Comparison of Documentation, Hold Point and
Quality Control Training Requirements in SSPC
Contractor QP1, QP3, QP6 and QP8 Standards
Alison B. Kaelin, ASQ-CQA
KTA-Tator, Inc.
Introduction
Webinar Content:
 General Overview of SSPC QP (PCCP) standards
 Overview of scope and content of QP1, QP3, QP6, QP8
 Comparison of requirements for:
 Personnel Training
 Initial
 Refresher
 Summary of Required Programs, Technical Capabilities,
Quality Control and Safety and Health
 Required QC Documentation
Learning Objectives/Outcomes
• Completion of this webinar will enable the
participant to:
 Describe overall QP1, QP3, QP6, QP8 requirements
 Describe the training requirements for personnel for each
standard
 Understand the minimum program requirements
 Understand minimum hold points and documentation
requirements
SSPC Contractor Certification
Program
• Based on consensus standards
• Only nationally recognized program for
– pre-qualification
– independent contractor evaluation
• Each program reviews the painting
contractor's ability to provide quality work
in compliance with applicable safety,
health and environmental standards
Types of SSPC Contractor
Certifications
• QP 1 evaluates contractors who perform
surface preparation and industrial coating
application on steel structures in the field
(2008)
• QP 6 evaluates the qualifications of
industrial thermal spray (metallizing)
contractors in the field and shop (2010)
• QP 8 certification evaluates the qualifications
of contractors installing coatings or surfacing
on concrete (2003)
Types of SSPC Contractor
Certifications
• QP 3 evaluates a contracting company's
ability to perform surface preparation and
protective coating application in a fixed
shop facility (2010).
• This is a joint AISC/SSPC Standard
• Three categories of shop certification:
– Enclosed Shop
– Covered Shop
– Open (Exposed) Shop
Why Do we Need Certified
Contractors?
• Contractor certification covers the entire
organization not just specific individuals
• Contractor certification verifies:
– Has written program and procedures in place
to achieve specified requirements
– Staff meets minimum requirements for
competence, awareness and training
– Health, safety and environmental compliance
– Minimum documentation requirements
Management Procedures
• Each of the standards have requirements
for “Management Procedures”
• Management Procedures include:
– Policy
• Commitment for written policies on quality, safety,
health and environmental compliance
• Written procedures for disseminating information
throughout the organization
Management Procedures
(c0nt.)
• Organization and Personnel
– Organizational Chart
– Names, Titles, Duties and Job Descriptions
– Biographical Information (QP3 only)
Management Procedures
(c0nt.)
• Administrative and Management Procedures
– Financial Recordkeeping
– Review of job specifications and bid documents
– Procedures for regulatory compliance
• Identify person responsible for tracking (QP1 only)
– Procedures of contract estimating, scheduling
and cost accounting (QP6 and QP8 only)
– Procedures for evaluating each job function and
required training (QP8 only)
Management Procedures
(c0nt.)
• Administrative and Management Procedures
QP1 Only
– Confirmation by CPA or equal of accounting
practices
– Procedure for distribution of specifications to
employees
– Information of business entity
– Documentation that subcontractors comply with
QP1 requirements
Management Procedures
(c0nt.)
• QP3 only
– Purchasing procedure and minimum data
requirements
– Subcontractor evaluations
– Qualification and evaluation of vendors
– Minimum quality records established
– Material identification, storage and certification
– Non-conformances and corrective and
preventive action
Technical Capabilities
• Each of the standards have requirements
for “Technical Capabilities” that include:
– Technical Resources and Libraries
• Specific standards and resources are defined for
each QP program
– Procedures
• Procedures for reviewing, logging and transmitting
information related to the project to applicable
personnel
Technical Capabilities (Cont.)
• Experience, Facilities and Equipment
– List of current and recently completed projects
including product, scope, personnel,
equipment, etc.
– Equipment maintenance and repair procedures
and logs
– Specific process and inspection instrument
equipment (QP3 only)
– Facility plan and equipment lists (QP3 only)
Technical Capabilities
• Technical capability requirements related
to personnel qualifications vary
dramatically between standards and are
discussed in multiple sections of each
standard
• Personnel Qualification requirements will
be discussed by individual standards at the
end of this webinar
Quality Control – Inspection
Procedures
• Each of the standards have requirements
for written Inspection Procedures that
include:
– Applicable standards and specifications
– System for maintaining records
– Job specific equipment and calibration
requirements
– Inspection of each major operation or hold
point
Quality Control – Inspection
Procedures (Cont.)
– Managing, documenting and reporting Non
conformances (QP1, QP3, and QP6 only)
– Adequate lighting (QP8 only)
– Concrete specific procedure requirements
(QP8 only)
– QC Manual (QP8 only)
• Technical Requirements (ASTM D6237) and
calibration standards
• Contract specific requirements
– Corrective action process (QP1 and QP3 only)
Safety, Health and
Environmental Compliance
• Each of the standards (except QP3) have
requirements for written Safety and Health
Procedures or Program that include:
– Documentation of safety education meetings
– Process for conducting hazard assessments
– Process for formal management review of
safety records and plans on annual basis
– Personal protection equipment
– Accident reporting
Safety, Health and Environmental
Compliance (Cont.)
– Documentation of safety education meetings
– Process for conducting hazard assessments
– Process for formal management review of
safety records and plans on annual basis
– Personal protective equipment
– Accident reporting
– Safety and loss control (QP6 and QP1 only)
– Provisions for first aid
– Safety procedures for equipment
Safety, Health and Environmental
Compliance (Cont.)
• Environmental Compliance (QP1 and QP8
only) Procedures addressing:
–
–
–
–
Disposal of hazardous waste
Disposal of waste water (QP1 only)
VOC compliant materials (QP1 only)
Protection of air, soil and water (QP8 only)
• Note: control of hazardous paint and debris
related to lead and other toxic metals is
covered in SSPC QP2.
Personnel Qualifications
QP1 – Quality Control
Quality Control
Supervisor
Quality Control Inspector
Experience
3 years protective coating
industry experience
2 years field experience in
protective coatings
Training
QCS course and SSPC
Coating Inspection Training
or equal
Formal Training in the
fundamentals of coating
inspection including
calibration verification and
documentation
Personnel Qualifications
QP1 – Craft Worker Training
• Current Standard requires implementation
of formal written program addressing:
– Skills assessment
– Verification of qualifications
– Training as needed
• A revised standard is in the works and is
expected in 2012
• The PCCP Committee initiated a CAS QP 1
Execution Plan in March 2011
Personnel Qualifications
CAS QP1 Execution Plan
• Applicable to project greater than $50,000
• January 1 through December 1, 2012
– Begin qualifying selected personnel within their
organizations to become eligible to take the CAS
Level II Interim Exam
• January 15, 2012
– Have CAS Level II Interim staff OR
– Submit a “CAS Execution Plan” with application
• January 1, 2013 Have CAS Level II Interim staff
Proposed CAS Crew Definition
for initial phase-in in 2013
• One CAS for minimum 5 crew members
holding the blast nozzle and spray gun
• If contract:
– exceeds $50,000 for painting
– Scope of work includes abrasive blast cleaning or
spray application
– Industrial and Marine Steel/Metal Structures
Proposed CAS Crew Definition
for initial phase-in in 2013
• CAS requirement can be waived when:
– Owner-specifies craft worker certification (e.g.
USN C-7; C-12, etc.)
– Owner exemption from craft-worker certification
(e.g. MD SHA)
– Crews with less than five craft-workers holding
the blast nozzle and spray gun
Personnel Qualifications
CAS QP1 Execution Plan
• January 1, 2013
– One (1) CAS Certified Level II-Interim craftworker on each painting crew, regardless of crew
size, during blast cleaning and spray application
(Atmospheric and Immersion Service)
• January 1, 2014
– One (1) CAS Certified Level II-Interim craftworker to every three (3) non certified craftworkers (25%) on each painting crew
Personnel Qualifications
CAS QP1 Execution Plan
• January 1, 2016 – 50% CAS Level IIInterim / crew
• January 1, 2018 – 75% CAS Level II-Interim /
crew
• January 1, 2020 - – 75% CAS Level II-Full /
crew
Personnel Qualifications
CAS Interim Status
Pre Requisite
Item #1
Pre Requisite
Item #2
Pre Requisite
Item #3
Cert Exam
Verifiable Work
Experience
Training Experience
Pass written exam with
Minimum 2,000 hrs
a 70% or greater and
Process A
(equivalent to 2 years
pass hands-on exam
work experience)
with a 90% or greater
150 CAS hours of
accepted formal
training
Pass written exam with
Minimum 3,000 hrs
a 70% or greater and
Process B
(equivalent to 3 years
pass hands-on exam
work experience)
with a 90% or greater
N/A
Personnel Qualifications
QP3 – Quality Control
Top Individual
Quality Control Inspector
Experience
Minimum 1 year
experience in surface
preparation and
application of complex
coating systems
Inspection of complex coating systems;
familiar and proficient with responsibilities
and use of inspection equipment and
procedures
Qualification
Not defined
By training and experience as defined by
Firm and competencies assessed and
documented
Training
Not defined
Documented formal training by qualified
in-house or external sourcesbased on ASTM
D 3276, Standard Guide for Painting
Inspectors (Metal Substrates)
Personnel Qualifications
QP3 – Production
• Formal written program addressing:
• Skills assessment
•Verification of qualifications
•Annual performance assessment
•Training as needed
•Meet contractual training requirements
Personnel Qualifications
QP6
• Job description and qualification
requirements for personnel and
• Documentation of training experience and
work history of thermal spray supervisor
(TSS), thermal spray inspector (TSI) and
thermal spray operators (TSO)
• Method for monitoring proficiency of
workers and inspectors
Personnel Qualifications
QP6 – Thermal Spray Supervisor
Thermal Spray Supervisor (TSS)
Knowledge
Experience
Steel
Concrete
Thermal spraying per CS 23, QP1
and QP3
Thermal spraying of
concrete per QP8 and AWS
C2.20
2 years management of SP5 and SP10 jobs
1 year experience and C-7
Training
16 hours theory/quality per CS23
16 hours theory/quality per
AWS C2.20
8 hours of documented theoretical, practical, and hands-on
quality control instruments from TS supplier or equal
Qualification (initial and every 2 years) under AWS C2.16 and
C23 by SSPC or equal
Personnel Qualifications
QP6
Thermal Spray Inspector (TSI)
Thermal Spray Operator (TSO)
Program for training, qualifying and
certifying its thermal spray inspector
Program for training, qualifying
and certifying its thermal spray
operator in accordance with AWS
C2.16
*Definition implies training per CS23,
and ASTM D 3276
*Definition states qualification is
documented by signed and dated
certificate indicating type of
equipment, coating and application
performed
Personnel Qualifications
QP8 –Foreman and QC
Job Crew Chief or
Foreman
Experience
Training
Quality Control
Manager
2 years experience in concrete coating or surfacing
installation as installer, superintendant, project
manager, owner or technical representative
Quality Control
Inspector
Not specified
QC training (general) minimum 8 hours
2-day (16 hour) curriculum on concrete, masonry and cementitious
surfaces
2-day (16-hour) ACI course on concrete
fundamentals
N/A
Personnel Qualifications
QP8 – Quality Control
Required Curriculum
• Basic Components , Characteristics, Surface
Properties
• Reasons for Coating and Surfacing
• Precautions regarding adhesion
• Generic polymer coating and surfacing types
• Repair techniques
• Pre-preparation, surface preparation,
application/installation, inspection and testing.
• Required safety, health, and environmental
Personnel Qualifications
QP8 – Craftpersons
• Implement a program to ensure that qualified
persons perform work
• If necessary, training must be available to
workers, including training to meet regulatory
requirements
• Have a method for monitoring proficiency of
workers performing work
• Maintain documentation
Hold points and
Documentation
• The standards vary greatly on the level of detail
related to requirements for hold points or
documentation of inspection
• QP1 , QP3 and QP6 are very broad and generally
require that the contractor ensures that each
major operation (e.g. surface, preparation,
primer, intermediate and topcoat application) is
properly performed and documented on a daily
basis or in accordance with project documents
• QP8 requires documentation per the QC manual,
contract and as deemed prudent by QC personnel
Hold points and
Documentation
• Each of the standards audit checklists contain
detailed lists of hold points and/or
documentation required
• The initial application for each standard may
have additional requirements (that are not in the
standard)
– Certified contractors should review initial applications
on an annual basis to stay informed of new
requirements
• Several audit checklists and applications have
been revised in 2011
Initial and Annual
Evaluations
•
•
•
•
•
•
SSPC reviews application and programs
Schedules and performs office and field audit(s)
Requires annual internal audit(s) by QP firms
Performs annual scheduled field/office audits
Performs random audits at any time
If findings, contractors have to initiate Corrective
Action Plan (CAPs)
• Major findings or regulatory citations may trigger
Disciplinary Action Criteria (DAC)
Job Notifications (QP1 Only)
• QP1 requires that SSPC be notified of job in
advance
– Notification required within 15 days of contract award
• There is an online system for notifications
• The online systems prompts contractors to
provide
–
–
–
–
Security arrangements
PPE requirements
Directions
Contact Information
Summary
• During this webinar, we have:
 Reviewed the purpose of the contractor QP programs
 Described and contrasted the management procedures,
technical capabilities, personnel qualifications required by
each
 Described hold points and documentation requirements
 The SSPC website has a wealth of information that is
updated frequently
 http://www.sspc.org/qp-programs/qp-for-contractors/
 Check audit checklists and initial applications for new
information and requirements
Thank you for attending!
Any questions?
THE END