TECHNICAL STANDARD
SSPC-SP 5 / NACE No. 1
White Metal Blast Cleaning
AMPP / SSPC / NACE
2007
Current
WHAT DOES THIS STANDARD COVER?
Defines the white-metal degree of abrasive blast-cleaning of steel surfaces before application of protective coatings or linings.
WHY IS IT RELEVANT?
Relevant where a project specification requires a very high degree of abrasive blast-cleaned steel surface cleanliness. Do not paraphrase the detailed acceptance criteria or reproduce copyrighted visual or textual requirements.
KEY INSPECTION CONSIDERATIONS
The standard addresses white metal blast cleaning of steel surfaces and represents a high degree of visual surface cleanliness. Inspection should assess the actual prepared surface rather than simply confirming that abrasive blasting has taken place. Visual cleanliness, surface profile and non-visible contamination should be treated as separate inspection considerations.
WHAT THE STANDARD SHOULD NOT BE USED TO ASSUME
Compliance with the visual preparation requirement does not itself demonstrate the required surface profile or absence of soluble salts, dust, oil or other contamination. White metal blast cleaning should also be distinguished from near-white, commercial and brush-off blast cleaning requirements.
PRACTICAL INSPECTION APPLICATION
Where a high degree of abrasive blast cleaning is specified, inspectors can assess the complete prepared surface against the applicable preparation requirement. Surface profile, soluble contamination, dust and environmental conditions should be inspected separately where required by the project specification or coating system.
RELATED TECHNICAL STANDARDS
RELATED TECHNICAL TOPICS
Abrasive blast cleaning; Surface preparation; Steel surfaces
RELATED PIL GUIDANCE
Practical guidance on assessing abrasive blast-cleaned steel surface profile before protective coating application.
Laser cleaning can remove coatings and corrosion, but the resulting surface must still be inspected and verified against the proposed coating system and project requirements.
RELATED EXPERTISE
Coating Inspection; 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
Use this exact AMPP catalogue designation. Do not independently change the revision year.