# ISO 15589-1

Source: https://coatmentor.com/standards/iso-15589-1/ · Updated 2026-10-14

Cathodic protection of on-land pipeline systems.

**Publisher**: ISO

**Area**: Metallic coatings and cathodic protection

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.

## Related

- **Concepts:** [Cathodic protection basics](https://coatmentor.com/learn/cathodic-protection/)
- **Standards:** [NACE SP0169](https://coatmentor.com/standards/nace-sp0169/)
- **Defects:** [Cathodic disbondment](https://coatmentor.com/defects/cathodic-disbondment/)

## About this page

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](https://coatmentor.com/method/). CoatMentor is an independent study aid. It is not affiliated with ISO, AMPP, SSPC, NACE International, ASTM or FROSIO.