TECHNICAL STANDARD
SSPC-SP 2-2024
Hand Tool Cleaning
AMPP / SSPC
2024
Current
WHAT DOES THIS STANDARD COVER?
Defines a degree of surface preparation achieved using hand tools to remove specified forms of loose surface contamination and deteriorated material before coating.
WHY IS IT RELEVANT?
Particularly relevant to maintenance coating work and localised repairs where abrasive blast cleaning or power-tool preparation is not specified or practical. Do not imply that hand-tool cleaning produces the same cleanliness or surface profile as abrasive blast cleaning.
KEY INSPECTION CONSIDERATIONS
The standard addresses hand-tool cleaning of steel surfaces. Non-powered hand tools are used to remove loose rust, loose mill scale, loose coating and other detrimental material. Inspection should assess the resulting surface condition rather than simply confirming that hand tools were used. The method is commonly relevant to maintenance and repair work.
WHAT THE STANDARD SHOULD NOT BE USED TO ASSUME
Hand-tool cleaning should not be treated as equivalent to abrasive blast cleaning or power-tool cleaning to bare metal. Tightly adherent material may remain where permitted by the applicable preparation requirement. The method does not itself establish a defined surface profile. Removal of loose material also does not demonstrate that oil, grease or soluble contamination is absent.
PRACTICAL INSPECTION APPLICATION
During maintenance or local repair work, inspectors can assess whether loose detrimental material has been removed and examine retained coating, edges, corrosion, difficult-access areas and transitions between prepared and existing surfaces. Surface contamination and environmental conditions should be considered separately where applicable.
RELATED TECHNICAL STANDARDS
RELATED TECHNICAL TOPICS
Surface preparation; Maintenance coating; Hand tool cleaning
RELATED PIL GUIDANCE
A pre-condition coating survey brings visual inspection, testing, sampling and access planning together to support evidence-based maintenance decisions.
A structured approach to investigating protective coating failure through evidence, testing, sampling and project-record review.
RELATED EXPERTISE
Coating Inspection; Condition Surveys; 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
Revised by AMPP Standards Committee SC 05 on 2 December 2024. Supersedes SSPC-SP 2-2018. Verified September 2026.