or 20V — when you need higher tack and scratch protection. Use film — Protex 8216-2L — when you need transparency, UV resistance, clean low-tack removal, or heat up to 325°F. One distinction within the papers matters: only Protex 5 is the grade listed for working through the protection, so routing, drilling, countersinking and riveting with the paper still on is a Protex 5 job rather than a 10V or 20V one.
Which Protex tape protects acrylic windows and canopies?
Protex 10V, a 9 to 12 mil vinyl-coated latex paper, is the grade made for protecting acrylic and polycarbonate windows, canopies and windshields where added abrasion resistance is needed. For heavier impact protection, Protex 20V roughly doubles the thickness at 19 to 23 mil.
Are these tapes approved for outdoor or fly-away use?
No. All four spec sheets carry the same sentence: this product is not intended for fly-away applications. They are manufacturing, finishing, transport and storage materials. On outdoor use, every sheet including the film's says to test before outdoor exposure, and before use on copper, brass or anodized aluminum. The 8216-2L is the grade described as UV resistant and rated to 325°F, so it is the one to consider where light or heat is involved, but it is not exempt from that testing.
How much does BAC 5034 Protex tape cost?
Starting prices for a 12 inch roll are $119.99 for Protex 5, $139.99 for Protex 20V, $199.99 for Protex 10V and $219.99 for Protex 8216-2L. Roll lengths differ by grade — 60 yards on the 5 and 10V, 30 yards on the 20V and 100 yards on the film — so compare cost per square foot rather than per roll. Prices can change, so confirm on the product page.
What widths do the Protex grades come in?
All four are available from 12 inches to 48 inches wide. Roll length varies by grade: 60 yards for Protex 5 and 10V, 30 yards for 20V, and 100 yards for the 8216-2L film. Tell us the width your process needs and we will confirm stock and lead time.
Do you supply a Certificate of Conformance with Protex tape?
A Certificate of Conformance is included with every order where available. It is what ties the roll you received to the specification your drawing calls out, so tell us the callout when you order and we will make sure the paperwork names it.
Not sure which BAC 5034 tape your job needs?
Send us your spec callout, the surface and the process it has to survive, and we'll confirm the right Protex product, stocked widths, lead time and pricing. A Certificate of Conformance is included with every order where available.
Get Pricing, Lead Time & COC →Specification details are provided for reference and are drawn from current Mask-Off Protex technical data sheets, which are the controlling source. BAC 5034, BAC5034-4 and BAC 5317 are Boeing specifications; Boeing and BAC are trademarks of The Boeing Company. AIMS is a trademark of Airbus. Protex and Mask-Off are trademarks of their respective owners. Typical test values are stated at time of manufacture and are not for use in writing specifications. Prices shown are the listed starting prices at the time of writing and may change; confirm the live price on each product page. A cross-reference identifies a potentially matching product and does not constitute a substitution approval. Always verify requirements against the controlling drawing and the current manufacturer data sheet before purchase.