SSPC Standards (Surface Preparations Standards)

SSPC standards are guidelines needed when preparing surfaces before applying a protective coating such as paint. These surfaces could be metal, concrete, or others. Surface preparation might account for around 40% of a painting project. These standards are followed because they ensure the surface is clean and ready. A prepared surface helps the paint coating stick better and last longer. If surface preparation is done properly, it can help prevent rust, corrosion, and any such damage. Thus, you save expenses on repairs and maintenance. Following SSPC standards also ensures consistency and quality that are the same across industries. It makes sure surfaces are treated the same way no matter where the project is.

SSPC (Society for Protective Coatings) and NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers)

SSPC has established these standards so that surface preparation and corrosion protection can be done in a correct way.

SSPC focuses on creating guidelines for cleaning and preparing surfaces, a step done before coating them with paint or other materials. This is relevant especially for steel structures. These standards help ensure a clean, rust-free, and ready-for-coating surface, improving the lifespan of the finish.

The whole focus of NACE is to prevent corrosion in various industries. These are mostly oil, gas, and infrastructure. They give you standards for protecting materials from corrosion. Corrosion damages metals and structures over time, and these standards help to protect them.

Both organizations work to improve surface preparation and corrosion control. They’ve collaborated to develop joint standards so that there is consistency across industries.

SSPC Standards

The SSPC standards, which are descriptions, not pictorial, are generally as follows:

Here is a simplified way of understanding SSPC standards:

SPC SP1 – Solvent Cleaning requires removing visible oil, grease, or contaminants for effective surface cleaning. Prepare the surface for the next step with the help of solvents, vapor, soapy solutions, or steam.

SSPC SP2 – Hand Tool Cleaning uses tools for comprehensive cleaning. Instruments like scrapers, wire brushes, and sandpaper assist in removing loose rust, old paint, and mill scale to leave the surface cleaner.

SSPC SP3 – Power Tool Cleaning is the go-to option for a more thorough cleaning. It efficiently removes rust, loose paint, debris, and such materials. This is done with the help of power tooling with grinders, sanders, wire brushes, or chipping tools. This process results in a properly prepped surface.

SSPC SP5 / NACE 1 – White Metal Blast Cleaning guarantees that the surface is cleared off entirely of rust, oil, grease, dirt, and other impurities. It has no requirement for magnification to inspect. You get a spotless surface that is prepared for a coat to be applied.

SSPC SP6 / NACE 3 – Commercial Blast Cleaning requires the surface should be free from oil, grease, dust, dirt, mill scale, rust, and any other visible debris without using magnification. The surface that is clean should be on at least two-thirds of a 9-inch square area. Light shadows, streaks, or small discolorations can be allowed on less than one-third of the area.

SSPC SP7 / NACE 4 – Brush-Off Blast Cleaning: Without using magnification, the surface should be clean of any visible oil, grease, dust, dirt, mill scale, rust, coatings, oxides, and corrosion. However, if tightly stuck mill scale, rust, or coatings do not chip away with a dull putty knife, they can stay on the surface.

SSPC SP10 / NACE 2 – Near-White Blast Cleaning needs that at least 95% of the surface should be clear of contaminants without magnification. Visible oil, grease, dust, dirt, mill scale, rust, coatings, oxides, corrosion, and such are taken away from the surface. Light stains, streaks, or minor discoloration can remain on up to 5% of the surface.

SSPC SP11 – Power tools are used to clean the surface to bare metal. Some rust may remain in deep pits. Note that the surface profile should not exceed 1 mil.

SSPC SP12 / NACE 5 – This method uses water jetting. Here, one uses high-pressure water (about 10,000 PSI) to clean dirty surfaces. It removes loose rust and coatings but doesn’t create a new surface texture.

SSPC SP13 / NACE 6 – This standard outlines how to prepare surfaces made of concrete. Mechanical, chemical, or thermal methods are used before applying a coating.

SSPC SP14 / NACE 8 – Industrial Blast Cleaning requires the surface to be free of most contaminants. However,  up to 10% of the surface can have tightly adhered rust or mill scale. Stains from the previous coating can remain.

These standards help ensure surfaces are properly cleaned and ready for painting or coating, improving adhesion and durability.

SSPC Standard	Description	Details
SSPC SP1	Solvent Cleaning	Removal of all visible oil, grease, and other contaminants using solvent, vapor, soapy compounds, or steam.
SSPC SP2	Hand Tool Cleaning	Removal of mill scale, rust, loose paint, and debris by hand chipping, scraping, sanding, or wire brushing.
SSPC SP3	Power Tool Cleaning	Removal of mill scale, rust, loose paint, and debris using power grinding, sanding, wire brushing, or power tool descaling and chipping.
SSPC SP5 / NACE 1	White Metal Blast Cleaning	Surface free of all visible oil, grease, dust, dirt, mill scale, rust, coatings, oxides, and corrosion without magnification.
SSPC SP6 / NACE 3	Commercial Blast Cleaning	Surface free of all contaminants on 2/3 of the area; minor discolorations on 1/3 are acceptable without magnification.
SSPC SP7 / NACE 4	Brush-Off Blast Cleaning	Surface free of all contaminants; tightly adhered mill scale, rust, or coatings may remain if they cannot be removed with a dull putty knife.
SSPC SP10 / NACE 2	Near-White Blast Cleaning	Surface free of contaminants on at least 95% of the area; minor shadows, streaks, and discolorations limited to 5%.
SSPC SP11	Power Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal	Surface free of all contaminants; minor residue in pitted areas acceptable. Surface profile should be less than 1 mil.
SSPC SP12 / NACE 5	High/Ultra-High Pressure Water Jetting	Surface preparation using water jetting at 10,000 PSI; exposes the original abrasive-blasted surface while removing rust, mill scale, and coatings.
SSPC SP13 / NACE 6	Surface Preparation of Concrete	Mechanical, chemical, or thermal preparation of concrete before applying a coating or lining system.
SSPC SP14 / NACE 8	Industrial Blast Cleaning	Surface free of visible contaminants; tightly adhered mill scale, rust, or coatings may remain on up to 10% of the surface. Shadows and discoloration from previous coatings are acceptable.

 

The Development and Importance of SSPC

How surfaces are prepared significantly impacts the durability and efficacy of coatings. When industries utilize protective coatings, SSPC’s standards for surface preparation indicate the optimal time for applying coatings. This article outlines the evolution of SSPC, its contributions to setting these standards, and their significance.

SSPC History: Building a Foundation

SSPC (Steel Structures Painting Council) was established in 1950. It was set up to create guidelines for painting and safeguarding steel structures against corrosion. As time passed, the organization broadened its scope to encompass additional materials. In a short time, the name was altered to the Society for Protective Coatings. This shift emphasized SSPC’s responsibility in safeguarding a broader variety of materials from harm. This signaled the beginning of a more comprehensive method for surface preparation standards.

 

Specifying Surface Preparation Guidelines

Surface preparation guidelines give you different methods to clean and improve surfaces before you go on to apply protective coatings. These steps ensure that surfaces are free of dirt, rust, and other particles, things that could come in the way of the coating sticking firmly.

 

Surface Preparation Standards Are Important

Following SSPC’s guidance is crucial. If surfaces are not prepared in a correct manner, coatings could be damaged too soon. The damages could be corrosion, a shortened lifespan of the coated surface, and higher maintenance expenses.

Who and How to Use SSPC Standards?

SSPC standards are used without fail in various sectors, especially construction, shipping, manufacturing, oil and gas, infrastructure, and transportation. These standards are applied by professionals such as engineers, builders, inspectors, facility managers, and coating producers. Every standard is made to meet certain requirements. They ensure surfaces are properly treated according to the material and coating type, surface usage, and coating durability.

The various SSPC Surface Preparation Standards

Abrasive Blast Cleaning: Here, abrasives are blown out at high pressure to clean different surfaces. It repels impurities, thus making the surface clean. SSPC-SP 6/NACE No. 3 is needed mostly in industrial cleaning, while the SSPC-SP 10/NACE No. 2 is for very clean surfaces that have an almost white color.

 

Power Tool Cleaning: Power Tool Cleaning uses tools such as grinders and sanders when abrasive blasting does not succeed in removing oil, dirt, and other unwanted particles from the surfaces. SSPC-SP 11 guides are often applied to touch up spots or for specific cleaning workg.

 

Solvent Cleaning: It uses solvents to remove things like oil, grease, and oil dirt from a surface. SSPC-SP 1 standards for surface preparation are used here to ensure cleanliness and surface condition in order to prepare it for coating.

 

Waterjetting: Waterjetting is an action of cleaning a surface using highly pressured water. The SSPC-SP 12/NACE No. 5 standard details the process of waterjetting as a method to achieve different degrees of cleanliness.

 

Applying SSPC Standards in Real-World Situations

Picture a bridge located by the shoreline where the combination of saltwater and capricious weather conditions may lead to corrosion. Engineers in charge of upkeep for this bridge would utilize SSPC guidelines to determine the most effective method for surface preparation. They could opt for abrasive blasting as per SSPC-SP 10 in order to achieve a highly clean surface. This extensive preparation guarantees that the protective coatings will adhere correctly, halting rust and prolonging the bridge’s life.

 

FAQs

 

1. What has made surface preparation a crucial aspect of painting endeavors?

 

Nowadays, giving proper attention to surface preparation is crucial because it can determine 40% of a painting project’s overall success. It guarantees that surfaces are devoid of impurities to promote improved adhesion and more durable coatings. It therefore ensures expenses are kept low.

 

2. What is Near-White Blast Cleaning SSPC SP10/NACE 2?

 

SSPC SP10/NACE 2 mandates that a surface must be completely devoid of any visible contaminants. At minimum 95% of the surface must be cleaned to a nearly white metal level. While small shadows and slight discolorations are acceptable, they must not surpass 5% of the total area.

 

3. What industries require SSPC Standards?

 

SSPC Standards are implemented in diverse sectors. From construction and maritime to manufacturing, oil and gas, infrastructure, and transportation, these standards find use in these sectors. Engineers, builders, inspectors, and coating manufacturers are guided by these standards. They help them to prepare surfaces efficiently for coating performance and cost-effectiveness.

 

Conclusion

The SSPC came to expand its focus of painting on steel structures in the early days to evolve into being known as the Society for Protective Coatings. Standards of surface preparation come from years of experience within these industries. These standards are then applied to various other industries. SSPC standards, such as water jetting and solvent cleaning, power tool cleaning, and abrasive blasting, ensure that surfaces are perfectly cleaned to increase the life performance of coats applied on any surface.

With new discoveries and challenges, the Service Specifications of SSPC are still an important reference source guiding industries about surface preparation. With such standards, experts protect their investments by saving on maintenance while extending life cycles for essential structures and assets. It is thus important that SSPC standards for surface preparation exist so that surfaces are well-coated, but above all, long-lasting enough for protection against corrosion and wear for a good long time.

Visit Kramer Industries to learn more about SSPC standards and their applications in various industries. Our team of experts is ready to assist you with detailed guidance and professional advice. Contact us today for comprehensive support tailored to your needs.