Description

SSPC SP COM – Surface Preparation Commentary for Metal Substrates

This Surface Preparation Commentary (SP COM) isintended to be an aid for the coating specifier in selectingmethods, materials, and standards for specifying the propersurface preparation for steel, and other metals (not includingductile iron pipe). The use of these standards in a coatingspecification will give direction to the contractor regardingwhat is required and give direction to the inspector on verifyingcompliance to the specification.

The SSPC standards, summarized in Table 1A, representa broad consensus of users, suppliers, and public interestgroups. Details of the methods used to verify many of theproperties discussed in this SP COM are described in SSPCpublication 03-14, “The Inspection of Coatings and Linings,A Handbook of Basic Practice for Inspectors, Owners, andSpecifiers, 2nd Ed.”

Table 1B includes similar standards published by theInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO)(1). Itshould be noted that that while the ISO and SSPC standardsare similar and commonly deemed equivalent, they are notidentical. Tables 3A, 3B, and 3C provide a comparison of theISO and SSPC standards.