Guide to SSPC-VIS 3

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July 1, 2004

SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings

GUIDE TO SSPC-VIS 3
Guide and Reference Photographs for Steel Surfaces
Prepared by Power- and Hand-Tool Cleaning

1. Scope Condition D Steel surface completely covered with

This guide describes the use of reference photographs
depicting the appearance of unpainted, painted, rusted, and
welded hot-rolled carbon steel prior to and after power and
hand tool cleaning. These photographs are intended to be used
to supplement the written SSPC power and hand tool surface
preparation standards. Due to variations in the condition of the
steel to be cleaned, and the type and operation of the tool used,
the appearance of the cleaned surface will vary, therefore, the
written standards are the primary means to determine confor-
mance with hand and power tool cleaning requirements. The
photographs shall not be used as a substitute for the written
standards (see Section 5.4.2).
2. Description
rust; pitting visible.
Condition E Previously painted steel surface; light-
colored paint applied over blast-cleaned
surface, paint mostly intact.
Condition F Previously painted steel surface; zinc-rich
paint applied over blast-cleaned steel,
paint mostly intact.
Condition G Painting system applied over mill scale
bearing steel; system thoroughly weath-
ered, thoroughly blistered, or thoroughly
stained.
4.2 END CONDITION: The standard illustrates surfaces
prepared by several hand and power tools. The various degrees
of cleaning and tools represented are:

The reference photographs consist of color photographs SSPC-SP 2 Hand Tool Cleaning by hand wire brush
that represent various conditions of unpainted, painted, rusted, (SP 2).
and welded steel surfaces prior to and after power- and hand- SSPC-SP 3 Power Tool Cleaning by power wire brush
tool cleaning. Each photograph provides one possible illustra- (SP 3/PWB).
tion of the minimum acceptable level of cleanliness defined by SSPC-SP 3 Power Tool Cleaning by sanding disk
the corresponding written standard. (SP 3/SD).
SSPC-SP 11 Power Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal by
3. Referenced Standards non-woven disks followed by rotary flaps
or needle gun to impart a profile.
3.1 SSPC STANDARDS: SSPC-SP 11 Power Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal by
non-woven disks to restore the previously
SP 2 Hand Tool Cleaning existing profile (see Note 7.3 and photo-
SP 3 Power Tool Cleaning graphs E SP 11R and F SP 11R).
SP 11 Power Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal SSPC-SP 15 Commercial Grade Power Tool Cleaning by
SP 15 Commercial Grade Power Tool non-woven disks followed by rotary flaps or
Cleaning needle gun to impart a profile (SP 15).

4. Conditions Depicted 5. Procedures

4.1 INITIAL CONDITIONS: The standard (SSPC-VIS
3) illustrates seven initial surface conditions before surface
preparation (see Notes 7.1 and 7.2).
Condition A Steel surface completely covered with
adherent mill scale; little or no rust
visible.
Condition B Steel surface covered with both mill scale
and rust.
Condition C Steel surface completely covered with
rust; little or no pitting visible.
5.1 Determine initial condition of steel as follows:
5.1.1 If the steel has not been previously painted, proceed
to Section 5.1.2. If it has been painted, proceed to Section
5.1.3.
5.1.2 Select the photograph of the condition (A, B, C, or D)
that most closely represents the appearance of the unpainted
steel to be cleaned. The steel to be cleaned may contain more
than one initial condition.

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Guide to SSPC-VIS 3
July 1, 2004
5.1.3 Select the photograph of the condition (E, F, or G)
that most closely represents the appearance of the previously
painted steel to be cleaned. The steel to be cleaned may contain
more than one initial condition.
5.2 Determine the condition and tools to be evaluated as
follows:
5.2.1 If hand tool cleaning (SSPC-SP 2) has been speci-
fied, use the photographs with the designation SP 2.
5.2.2 If power tool cleaning (SSPC-SP 3) has been speci-
fied, determine which of the following tools were used: power
wire brush (use the photographs designated SP 3/PWB) or
sanding disk (use the photographs designated SP 3/SD).
5.2.3 If commercial grade power tool cleaning (SSPC-SP
15) has been specified, use the photographs designated SP
15. An existing profile can be restored if it meets the minimum
1 mil (25 micrometer) requirement, or the required profile can
be produced by using either a rotary flap peening assem-bly or
2-mm needle gun (see Note 7.3).
5.2.4 If power tool cleaning to bare metal (SSPC-SP 11)
has been specified, determine if the intent was to produce a
profile (5.2.4.1) or to restore (re-expose) an existing profile (see
Section 5.2.4.2). If this cannot be determined, go to 5.2.4.1.
5.2.4.1 If no profile exists or the profile condition is un-
known, use the photographs designated SP 11. The profile
required by SSPC-SP 11 can be produced by using either a
rotary flap peening assembly or 2-mm needle gun.
5.2.4.2 If there is an existing profile to be restored (re-
exposed), use the photographs designated SP 11 (Power Tool
Cleaning to Bare Metal by Non-woven Disks Followed by Rotary
Flaps or Needle Gun to Impart a Profile) or SP 11R (Power
Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal by Non-Woven Disks to Restore
[Re-Expose] Profile). It is possible to achieve SSPC-SP 11 us-
ing non-woven disks alone if a minimum 1 mil (25 micrometer)
profile is restored (see Note 7.3).
5.3 Select reference photographs as follows:
5.3.1 Refer to Table 1 to determine which photograph
depicts the finished surface.
5.3.2 If SSPC-SP 3 has been specified, use the photo-
graph that most closely corresponds to the type of power tool
used (e.g., use SP3/PWB for tools similar to a power wire
brush, or SP3/SD for tools similar to a sanding disc or grinding
wheel).
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5.4 Determine conformance with photographs as follows:
5.4.1 Compare the prepared surface with the photographs
selected in Section 5.3 to evaluate the degree of cleaning and
its conformance with the standard (SSPC-VIS 3).
5.4.2 These reference photographs shall be used only
in conjunction with the written SSPC surface preparation
specifications, as the reference photographs are based upon
appearance only and do not address other factors necessary
for compliance with the written specification.Steel surfaces
show variations in texture, shade, color, tone, pitting, flaking,
mill scale, etc., which should be considered when making a
comparison with the reference photographs.
6. Disclaimer
6.1 While every precaution is taken to ensure that all
information furnished in SSPC guides and standards is as
accurate, complete, and useful as possible, SSPC cannot as-
sume responsibility nor incur any obligation resulting from the
use of any materials, coatings, or methods specified herein,
or of the guide or standard itself.
6.2 This guide does not attempt to address problems
concerning safety associated with its use. The user of this
guide, as well as the user of all products or practices described
herein, is responsible for instituting appropriate health and safety
practices and for insuring compliance with all governmental
regulations.
7. Notes
7.1 Conditions A, B, C, and D are “new construction” surface
conditions. Conditions E, F, and G are “maintenance” surface
conditions. Conditions E and F represent surfaces having aged
coatings originally applied over blast cleaned steel. Condition
G represents surfaces having aged coatings originally applied
over mill scale bearing steel. Although many surfaces encoun-
tered in practice may not closely correspond to conditions E,
F, or G, careful extrapolation of the photographs can still aid
in determining conformance with the cleaning requirements.
7.2 Weld seams have been included with Conditions A,
B, C, D, and F to depict the appearance of welds cleaned by
power and hand tools prior to painting.
7.3 When restoring a previously existing profile, one
should ensure that the surface meets the SSPC-SP 11 and
SSPC-SP 15 requirements for a 1 mil (25 micrometer) minimum
profile.
 Guide to SSPC-VIS 3
July 1, 2004

TABLE 1
INITIAL CONDITIONS
Condition
E
Light- Condition F Condition
Colored Zinc-Rich G
Condition Paint Paint Painting
A Condition Condition Applied Applied System
100% B Condition D Over Blast Over Blast Applied Over
Initial Condition Adherent Mill Scale C 100% Rust Cleaned Cleaned Mill Scale
Description Mill Scale and Rusted 100% Rust with Pits Steel Steel (Note 4)

Weld Seam Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No

Present (Note 1)
Degree of
Cleaning and Tool

Hand Tool
Cleaning A SP 2 B SP 2 C SP 2 D SP 2 E SP 2 F SP 2 G SP 2
(SSPC-SP 2/
Wire Brush)

Power Tool
A SP 3/ D SP3/ E SP3/
Cleaning B SP 3/PWB C SP 3/PWB F SP 3/PWB G SP 3/PWB
PWB PWB PWB
(SSPC-SP 3/
Power Wire Brush)

Power Tool
Cleaning A SP 3/SD B SP 3/SD C SP 3/SD D SP 3/SD E SP 3/SD F SP 3/SD G SP 3/SD
(SSPC-SP 3/
Sanding Disc)

Commercial Grade
Power Tool
Cleaning (SSPC-
Note 2 B SP 15 C SP 15 D SP 15 E SP 15 F SP 15 G SP 15
SP 15/Needle Gun
or Rotary Flap
Peen–Produce
Profile)

Power Tool
Cleaning To Bare
Metal (SSPC-SP
A SP 11 B SP 11 C SP 11 D SP 11 E SP 11 F SP 11 G SP 11
11/Needle Gun or
Rotary Flap
Peen–Produce
Profile)

Power Tool
Cleaning to Bare
Metal (SSPC-SP
Note 3 Note 3 Note 3 Note 3 E SP 11/R F SP 11/R Note 3
11/Non-Woven
Disc–Restore/
Re-Expose
Profile)

Note 1: No special treatment was performed on the welds prior to surface preparation.
Note 2: No photograph provided. The effort required to remove mill scale on Condition A steel typically results in less staining than the 33% allowed by
SP 15, approaching the photograph provided for A SP 11.
Note 3: No photo provided–initial condition did not have original profile to be restored (re-exposed).
Note 4: Substrate consisted of 2-1/4 inch (57 mm) wide lacing bars.

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