SSPC Publishes Visuals for Waterjetting, Blast Cleaning

SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings has published two new collections of surface preparation reference photographs: SSPC-VIS 4 and SSPC-VIS 5.

SSPC-VIS 4 illustrates the appearances of steel surfaces prepared by waterjetting while SSPC-VIS 5 shows steel surfaces prepared by wet abrasive blast cleaning. Both contain a written guide and explanatory notes, as well as additional photographs that depict degrees of flash rust after cleaning.

SSPC-VIS 4 and SSPC-VIS 5 were developed in collaboration with NACE International under the direction of the SSPC/NACE Joint Task Group on Wet Blast Visual Standards.

SSPC visual standards and reference photographs are used to access the condition of coated and/or uncoated steel before and after cleaning, and to help verify that the requirements of certain AAPC surface preparation specifications are met.

Requirements for the conditions depicted by SSPC-VIS 4 are stated in the joint SSPC/NACE surface preparation specification for high- and ultrahigh-pressure waterjetting (SSPC-SP 12/NACE No. 5), which also discusses equipment, techniques, productivity rates and safety issues. The conditions in SSPC-VIS 5 are defined by the SSPC/NACE specifications for commercial blast cleaning (SSPC-SP 6/NACE No. 3) and near-white blast cleaning (SSPC-SP 10/NACE No. 2).

Equipment, materials and techniques are described by the joint SSPC/NACE technology report on wet abrasive blast cleaning.

The written surface preparation specifications are the primary means for verifying cleaning requirements. The visual standards and reference photographs are intended only as a supplement to the written information and are not meant to be used independently or as a substitute. However, the visual materials are produced through the same development and review processes as the written specifications and represent a consensus of balanced interests.

SSPC-VIS 4 and 5 are the most recent reference photographs published by SSPC. Previously issued SSPC visual standards include SSPC-VIS 1-89, Visual Standard for Abrasive Blast Cleaned Steel, and SSPC-VIS 3, Visual Standard for Power- and Hand-Tool Cleaned Steel.

To order the new SSPC-VIS 4 and SSPC-VIS 5, contact the SSPC Publication Sales Office by phone at (877) 281-7772 or (412) 281-2331 and by e-mail at [email protected]. These publications can also be ordered online through the recently updated SSPC Online Bookstore. For details, go to www.sspc.org/site/books.html and follow the "bookstore" link.