scope:

This Standard describes requirements for certification of firms that apply complex painting systems as defined in this Standard.

The requirements of this Standard are applied to the quality management system of a certified Firm independent of individual project requirement for Certification to this Standard. The coating quality management system of a Firm, not its products, is certified. Certification to this Standard is neither an inspection nor an endorsement of product, surface preparation, or coating application. The Standard includes all functions and responsibilities that apply to surface preparation and coating in a shop environment for new steel or for steel which has been previously coated and blast-cleaned and is free of hazardous paint (lead, etc.) when it arrives at the shop. The scope of this Standard does not include design, fabrication, manufacture, erection, surface preparation and application of coating in the field, metallizing or galvanizing, powder coating, anodizing, or compliance with safety (OSHA) and environmental (EPA) regulations. The re-painting (including surface preparation) of previously coated items returned to the Firm's coating facility for rework is included in the scope of this Standard; however, removal of previously existing coatings is not included in the scope.¹

Certification to this Standard cannot be shared or transferred to another company or facility without the written approval of AISC or SSPC. The Firm shall have the capability to meet all the requirements of this Standard.

Purpose

The purpose of this Standard is to confirm to owners, the design community, and the construction industry that a Firm certified to this Standard has knowledgeable personnel and the organization, experience, procedures, and equipment to provide surface preparation and application of complex painting systems in a shop facility in accordance with contract specifications.

Independent of the quality‑focused purpose that is uniformly applicable to all Firms certified to this Standard, Firms will be labeled with one of three shop descriptors to communicate the basic description of their facilities. Owners, the design community, and the construction industry requiring certification to this Standard may chose to use the shop description label as part of qualification criteria for shop painting facilities. The shop descriptors are defined descending inclusive but not ascending inclusive. For example, a Firm described as Enclosed also meets the description for Covered and Open. A Firm described as Covered also meets the description for Open, but does not meet the description for Enclosed. Firms in any shop descriptor shall provide evidence of proper operating procedures and maintenance records of equipment, and evidence of proper coating storage and handling. All contract requirements shall be met, regardless of shop description. Specifiers who require certification to this Standard should evaluate the Firm's capacity to complete a specific project independently.

¹ Removal of previously existing coatings may fall under the scope of SSPC‑QP 2.