Standard · Metallic coatings and cathodic protection
ISO 15589-1
Cathodic protection of on-land pipeline systems.
ISO 15589-1 covers cathodic protection (CP) for pipelines on land: buried lines, landfalls, and crossings under rivers and lakes. It covers design, installation, commissioning and monitoring. Part 2 covers offshore pipelines.
Edition
The 2026 edition replaced the 2015 edition. Older specifications may still name 2015, so check which edition the contract cites.
The protection criterion
The familiar criterion is a pipe-to-soil potential of −850 mV or more negative against a copper/copper sulfate reference electrode, or at least 100 mV of polarization (US pipeline rules use both). In well-aerated soil of high resistivity, a less negative potential may suffice: a note in NACE SP0169 gives ISO 15589-1's −750 mV and −650 mV for such soils.
Why the coating matters
- The coating carries most of the protection; CP protects the steel at the holidays.
- A coating that disbonds but stays in place shields the steel from the current. Corrosion can run under disbonded tape while the CP readings look good.
- A pipeline coating must resist cathodic disbondment. ASTM G8 is the test.
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This page describes the subject of ISO 15589-1 in our own words; it does not reproduce the standard. For the full text, buy the current edition from ISO. Checked on 2026-10-14; errors go in the corrections log. CoatMentor is an independent study aid. It is not affiliated with ISO, AMPP, SSPC, NACE International, ASTM or FROSIO.