Standard · Surface preparation and conditions
SSPC-VIS 1
Reference photographs of steel after dry abrasive blast cleaning.
SSPC-VIS 1 is a book of photographs that shows how steel looks after dry abrasive blast cleaning to the SSPC/NACE grades: brush-off (SP 7), industrial (SP 14), commercial (SP 6), near-white (SP 10) and white metal (SP 5).
Initial conditions
The appearance after blasting depends on how the steel looked before. VIS 1 shows four unpainted conditions, A (adherent mill scale) to D (rusted and pitted), and three previously painted conditions, G1 to G3. The inspector first decides the initial condition, then compares the blasted surface with the photograph for that condition and grade.
The rule an exam tests
The photographs supplement the written standards; they do not replace them. When the photograph and the written definition seem to disagree, the written SSPC/NACE standard decides.
4 practice items in the members area mention SSPC-VIS 1 (CIP 1: 2 · CIP 2: 2).
Related
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This page describes the subject of SSPC-VIS 1 in our own words; it does not reproduce the standard. For the full text, buy the current edition from AMPP. 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.