This document specifies methods for the determination of — the presence of colourless chromate conversion coatings, — the presence of hexavalent chromium in colourless and coloured coatings on zinc or cadmium or aluminium-zinc (mass fraction of aluminium: 55 %, within a range of 54 % to 56 % mass fraction) and zinc-aluminium (mass fraction of aluminium: 5 %) alloys, — the total chromium content per unit area on zinc and cadmium, — the mass per unit area of both colourless and coloured coatings, — the satisfactory adhesion of chromate conversion coatings, and — the quality of chromate coatings.