Standards, Training, and Certification in the Oil and Gas
Industry
Presented by: Ernst Toussaint, TransCanada
Introduction
• The purpose of this webinar is to describe how to properly
specify a coating system for a specific substrate (steel,
metal, previously coated), structure and environment by
specifying specific industry standards, training and
certifications to ensure a quality project.
What is a Specification?
• A detailed coating specification is a
complex and sometimes confusing
document to navigate. Yet, it is the
rulebook for QC and QA personnel
responsible for inspecting work.
Specification
• Each coating specification for a steel
structure should start with:
– SSPC Technical Insight Report:
Preparing and Using Protective Coating
Specifications
– SSPC PA 1
SSPC Technical Insight Report: Preparing and Using
Protective Coating Specifications
• The purpose of this report is to describe
some best practices for preparing and
administering a quality specification for
application of high performance protective
coatings and linings for the oil and gas
industry.
SSPC-PA 1
• SSPC-PA 1, Shop, Field,
and Maintenance Painting
of Steel
Surface Preparation
• Dual Purpose:
 Cleaning the surface
 Roughening the surface
Surface Cleanliness Standards
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SSPC and NACE issue consensus standards
Currently SSPC has issued 13 cleanliness standards
NACE is jointly referenced in 7 of the 13
International Standardization Organization (ISO) also
publishes hand tool, power tool and abrasive blast
cleaning standards
SSPC-SP1, Solvent Cleaning
• Requires the removal of all visible grease, oil,
lubricants, cutting compound and other nonvisible contaminants from the surface
• Degreasing agents (solvents, alkaline and emulsion
cleaners, steam cleaning) described earlier
• Mechanical cleaning will not remove grease/oil
• “Indirect requirement” to the SSPC surface
cleanliness standards
SSPC-SP2, Hand Tool Cleaning
• SSPC-SP1 (solvent cleaning) is an “indirect
requirement”
• Requires removal of all loosely adhering rust, mill
scale and paint
• Remaining materials must be tightly adhering
• Contract may require feathering
• No surface profile requirement
• Visual verification using SSPC VIS 3
– Excellent tool to “calibrate” eye and aid in establishing project standard
SSPC-SP3, Power Tool Cleaning
• Requires removal of all loosely adhering rust,
mill scale and paint
• Remaining materials must be tightly adhering
(dull putty knife test)
• No surface profile requirement
SSPC-SP11, Power Tool Cleaning To
Bare Metal
• Requires:
 Removal of all loosely and all tightly adhering mill
scale, rust and paint to expose the bare metal surface
(traces of paint, rust and mill scale can remain in
bottom of pits)
 A minimum 25 µm (1 mil) anchor pattern
• Prepared surfaces should not be compared to
abrasive blast cleaned surfaces
 Surface roughness characteristics are different
SSPC-SP15, Commercial Grade
Power Tool Cleaning
• Requires removal of all loosely and tightly adhering
mill scale, rust and paint
• Staining from rust, paint and mill scale permitted
but must not exceed 33% (one third) of each 58
cm2 (9 in2) of prepared surface
• Traces of paint, rust and mill scale can remain in
bottom of pits
• Minimum 25 µm (1 mil) anchor pattern
Power Tool Cleaning-General
• SSPC-SP1 (solvent cleaning) is an “indirect
requirement” of SP3, SP11, SP15
• Weld slag, flux and fume deposits should be
removed from welds (per contract documents)
• Verify removal of dirt/debris generated by power
tool cleaning (blow down, brush, vacuum)
– If blow down, verify cleanliness of compressed air
(“indirect requirement” of SP3, SP11, SP15)
Abrasive Blast Cleaning Standards
• Listed from lowest to
highest level of
cleanliness required
• Specification must
stipulate the required
depth of the surface
profile
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SSPC-SP7/NACE 4
SSPC-SP14/NACE 8
SSPC-SP6/NACE 3
SSPC-SP10/NACE 2
SSPC-SP5/NACE 1
Dry Abrasive Blast Cleaning
• Selecting the correct type and size of
abrasive
 Too small abrasive – surface profile too shallow
 Too large abrasive – surface profile too deep
 Test abrasive size selected prior to production for
surface profile yield
Blast Cleaning Abrasives
• Two broad categories
– Expendable (used once
and then discarded)
– Recyclable (breakdown
rate is low, permitting
multiple use)
Specifications for Mineral & Slag Abrasives
• SSPC AB 1, Mineral and Slag Abrasives
• SSPC AB 2, Cleanliness of Recycled Ferrous
Metallic Abrasives
• SSPC AB 3, Ferrous Metallic Abrasive
• SSPC AB 4, Recyclable Encapsulated Abrasive
Media(in a compressible cellular matrix)
SSPC-SP7/NACE No. 4, Brush-off Blast
Cleaning
• “Brush blasting” the surface
• Removal of all loosely adhering materials
• Remaining materials tightly adhering, dull
putty knife test
• Contractor must exercise care if roughening
existing coating
SSPC-SP14/NACE No. 8,
Industrial Blast Cleaning
• Requires removal of all loosely adhering rust, mill
scale and paint and removal of 90% of all tightly
adhering materials
• Evenly distributed islands of intact mill scale, rust or
paint (up to 10%) may remain*
• Staining is unlimited
• Project specification may invoke feathering of
remaining “islands” of coating
*Remaining materials tightly adhering per dull putty knife test
SSPC-SP6/NACE No. 3, Commercial Blast
Cleaning
• Requires removal of all loosely and all tightly
adhering mill scale, rust and paint
• Staining from rust, paint and mill scale permitted,
but must be evenly distributed
• Staining cannot exceed 33% (one third) of each 58
cm2 (9 in2) of prepared surface
SSPC-SP10/NACE No. 2, Near-White Blast
Cleaning
• Requires removal of all loosely and all tightly
adhering mill scale, rust and paint from the
surface
• Staining from rust, paint and mill scale
permitted, but must be evenly distributed
• Staining cannot exceed 5% of each 58 cm2 (9
in2) of prepared surface
SSPC-SP5/NACE No. 1,
White Metal Blast Cleaning
• No loosely or tightly adhering materials may
remain
• No staining is permitted
SSPC/NACE Waterjetting Standards
• SSPC-SP WJ-1/NACE WJ-1, Clean to Bare
Substrate
• SSPC-SP WJ-2/NACE WJ-2, Very Thorough
Cleaning
• SSPC-SP WJ-3/NACE WJ-3, Thorough Cleaning
• SSPC-SP WJ-4/NACE WJ-4, Light Cleaning
Water Jetting - General
• Water jetting cannot generate surface profile
(can restore existing profile)
• If surface profile required, alternative surface
preparation methods are required
• Wet abrasive blast cleaning can generate
surface profile
Water Jetting - General
• Establish project-specific cleanliness standards
• Visual verification using SSPC VIS 4/NACE VIS 7 or
SSPC VIS 5/NACE VIS 9
– Prepared surfaces rarely match visual guides
– Excellent tool to “calibrate” eye and aid in establishing
project standard
– Use described later
Evaluating Flash Rusting
• SSPC VIS 5/NACE VIS 9
illustrates 3 levels of flash
rusting:
– Light (L)
– Medium (M)
– Heavy (H)
• NSRP Flash Rust
Guide
SSPC Paint Application Standards
• SSPC-PA 2, Procedure for Determining
Conformance to Dry Coating Thickness
Requirements
• SSPC- PA 17, Procedure for Determining
Conformance to Steel Profile/Surface
Roughness/Peak Count Requirements
Additional Industry Standards
• NACE RP0399, Plant Applied External
Coal Tar Enamel Pipe Coating Systems:
Application, Performance, and Quality
Control
• NACE RP0602, Field Applied External
Coal Tar Enamel Pipe Coating Systems:
Application, Performance, and Quality
Control
Additional Industry Standards
• NACE SP0394, Application, Performance,
and Quality Control of Plant Applied
Fusion Boned Epoxy (FBE) External Pipe
Coating
• RP0402, Field Applied Fusion Bonded
Epoxy (FBE) Pipe Coating Systems for
Girth Weld Joints: Application,
Performance, and Quality Control
Additional Industry Standards
• NACE RP0303, Field Applied Heat
Shrinkable Sleeves for Pipelines:
Application, Performance, and Quality
Control
• NACE SP0490, Holiday Detection of
Fusion-Bonded Epoxy External Pipeline
Coatings of 10-30 mils
Additional Industry Standards
• SP0185, Extruded Polyolefin Resin
Coating Systems with Soft Adhesives for
Underground or Submerged Pipe
• RP0375, Wax Coating Systems for
Underground Pipeline Systems
QP Certifications
What is QP Certification?
• A proven way for facility owners and specifiers
to evaluate contractor capabilities to perform
quality blasting and application work for coating
projects
• Certified contractors will have the experience,
knowledge and equipment to produce high
quality work
Why Certified Contractors?
• Certified contractors are experienced with a
demonstrated history and competence on
protective coatings projects.
• Assurance that projects will be completed
within your specifications.
• Lower risks of safety, health, and costly
environmental compliance violations.
Types of SSPC QP Certification
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QP 1 – Field Application of Coatings
QP 2 – Field Removal of Hazardous Coatings
QP 3 – Shop/Fixed Coating Operations
QP 5 – Coatings Inspection Company
QP 6 – Contractor Metalizing Certification
QP 8 – Coating/Surfacing to Concrete
QP 9 – Architectural Paints and Coatings
Training/Certification Programs
Coating
Application
Specialist
(CAS)
A joint standard of SSPC/NACE designed to
certify craft workers who have experience and
training on all aspects of surface prep and
coating application. (meets ISO 17024)
Training/Certification Programs
Abrasive
Blasting
Program
(C7)
Contractor worker training that covers surface
preparation, cleanliness, profile, and abrasives.
Course includes exam, equipment setup,
abrasive blasting, and safety meeting.
Training/Certification Programs
Airless
Spray
Basics
(C12)
Contractor worker training on airless spray
equipment operation. Course includes use of a
paint simulator, exam, materials, equipment,
and a hands-on application assessment.
Training/Certification Programs
Protective
Coatings
Specialist
(PCS)
The Protective Coatings Specialist (PCS) is a
professional certification that identifies individuals
mastery in knowledge, principles and practices of
industrial protective coatings technology.
Training/Certification Programs
Protective
Coatings
Inspector
(PCI)
Protective Coatings Inspector certification provides
training in methods of inspection for protective coatings
and linings. PCI Level 2 meets ASTM IS D3276 “Standard
Guide for Painting Inspectors”, IMO Performance Standard
for Protective Coatings, IACS SRC.
Summary
• By being aware of industry standards,
training and certifications you can properly
specify a coating system for a specific
environment and structure to ensure a
quality project