SSPC and NACE Issue Joint Standard for Application Specialist Certification

SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings (Pittsburgh PA) and NACE International (Houston TX) have issued a new joint standard titled SSPC-ACS 1/NACE No. 13, Industrial Coating and Lining Application Specialist Qualification and Certification. This new standard states the requirements for individual professional qualification and certification as it pertains to surface preparation and coating application for steel and concrete surfaces of complex industrial structures.

Government and industry are striving for long-term reliability of equipment and operations. Corrosion mitigation of steel and concrete structures by coatings and linings is crucial to achieving that goal. Coating application also combines corrosion mitigation with aesthetic appeal in both the public and private sectors. The success of coatings and linings is heavily dependent on the qualifications of the application specialist.

The new SSPC-ACS 1/NACE No. 13 is designed to qualify an individual application specialist through a broad range of classroom instruction, hand on skills assessment, and associated work experiences. The standard may be used to develop programs for the education, training, certification, or assessment of coating applicators. It can also be used to validate a potential candidate’s knowledge and skill level based on qualification in a certification program operated under this standard.

The standard presents a general scope and overview of the program and the basis for certification. It describes the required body of knowledge, requirements for each of four qualification levels, examination requirements for core and specialty qualifications, certification program requirements, and requirements for maintaining qualification. It provides criteria for evaluating the application specialist in several key subject areas, including environmental, safety, and health; process control; materials; surface preparation; and application. Appendices provide a detailed overview of the required body of knowledge for each level of application specialist qualification, cognition requirements for written and practical assessment examinations, and more.

Unlike SSPC QP (Qualification Procedure) standards, which state requirements for evaluating contractors and inspection companies, SSPC-ACS 1/NACE No. 13 states requirements for evaluating the individual coating application specialist. Although SSPC offers a wide range of training and certification programs for those who plan, specify, manage, and inspect coatings projects, the program outlined by this new joint standard, is the first to award recognition to the individual applicator.

SSPC standards are prepared by committee, and are meant to represent a consensus of balanced interests. Each undergoes a rigorous standards review process before being approved for publication. SSPC is currently cooperating with organizations in developing joint standards approved by all of participating organizations in order to avoid duplication of effort. SSPC-ACS 1/NACE No. 13, published under the auspices of SSPC's Coating Applicator Qualification Committee and NACE Specific Technology Group (STG) 04, is among the most recent of these joint standards.

The new SSPC-ACS 1/NACE No. 13 is available through the SSPC MarketPlace, where current members have free unlimited access to the complete collection of SSPC standards, guides, and specifications. It is also provided as a supplement to the latest edition of Systems and Specifications, SSPC Painting Manual, Volume 2.

For more information, please contact the SSPC Publication Sales Office by phone at 1-877-281-7772 (toll-free within the USA), or 1-412-281-2331 (if calling from outside the USA); by fax at 1-412-281-9992; or by email at books@sspc.org.

Source: SSPC