BRITISH STANDARD BS EN ISO

8501-3:2007
BS 7079-A3:
2006
Incorporating
amendment no. 1
(renumbers

Preparation of steel BS ISO 8501-3:2006

as BS EN ISO
8501-3:2007)

substrates before
application of paints
and related products —
Visual assessment of
surface cleanliness —
Part 3: Preparation grades of welds,
edges and other areas with surface
imperfections

The European Standard EN ISO 8501-3:2007 has the status of a

British Standard

ICS 25.220.10

12&23<,1*:,7+287%6,3(50,66,21(;&(37$63(50,77('%<&23<5,*+7/$:
BS EN ISO 8501-3:2007

National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN ISO 8501-3:2007. It is

identical with ISO 8501-3:2006. It supersedes BS 7079-A3:2002 which is
withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee
STI/21, Surface preparation of steel.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on
request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.

Amendments issued since publication

This British Standard was
published under the authority
of the Standards Policy and Amd. No. Date Comments
Strategy Committee
on 30 November 2006
17354 31 August 2007 Renumbers BS ISO 8501-3:2006 as
BS EN ISO 8501-3:2007
© BSI 2007

ISBN 978 0 580 59926 2

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO 8501-3
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM July 2007

ICS 25.220.10

English Version

Preparation of steel substrates before application of paints and

related products - Visual assessment of surface cleanliness -
Part 3: Preparation grades of welds, edges and other areas with
surface imperfections (ISO 8501-3:2006)

Préparation des subjectiles d'acier avant application de
peintures et de produits assimilés - Évaluation visuelle de
la propreté d'un subjectile - Partie 3: Degrés de préparation
des soudures, arêtes et autres zones présentant des
imperfections (ISO 8501-3:2006)
Vorbereitung von Stahloberflächen vor dem Auftragen von
Beschichtungsstoffen - Visuelle Beurteilung der
Oberflächenreinheit - Teil 3: Vorbereitungsgrade von
Schweißnähten, Kanten und anderen Flächen mit
Oberflächenunregelmäßigkeiten (ISO 8501-3:2006)

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 11 July 2007.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same status as the
official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels

© 2007 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 8501-3:2007: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
EN ISO 8501-3:2007

Foreword

The text of ISO 8501-3:2006 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 35 "Paints and
varnishes” of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and has been taken over
as EN ISO 8501-3:2007 by Technical Committee CEN/TC 139 "Paints and varnishes", the
secretariat of which is held by DIN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of
an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2008, and conflicting national
standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by January 2008.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of

the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United
Kingdom.

Endorsement notice

The text of ISO 8501-3:2006 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 8501-3:2007 without any
modifications.
 EN ISO 8501-3:2007

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 8501-3

Second edition
2006-03-01

Preparation of steel substrates before

application of paints and related
products — Visual assessment of surface
cleanliness —
Part 3:
Preparation grades of welds, edges and
other areas with surface imperfections
Préparation des subjectiles d'acier avant application de peintures et de
produits assimilés — Évaluation visuelle de la propreté d'un
subjectile —
Partie 3: Degrés de préparation des soudures, arêtes et autres zones
présentant des imperfections

Reference number
ISO 8501-3:2006(E)
ii
 EN ISO 8501-3:2007

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 8501-3 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 35, Paints and varnishes, Subcommittee SC 12,
Preparation of steel substrates before application of paints and related products.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 8501-3:2001). The main changes are:

⎯ revision of the description of preparation grade P1 in Clause 4 and the preparation grades for welding
spatter and undercut in Table 1;

⎯ replacement of the phrases “as found”, “as welded”, etc., with “no preparation”;

⎯ deletion of Annex A “Correlation between preparation grades and corrosivity categories”.

ISO 8501 consists of the following parts, under the general title Preparation of steel substrates before
application of paints and related products — Visual assessment of surface cleanliness:

⎯ Part 1: Rust grades and preparation grades of uncoated steel substrates and of steel substrates after
overall removal of previous coatings

⎯ Informative Supplement to Part 1: Representative photographic examples of the change of appearance

imparted to steel when blast-cleaned with different abrasives

⎯ Part 2: Preparation grades of previously coated steel substrates after localized removal of previous
coatings

⎯ Part 3: Preparation grades of welds, edges and other areas with surface imperfections

⎯ Part 4: Initial surface conditions, preparation grades and flash rust grades in connection with high-
pressure water jetting

iii
EN ISO 8501-3:2007

Introduction
The performance of protective coatings of paint and related products applied to steel is significantly affected
by the state of the steel surface immediately prior to painting. The principal factors that are known to influence
this performance are:

a) the presence of rust and mill scale;

b) the presence of surface contaminants, including salts, dust, oils and greases;

c) the surface profile.

International Standards ISO 8501, ISO 8502 and ISO 8503 have been prepared to provide methods of
assessing these factors, while ISO 8504 provides guidance on the preparation methods that are available for
cleaning steel substrates, indicating the capabilities of each in attaining specified levels of cleanliness.

These International Standards do not contain recommendations for the protective coating system to be
applied to the steel surface. Neither do they contain recommendations for the surface quality requirements for
specific situations even though surface quality can have a direct influence on the choice of protective coating
to be applied and on its performance. Such recommendations are given in other documents such as national
standards and codes of practice. Users of these International Standards should ensure the qualities specified
are:

⎯ compatible and appropriate both for the environmental conditions to which the steel will be exposed and
for the protective coating system to be used;

⎯ within the capability of the cleaning procedure specified.

The four International Standards referred to above deal with the following aspects of preparation of steel
substrates:

ISO 8501 Visual assessment of surface cleanliness;

ISO 8502 Tests for the assessment of surface cleanliness;

ISO 8503 Surface roughness characteristics of blast-cleaned steel substrates;

ISO 8504 Surface preparation methods.

Each of these International Standards is in turn divided into separate parts.

Imperfections at welds, edges and other areas of steel substrates are generally starting points for corrosion.
Such areas are also difficult to protect by application of paints and related products. To assist in achieving
efficient corrosion protection, this part of ISO 8501 defines certain imperfections and preparation grades for
such areas.

iv
 EN ISO 8501-3:2007

Preparation of steel substrates before application of paints and

related products — Visual assessment of surface cleanliness —

Part 3:
Preparation grades of welds, edges and other areas with
surface imperfections

1 Scope
This part of ISO 8501 describes preparation grades of welds, edges and other areas, on steel surfaces with
imperfections. Such imperfections can become visible before and/or after an abrasive blast-cleaning process.

The preparation grades given in this part of ISO 8501 are to make steel surfaces with imperfections, including
welded and fabricated surfaces, suitable for the application of paints and related products.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.

ISO 12944-2, Paints and varnishes — Corrosion protection of steel structures by protective paint systems —
Part 2: Classification of environments

ISO 12944-3, Paints and varnishes — Corrosion protection of steel structures by protective paint systems —
Part 3: Design considerations

3 Types of imperfection
This part of ISO 8501 deals with imperfections on:

⎯ welds;

⎯ edges;

⎯ steel surfaces generally.

The various types of imperfection are illustrated and described in Table 1.

1
EN ISO 8501-3:2007

4 Preparation grades

Three preparation grades for making steel surfaces with visible imperfections suitable for the application of
paints and related products are as follows:

P1 Light preparation: no preparation or only minimum preparation needs to be carried out before
application of paint;

P2 Thorough preparation: most imperfections are remedied;

P3 Very thorough preparation: surface is free of significant visible imperfections.

The significance of visible imperfections should preferably be agreed between all relevant parties, depending
on the specific application.

Requirements for the preparation grades are given in Table 1.

NOTE 1 It is important that the preparation methods used to achieve these preparation grades are not deleterious to
the integrity of the steel surface or welded areas. For example, strong grinding pressure can result in the formation of
heat-affected areas on a steel surface, and removal of defects by grinding can leave sharp edges at the edges of the grind
pattern.

NOTE 2 It is possible that different imperfections on a structure will require different preparation grades. For example,
undercut (Table 1, 1.4) might require P3 preparation while all other imperfections might require P2 preparation. This can,
in particular, be the case when there are requirements for the aesthetic appearance of the finish. In such cases, P3 could
be specified even if there were no apparent corrosivity requirements (see ISO 12944-2).

NOTE 3 A replica, known as NACE standard RP 0178, showing examples of weld imperfections and certain levels of
preparation, can be obtained from NACE International, PO Box 218340, Houston, Texas 77218-8340, USA.

2
 EN ISO 8501-3:2007

Table 1 — Imperfections and preparation grades

Type of imperfection Preparation grades

Description Illustration P1 P2 P3

1 Welds
1.1 Welding spatter Surface shall be Surface shall be free Surface shall be
free of all loose of all loose and lightly free of all welding
welding spatter adhering welding spatter
[see a)] spatter [see a) and b)]
Welding spatter
shown in c) may
remain
1.2 Weld No preparation Surface shall be Surface shall be
ripple/profile dressed (e.g. by fully dressed, i.e.
grinding) to remove smooth
irregular and sharp-
edged profiles

1.3 Welding slag Surface shall be Surface shall be free Surface shall be
free from welding from welding slag free from welding
slag slag

1.4 Undercut No preparation Surface shall be free Surface shall be

from sharp or deep free from
undercuts undercuts

1.5 Weld porosity No preparation Surface pores shall be Surface shall be

sufficiently open to free from visible
allow penetration of pores
paint, or dressed out

Key
1 visible
2 invisible (might open after abrasive
blast cleaning)

1.6 End craters No preparation End craters shall be Surface shall be

free from sharp edges free from visible
end craters

3
EN ISO 8501-3:2007

Table 1 — (continued)

Type of imperfection Preparation grades

Description Illustration P1 P2 P3

2 Edges
2.1 Rolled edges No preparation No preparation Edges shall be
rounded with a
radius of not less
than 2 mm
(see ISO 12944-3)

2.2 Edges made No part of the No part of the Edges shall be

by punching, edge shall be edge shall be rounded with a
shearing, sawing sharp; the edge sharp; the edge radius of not less
or drilling shall be free from shall be free from than 2 mm
fins fins
(see ISO 12944-3)

Key
1 punching
2 shearing

2.3 Thermally Surface shall be No part of the Cut face shall be

cut edges free of slag and edge shall have removed and
loose scale an irregular profile edges shall be
rounded with a
radius of not less
than 2 mm
(see ISO 12944-3)
3 Surfaces generally
3.1 Pits and Pits and craters Pits and craters Surface shall be
craters shall be shall be free of pits and
sufficiently open sufficiently open craters
to allow to allow
penetration of penetration of
paint paint
3.2 Shelling Surface shall be Surface shall be Surface shall be
free from lifted free from visible free from visible
NOTE In
material shelling shelling
English-language
usage, the terms
“slivers” and
“hackles” are also
used to describe
this type of
imperfection.

3.3 Roll Surface shall be Surface shall be Surface shall be

overs/roll free from lifted free from visible free from visible
laminations/cut material roll-overs/ roll-overs/
laminations laminations laminations

4
 EN ISO 8501-3:2007

Table 1 (continued)

Type of imperfection Preparation grades

Description Illustration P1 P2 P3

3.4 Rolled-in Surface shall be Surface shall be Surface shall be

extraneous matter free from rolled-in free from rolled-in free from rolled-in
extraneous matter extraneous matter extraneous matter

3.5 Grooves and No preparation The radius of Surface shall be

gouges formed by grooves and free from grooves,
mechanical action gouges shall be and the radius of
not less than gouges shall be
2 mm greater than 4 mm

3.6 Indentations No preparation Indentations and Surface shall be

and roll marks roll marks shall be free from
smooth indentations and
roll marks

5
EN ISO 8501-3:2007

Bibliography

[1] ISO 8504-3, Preparation of steel substrates before application of paints and related products —
Surface preparation methods — Part 3: Hand- and power-tool cleaning

6
blank
BS EN ISO
8501-3:2007
BS 7079-A3: BSI — British Standards Institution
2006 BSI is the independent national body responsible for preparing
British Standards. It presents the UK view on standards in Europe and at the
international level. It is incorporated by Royal Charter.

Revisions
British Standards are updated by amendment or revision. Users of
British Standards should make sure that they possess the latest amendments or
editions.
It is the constant aim of BSI to improve the quality of our products and services.
We would be grateful if anyone finding an inaccuracy or ambiguity while using
this British Standard would inform the Secretary of the technical committee
responsible, the identity of which can be found on the inside front cover.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9000. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7400.
BSI offers members an individual updating service called PLUS which ensures
that subscribers automatically receive the latest editions of standards.

Buying standards
Orders for all BSI, international and foreign standards publications should be
addressed to Customer Services. Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9001.
Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7001. Email: orders@bsi-global.com. Standards are also
available from the BSI website at http://www.bsi-global.com.
In response to orders for international standards, it is BSI policy to supply the
BSI implementation of those that have been published as British Standards,
unless otherwise requested.

Information on standards
BSI provides a wide range of information on national, European and
international standards through its Library and its Technical Help to Exporters
Service. Various BSI electronic information services are also available which give
details on all its products and services. Contact the Information Centre.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7111. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7048. Email: info@bsi-global.com.
Subscribing members of BSI are kept up to date with standards developments
and receive substantial discounts on the purchase price of standards. For details
of these and other benefits contact Membership Administration.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7002. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7001.
Email: membership@bsi-global.com.
Information regarding online access to British Standards via British Standards
Online can be found at http://www.bsi-global.com/bsonline.
Further information about BSI is available on the BSI website at
http://www.bsi-global.com.

Copyright
Copyright subsists in all BSI publications. BSI also holds the copyright, in the
UK, of the publications of the international standardization bodies. Except as
permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 no extract may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means – electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without prior written
permission from BSI.
This does not preclude the free use, in the course of implementing the standard,
of necessary details such as symbols, and size, type or grade designations. If these
details are to be used for any other purpose than implementation then the prior
BSI written permission of BSI must be obtained.
389 Chiswick High Road Details and advice can be obtained from the Copyright & Licensing Manager.
London Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7070. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7553.
Email: copyright@bsi-global.com.
W4 4AL