# SSPC-PA 2

Source: https://coatmentor.com/standards/sspc-pa-2/ · Updated 2026-10-04

Measuring dry film thickness and accepting it by spots and areas.

**Publisher**: AMPP (originally SSPC)

**Area**: Application and film thickness

*Figure: SSPC-PA 2: three or more readings in a 4 cm circle make a spot; five spots make an area.*

SSPC-PA 2 sets how many DFT readings to take and how to accept them. It works with gauges used as ASTM D7091 describes.

## Spots and areas

Three or more readings in a 4 cm circle make a **spot**. Five spots in about 10 m² (100 ft²) make an **area**. An unusually high or low reading that cannot be repeated can be discarded within a spot.

## How many areas

- Up to about 30 m² (300 ft²): every 10 m² area.
- 30–100 m² (300–1,000 ft²): three random areas.
- Above that: three areas in the first 100 m², plus one for each further 100 m² or part of it.

## Acceptance

PA 2 has five restriction levels. At Level 3, the default, each spot is at least 80 % of the specified minimum and no more than 120 % of the maximum. Each area average falls within the specified range.

**Use it:** [DFT acceptance calculator](https://coatmentor.com/calculators/dft-acceptance/) · [SSPC-PA 2 vs ISO 19840](https://coatmentor.com/blog/dft-measurement-sspc-pa2-vs-iso-19840)

**35** practice items in the members area mention SSPC-PA 2 (CIP 1: 25 · CIP 2: 8 · FROSIO written: 2).

## Related

- **Concepts:** [Dry film thickness measurement](https://coatmentor.com/learn/dft-measurement/)
- **Standards:** [ASTM D7091](https://coatmentor.com/standards/astm-d7091/) · [ISO 19840](https://coatmentor.com/standards/iso-19840/)
- **Defects:** [Solvent entrapment and popping](https://coatmentor.com/defects/solvent-entrapment/)

## About this page

**Also published openly:** [DeFelsko: SSPC-PA 2 restriction levels](https://www.defelsko.com/pa2) · [KTA-Tator: SSPC-PA 2 on structural steel](https://kta.com/sspc-pa-2-for-coating-thickness-measurements-structural-steel/).

This page describes the subject of SSPC-PA 2 in our own words; it does not reproduce the standard. For the full text, buy the current edition from AMPP. Checked on 2026-10-04; 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.