TECHNICAL STANDARD
SSPC-PA 17
Procedure for Determining Conformance to Steel Profile/Surface Roughness/Peak Count Requirements
AMPP / SSPC
2020
Current
WHAT DOES THIS STANDARD COVER?
Provides a procedure for determining whether measured steel surface profile, roughness or peak-count results conform to specified requirements.
WHY IS IT RELEVANT?
Complements ASTM D4417 by addressing how surface-profile measurements can be evaluated for conformance with specified profile requirements.
KEY INSPECTION CONSIDERATIONS
The procedure addresses determination of conformance to specified steel surface profile, surface roughness or peak-count requirements. Conformance assessment should consider the defined inspection area rather than relying on a single isolated measurement. The measurement method should be appropriate to the specified surface characteristic and clearly identified. Surface profile assessment remains separate from visual surface cleanliness.
WHAT THE STANDARD SHOULD NOT BE USED TO ASSUME
The procedure does not establish a universal acceptable surface profile. The required surface characteristic should come from the project specification, coating manufacturer or other applicable requirement. A profile result does not demonstrate visual cleanliness or absence of soluble salts or dust. Individual measurements should not be assumed to represent an entire area without an appropriate sampling approach.
PRACTICAL INSPECTION APPLICATION
Inspectors can use the procedure to provide systematic assessment of conformance to specified surface profile or roughness requirements. The required characteristic, measurement method and inspection area should be identified and results retained in a traceable record. Visual cleanliness and contamination should be inspected separately.
RELATED TECHNICAL STANDARDS
RELATED TECHNICAL TOPICS
Surface profile; Surface roughness; ASTM D4417
RELATED PIL GUIDANCE
Practical guidance on assessing abrasive blast-cleaned steel surface profile before protective coating application.
RELATED EXPERTISE
Coating Inspection; Testing & Analysis; Technical Consultancy
ABOUT THIS TECHNICAL SUMMARY
Paint Inspection Ltd provides this information to help inspectors, engineers, asset owners and contractors understand the practical relevance of commonly referenced protective coatings standards. This page is PIL technical guidance and does not reproduce or replace the published standard. Users should refer to the current published standard, project specification, coating manufacturer requirements and other applicable contract documents when establishing project requirements or acceptance criteria.
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OFFICIAL STANDARD
PIL technical summaries are intended to explain the inspection relevance of industry standards and do not replace the published document.
STATUS AND SOURCE VERIFICATION
Official AMPP catalogue reference URL recorded in the PIL Standards Library. CMS designation, title and edition are retained from the existing controlled record. Current publisher edition/status was not independently re-confirmed during the 2026-09-23 source-verification exercise and remains subject to future PIL review against the official AMPP catalogue.