SSPC-SP 11

November 1, 1987
Editorial Changes September 1, 2000

SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings

SURFACE PREPARATION SPECIFICATION NO. 11

Power Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal
1. Scope 3.3 SURFACE CLEANING MEDIA:

1.1 This specification covers the requirements for power 3.3.1 Non-woven abrasive wheels and discs constructed
tool cleaning to produce a bare metal surface and to retain of a non-woven synthetic fiber web material of continuous
or produce a surface profile. undulated filaments impregnated with an abrasive grit.
NOTE: Information on suitable discs and wheels is found in
1.2 This specification is suitable where a roughened, Section A.3.c of the Appendix.
clean, bare metal surface is required, but where abrasive
blasting is not feasible or permissible. 3.3.2 Coated abrasive discs (sanding pads), coated
abrasive flap wheels, coated abrasive bands or other coated
1.3 This specification differs from SSPC-SP 3, Power abrasive devices capable of running on power tools. NOTE:
Tool Cleaning, in that SSPC-SP 3 requires only the removal Information on suitable wheels is found in Section A.3.d of
of loosely adherent materials and does not require produc- the Appendix.
ing or retaining a surface profile.
3.3.3 Other materials that produce the requirements of
2. Definition Section 2.1.

2.1 Metallic surfaces which are prepared according to 3.4 SURFACE PROFILE PRODUCING MEDIA:
this specification, when viewed without magnification, shall
be free of all visible oil, grease, dirt, dust, mill scale, rust, 3.4.1 Rotary impact flap assembly consisting of a
paint, oxide, corrosion products, and other foreign matter. flexible loop construction with carbide spheres bonded to
Slight residues of rust and paint may be left in the lower the peening surfaces of each of the metal supports fastened
portion of pits if the original surface is pitted. to the loop. NOTE: Information on suitable flap assemblies
is found in Section A.3.e of the Appendix.
2.2 When painting is specified, the surface shall be
roughened to a degree suitable for the specified paint 3.4.2 Needle guns consisting of a bundle of wire
system. The surface profile shall not be less than 1 mil (25 “needles” which can impact a surface, producing a peened
micrometers). NOTE: Additional information on profile is effect. NOTE: Information on suitable needles is found in
contained in Sections A.5 and A.6 of the Appendix. Section A.3.f of the Appendix.

2.3 Photographs or other visual standards may be used 3.4.3 Other materials which, when mounted on power
to supplement the written definition. NOTE: Additional in- hand tools, can produce the profile required in Section 2.2.
formation on visual standards is available in Section A.7 of
the Appendix.
4. Reference Standards
3. Power Surface Preparation Tools and 4.1 The standards referenced in this specification are
Media listed in Section 4.4 and form a part of this specification.

3.1 SURFACE CLEANING POWER TOOLS: Any tool 4.2 The latest issue, revision, or amendment of the
capable of appropriately driving the media of Section 3.3 is referenced standards in effect on the date of invitation to bid
acceptable; the surface profile may or may not be de- shall govern unless otherwise specified.
stroyed.
4.3 If there is a conflict between the requirements of
3.2 IMPACT AND OTHER PROFILE PRODUCING any of the cited reference standards and this specification,
POWER TOOLS: Any tool on which the media of Section the requirements of this specification shall prevail.
3.4 can be properly mounted and used to produce the
required uniform profile is acceptable. NOTE: Information 4.4 SSPC SPECIFICATIONS:
on suitable tools is found in Sections A.3.a and A.3.b of the
Appendix.

77
SSPC-SP 11
November 1, 1987
Editorial Changes September 1, 2000

SP 1 Solvent Cleaning a clean, dry cloth.

SP 3 Power Tool Cleaning
VIS 3 Visual Standard for Power- and Hand- 7.4 Power tool prepared surfaces must be coated prior
Tool Cleaned Steel to the reformation of rust or visible contamination.

5. Procedures Prior to Power Tool Surface 8. Inspection

Preparation
8.1 Surfaces prepared under this specification shall be
5.1 Prior to power tool surface preparation, remove subject to timely inspection by the purchaser or his autho-
visible deposits of oil or grease by any of the methods rized representative. The contractor shall correct such work
specified in SSPC-SP 1, “Solvent Cleaning,” or other agreed- as is found defective under this specification. In case of
upon methods. dispute, the arbitration or settlement procedure as estab-
lished in the procurement documents (project specifica-
5.2 Prior to power tool surface preparation, remove tion), shall be followed. If no arbitration procedure is estab-
surface imperfections such as sharp fins, sharp edges, lished, the procedure specified by the American Arbitration
weld spatter, or burning slag to the extent required by the Association shall be used.
procurement documents (project specification). NOTE:
Additional information on surface imperfections is available 8.2 The procurement documents (project specifica-
in Appendix A.9. tion) covering work or purchase shall establish the respon-
sibility for testing and for any required affidavit certifying full
6. Power Tool Surface Preparation Methods compliance with the specification.
and Operations
9. Safety
6.1 Depending on profile conditions, use either or both
of the following methods to remove tightly adhering mate- 9.1 All safety requirements stated in the procurement
rials and to retain or produce the required surface profile document as well as this specification and its component
with power tools: parts apply in addition to any applicable federal, state, and
local rules and requirements. They also shall be in accord
6.1.1 Profile Condition A, Acceptable Profile Ex- with instructions and requirements of insurance underwrit-
ists: Achieve the cleanliness required in Section 2.1 by ers.
using power tools described in Section 3.1.
10. Comments
6.1.2 Profile Condition B. Unacceptable Profile Ex-
ists: Achieve the cleanliness required in Section 2.1 and 10.1 While every precaution is taken to insure that all
the profile required in Section 2.2 by using power tools information furnished in SSPC specifications is as accu-
described in Section 3. NOTE: Information on the selection rate, complete, and useful as possible, SSPC cannot as-
of tools and cleaning media is found in Section A.2 of the sume responsibility nor incur any obligation resulting from
Appendix. the use of any materials, paints, or methods specified
therein, or of the specification itself.
7. Procedures Following Power Tool Sur-
10.2 Additional information and data relative to this
face Preparation
specification are contained in the following Appendix. Addi-
7.1 After power tool surface preparation and prior to the tional detailed information and data are presented in a
application of coatings, reclean the surface if it does not separate document, SSPC-SP COM, “Surface Preparation
conform to this specification. Commentary.” The recommendations contained in the
Notes, Appendix, and SSPC-SP COM are believed to
7.2 Remove visible deposits of oil, grease, or other represent good practice, but are not to be considered as
contaminants by any of the methods specified in SSPC-SP requirements of the specification. The table below lists the
1 or other methods agreed upon by the party responsible for appropriate section of SSPC-SP COM.
establishing the requirements and the party responsible for
performing the work. NOTE: Information on oil contamina- Subject Commentary Section
tion is found in Section A.4.d of the Appendix.
Film Thickness ......................................................... 10
7.3 Remove dirt, dust, or similar contaminants from the Maintenance Painting ............................................. 4.2
surface. Acceptable methods include brushing, blow off Rust-Back (Rerusting) ......................................... 4.5
with oil-free, clean, dry air; vacuum cleaning; or wiping with Visual Standards ...................................................... 11

78
 SSPC-SP 11
November 1, 1987
Editorial Changes September 1, 2000

Weld Spatter ................................................. 4.4.1 Painting Practice.”

A. Appendix A.3 SUITABLE TOOLS AND MEDIA: The text of this

specification makes reference to the following footnotes.
A.1 FUNCTION: Power tool surface preparation to Inclusion of these items in this appendix is intended solely
remove tightly adherent material produces a surface which to guide the user to typical types of equipment and media
is visibly free from all rust, mill scale, and old coatings and which are available to meet the specification. The items
which has a surface profile. It produces a greater degree of mentioned are not all of the tools or products available, nor
cleaning than SSPC-SP 3, “Power Tool Cleaning,” (which does their mention constitute an endorsement by SSPC.
does not remove tightly adherent material) and may be
considered for coatings requiring a bare metal substrate. a. The “Mini-Flushplate” from Desco Manufacturing
The surfaces prepared according to this specification Company, Inc., Long Beach, California, has been found
are not to be compared to surfaces cleaned by abrasive suitable as a tool system which meets the requirements of
blasting. Although this method produces surfaces that “look” this section.
like “near-white" or “commercial blast,” they are not neces-
sarily equivalent to those surfaces produced by abrasive b. The Aro Corporation, Bryan, Ohio, and VON ARX Air
blast cleaning as called for in SSPC-SP 10 or SP 6. Tools Company, Englewood, New Jersey, are suppliers of
needle gun equipment.
A.2 SELECTION OF TOOLS AND CLEANING ME-
DIA: Selection of power tools and cleaning media shall be c. 3M Scotch-Brite Clean ‘n Strip discs and wheels are
based on (1) the condition of the surface prior to surface able to satisfy the requirements.
preparation, (2) the extent of cleaning that is required to
remove rust, scale and other matter from the surface and d. Grind-O-Flex wheels from Merit Corporation,
(3) the type of surface profile required. Compton, California and Nu-Matic air inflated wheels from
NuMatic, Euclid, Ohio, have been found suitable.
A.2.1 Selection of Media: If an acceptable surface
profile existed prior to preparing the surface, cleaning e. 3M Heavy-Duty Roto-Peen flap assembly has been
media, such as found in Section 3.3, shall be selected that found suitable.
will remove surface contaminants without severely reduc-
ing or removing the profile, if possible. If the surface profile f. Needles having a diameter of 2 mm have been found
is removed or severely reduced when preparing the sur- to produce a surface profile suitable for many painting
face, or if there was no profile prior to surface preparation, systems.
surface profiling media, such as found in Section 3.4, shall
be selected that will produce an acceptable surface profile A.4 OPERATION OF TOOLS: The tools shall be oper-
as required by this specification. When power tool cleaning ated in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions. In
rusted surfaces it is important to avoid embedding or peen- particular, note the following:
ing rust into the substrate. This may require removal of rust
prior to use of surface profiling media. These factors may a. Observe the recommended operating speed (ROS).
require employing more than one type of medium in order The maximum operating speed (MOS) does not necessarily
to obtain the desired end result. NOTE: Power wire brushes give the most efficient cleaning.
when used alone will not produce the required surface
profile and may remove or degrade an existing profile to an b. The “rpm” (rotational speed) rating of some power
unacceptable level. tools and the cleaning media may not be compatible and
could result in physical injury to the operator.
A.2.2 Selection of Tools: Power tools shall be se-
lected on the basis of the size and speed rating of the c. Exercise caution when power tools are used at
media. These requirements may differ from one type of critical structures (e.g., pressure vessel boundaries) so that
media to another and shall be taken into consideration excessive base metal is not removed.
when more than one type of medium will be used in the
surface preparation process. Power tools shall be selected d. When air driven tools are used, the exhaust could
that will produce enough power to perform the cleaning contain oil or moisture that could easily contaminate the
operation efficiently. Operator fatigue shall be considered recently prepared surface.
in the selection of power tools.
Further information on the selection of power tools and e. The media used on power tools have a finite life.
media is contained in Chapter 2.6, “Hand and Power Tool When they do not produce the specified profile they shall be
Cleaning,” of SSPC Painting Manual, Volume 1, “Good replaced.

79
SSPC-SP 11
November 1, 1987
Editorial Changes September 1, 2000

Additional information on the operation of tools can be cleaned using an alternate method of surface preparation
found in Chapter 2.6 of Volume 1, “Good Painting Practice” which may result in a different degree of surface cleanliness
of SSPC Painting Manual. and surface profile. The alternate method shall be mutually
agreed upon before commencing work.
A.5 PROFILE: The type of power tools to be used
depends upon whether or not an acceptable profile exists A.9 SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS: Surface imperfec-
on the surface to be cleaned. tions can cause premature failure when the environment is
Some limitations of the various types of media to severe. Coatings tend to pull away from sharp edges and
produce a specific profile or to preserve an existing profile projections, leaving little or no coating to protect the under-
are as follows: lying steel. Other features which are difficult to properly
cover and protect include crevices, weld porosity, lamina-
• Media of Section 3.3 produce a profile of approximately tions, etc. The high cost of methods to remedy the surface
one-half mil (10-15 micrometers), whereas the media imperfections requires weighing the benefits of edge round-
of Section 3.4 may produce a profile of 1 mil (25 ing, weld spatter removal, etc., versus a potential coating
micrometers) or more. The profile depends on the failure.
abrasive embedded in the rotary flaps or the diameter Poorly adherent contaminants, such as weld slag resi-
of the needles. dues, loose weld spatter, and some minor surface lamina-
• Impact tools may produce sharp edges or cut into the tions, must be removed during the power tool cleaning
base metal if not used properly. operation. Other surface defects (steel laminations, weld
• It is important to determine whether the profile require- porosities, or deep corrosion pits) may not be evident until
ments for the specified coating system can be met by the surface preparation has been completed. Therefore,
this power tool cleaning method of surface preparation. proper planning for such repair work is essential, since the
timing of the repairs may occur before, during, or after the
A.6 MEASUREMENT OF SURFACE PROFILE: Sur- cleaning operation. Section 4.4 of the “Surface Preparation
face profile comparators and other visual or tactile gages Commentary” (SSPC-SP COM) contains additional infor-
used for abrasive blast cleaning are not suitable for mea- mation on surface imperfections.
suring profile produced by power tools because of the
differences in appearance. One acceptable procedure is A.10 CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION: Steel contami-
use of coarse or extra coarse replica tape, as described in nated with soluble salts (i.e., chlorides and sulfates) devel-
Method C of ASTM D 4417, “Field Measurement of Surface ops rustback rapidly at intermediate and high humidities.
Profile of Blast Cleaned Steel.” Replica tapes are valid for These soluble salts can be present on the steel surface
profiles in the ranges of 0.8 to 1.5 mils (20 to 38 microme- prior to cleaning as a result of atmospheric contamination.
ters) (coarse) to 1.5-4.5 mils (38-114 micrometers) (extra- In addition, contaminants can be deposited on the steel
coarse). (Note: Because of the limitations in compressibility surface during cleaning whenever the media is contami-
of the mylar film, however, even very smooth surfaces will nated. Therefore, rust-back can be minimized by removing
give readings of 0.5 mils [13 micrometers] or greater using these salts from the steel surface, preferably before power
the replica tape.) tool cleaning, and eliminating sources of recontamination
during and after power tool cleaning. Identification of the
A.7 VISUAL STANDARDS: Note that the use of visual contaminants along with their concentrations may be ob-
standards in conjunction with this specification is required tained from laboratory or field tests.
only when they are specified in the procurement documents
(project specification) covering the work. It is recommended, A.11 RUST-BACK: Rust-back (rerusting) occurs when
however, that the use of visual standards be made manda- freshly cleaned steel is exposed to conditions of high
tory in the procurement documents. humidity, moisture, contamination, or a corrosive atmo-
SSPC-VIS 3, “Visual Standard for Power- and Hand- sphere. The time interval between power tool cleaning and
Tool Cleaned Steel,” provides color photographs for the rust-back will vary greatly from one environment to another.
various grades of surface preparation as a function of the Under mild ambient conditions, it is best to clean and coat
initial condition of the steel. For more information about a surface the same day. Severe conditions may require
visual standards, see SSPC-SP COM, Section 11. coating more quickly, while for exposure under controlled
conditions the coating time may be extended. Under no
A.8 INACCESSIBLE AREAS: Because of the shape circumstances shall the steel be permitted to rust-back
and configuration of the power tools themselves, some before painting regardless of time elapsed (see Section A.
areas of a structure may be inaccessible for cleaning. 10).
These areas include surfaces close to bolt heads, inside
corners, and areas with limited clearance. Areas which are A.12 DEW POINT: Moisture condenses on any surface
inaccessible by this method of surface preparation shall be that is colder than the dew point of the surrounding air. It is,

80
 SSPC-SP 11
November 1, 1987
Editorial Changes September 1, 2000

therefore, recommended that the temperature of the steel thickness over the peaks is inadequate, premature rust-
surface be at least 5 ˚F (3 ˚C) above the dew point during through or failure will occur. To assure that coating thick-
power tool cleaning operations. It is advisable to visually nesses are properly measured, refer to SSPC-PA 2, “Mea-
inspect for moisture and periodically check the surface surement of Dry Paint Thickness with Magnetic Gages.”
temperature and dew point during cleaning operations. It is
important that the application of a coating over a damp A.14 MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR PAINTING: When
surface be avoided. this specification is used in maintenance painting, specific
instructions shall be given on the extent of surface to be
A.13 FILM THICKNESS: It is essential that ample power tool cleaned or spot cleaned. SSPC-PA Guide 4,
coating be applied after power tool cleaning to adequately “Guide to Maintenance Repainting with Oil Base or Alkyd
cover the peaks of the surface profile. The dry film thickness Painting Systems,” provides a description of accepted prac-
above the peaks of the profile shall equal the thickness tices for retaining old sound paint, removing unsound paint,
known to be needed for the desired protection. If the dry film feathering, and spot cleaning.

81