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AMPP CIP Level 1 Cheat Sheet

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Surface Preparation

  • 25% of exam
  • SSPC-SP Standards Surface Profile Abrasives Contaminants Rust Grades

Application and Inspection

  • 20% of exam
  • Spray Methods Stripe Coat Defects Adhesion Testing Inspector Role

Coating Materials and Types

  • 15% of exam
  • Coating Chemistry Cure Mechanisms Zinc Primers Epoxies Urethanes

Film Thickness and Ambient

  • 25% of exam
  • WFT/DFT SSPC-PA 2 Dew Point Relative Humidity Psychrometer

Holiday Detection and Safety

  • 15% of exam
  • Holiday Detection ASTM D5162 OSHA Silica Confined Space Ethics

Quick Facts

  • Exam CIP Level 1
  • Credential Basic Coatings Inspector
  • Questions ~100 MC
  • Time ~3 hours
  • Pass Not published
  • Org AMPP
  • Admin Pearson VUE
  • Validity 3 years
  • Retake $165 CBT
  • Course 5-6 days in-person

Blast Cleanliness Order SU

  • SP5 > SP10 > SP6 > SP7
  • SP5: White Metal 0% SP10: Near-White 5% SP6: Commercial 33% SP7: Brush-Off lightest

SP 5 vs SP 10 SU

SP 5 White Metal

  • 100% clean
  • 0% staining
  • Highest grade

SP 10 Near-White

  • 95% clean
  • 5% staining
  • Cost-reduced alt
  • Perfect vs near-perfect

Surface Prep Standard Picker SU

  • Oil grease present → SP 1 solvent ( Always first )
  • Loose rust mill scale → SP 2 hand tool ( Manual )
  • Power tool access only → SP 3 power tool ( No profile )
  • Critical immersion service → SP 5 White Metal ( 0% stain )
  • General atmospheric service → SP 6 Commercial ( 33% stain )
  • Maintenance touch-up → SP 7 Brush-Off ( Lightest )
  • Severe service near-white → SP 10 Near-White ( 5% stain )
  • No blasting feasible → SP 11 bare metal ( Profile 1 mil )

SSPC-SP Standards SU

  • SP 1 Solvent clean oil grease Pre-cleaning
  • SP 2 Hand tool clean Manual
  • SP 3 Power tool clean Mechanical
  • SP 5 White Metal 0% stain Cleanest
  • SP 6 Commercial 33% stain Moderate
  • SP 7 Brush-Off lightest blast Lightest
  • SP 10 Near-White 5% stain High
  • SP 11 Power tool bare metal Profile
  • SP 15 Commercial grade power Power
  • WJ-1 Cleanest water jet Water
  • WJ-4 Lightest water jet Water
  • Water jet No profile created Key

D4417 Profile Methods SU

  • A=Visual | B=Depth | C=Replica
  • A: comparator B: micrometer C: Testex tape

Surface Profile Methods SU

  • D4417 A Visual comparator Method A
  • D4417 B Depth micrometer Method B
  • D4417 C Replica tape Testex Method C
  • Mylar backing Subtract 2 mils Correction
  • Keane-Tator Machined segments comparator Comparator
  • Peak count Peaks per inch Density
  • D7127 Stylus profilometer Peak count
  • ISO 8501-1 Initial rust grades Pre-blast
  • Grade A Mill scale intact Rust
  • Grade B Mill scale rusting Rust
  • Grade C General surface rust Rust
  • Grade D Heavy pitting visible Rust

Contaminants and Abrasives SU

  • Bresle patch Soluble salt extraction ISO 8502-6
  • SSPC-AB 1 Abrasive contaminant spec Abrasive
  • Silica sand Silicosis hazard Banned
  • Water break Oil contamination check Field test
  • D4285 Blotter air quality test Compressed air
  • ISO 8502-3 Dust tape test Dust
  • Chloride limit ≤3-7 µg/cm² immersion Limit
  • Coal slag Safer abrasive alternative Substitute

Airless Spray vs Brush AP

Airless spray

  • Hydraulic pump
  • Fast large areas
  • No compressed air

Brush

  • Manual edges welds
  • Stripe coats
  • Slow small areas
  • Production vs detail

Application Methods and Defects AP

  • Airless spray Hydraulic pump spray Production
  • Brush Manual edges welds Detail
  • Roller Flat surfaces only Flat
  • Stripe coat Brush welds edges first Hold point
  • Orange peel Poor leveling texture Defect
  • Runs sags Too thick vertical Defect
  • Pinholes Solvent escape voids Defect
  • Cratering Silicone fish-eyes Contamination
  • D4541 Pull-off adhesion test Destructive
  • D3359 Cross-cut tape adhesion Semi-destructive
  • Hold point Inspector verify step Authority

Inorganic vs Organic Zinc CO

Inorganic zinc

  • Silicate binder
  • Needs SP 5/10
  • Best galvanic

Organic zinc

  • Epoxy binder
  • Tolerates SP 3/11
  • Repair friendly
  • Silicate vs epoxy binder

Coating Type Picker CO

  • Immersion service → Epoxy not alkyd ( No alkyd immersion )
  • UV weathering topcoat → Aliphatic polyurethane ( UV stable )
  • Galvanic primer needed → Zinc-rich primer ( Sacrificial )
  • Cold weather <50°F → Low-temp epoxy ( Accelerated cure )
  • Damp surface field → Moisture-cure urethane ( Humidity cure )
  • Fire rating required → Intumescent coating ( Char layer )

Coating Types and Chemistry CO

  • Alkyd Oxidative cure oil-based No immersion
  • Epoxy Amine-cured two-component Intermediate
  • Polyurethane UV-stable aliphatic topcoat Topcoat
  • MCU Moisture-cure urethane single-pack Damp OK
  • Inorganic zinc Silicate binder galvanic Primer
  • Organic zinc Epoxy binder galvanic Primer
  • Intumescent Fire-rated char coating Fire
  • Volume solids DFT/WFT ratio percent Formula
  • VOC Volatile organic content Regulatory
  • Pot life Usable mixed time Working
  • Induction time Wait after mixing Sweat-in

Epoxy vs Polyurethane CO

Epoxy

  • Intermediate coat
  • Chemical resistant
  • Not UV stable

Polyurethane

  • Topcoat finish
  • UV stable
  • Gloss retention
  • Barrier vs weathering

DFT Formula IN

  • WFT × Volume Solids = DFT
  • WFT: wet thickness VS: volume solids % DFT: dry thickness

WFT vs DFT IN

WFT

  • Measured before cure
  • Comb gauge D4414
  • Wet coating

DFT

  • Measured after cure
  • Magnetic gauge PA 2
  • Cured coating
  • Before vs after cure

Film Thickness Measurement IN

  • WFT Wet film thickness gauge D4414
  • DFT Dry film thickness cured SSPC-PA 2
  • D4414 WFT comb gauge method Wet
  • SSPC-PA 2 DFT measurement procedure Dry
  • D7091 DFT gauge practice standard Gauge
  • Spot Average 3 gauge readings Measurement
  • Area 5 spots per 100 ft² Measurement
  • 80/120 rule Spot DFT tolerance range Tolerance
  • Type 1 Magnetic pull-off gauge Mechanical
  • Type 2 Electronic gauge Electronic
  • BMR Zero calibration reference Calibration

Dew Point Margin Rule IN

  • Surface ≥ 5°F above dew point
  • Surface: steel not air 5°F: minimum margin Dew point: condensation temp

Dew Point vs Surface Temp IN

Dew point

  • Air saturation temp
  • Calculated from RH
  • Condensation trigger

Surface temp

  • Steel surface reading
  • Measured directly
  • Must exceed dew point
  • Air metric vs steel metric

Ambient Conditions IN

  • Dew point Condensation saturation temp Key
  • 5°F rule Surface above dew point Margin
  • RH Relative humidity percent Air
  • Sling psychrometer Whirling wet/dry bulb Instrument
  • Wet bulb Evaporative cooled temp Reading
  • Dry bulb Ambient air temperature Reading
  • Surface temp Steel not air temp Critical
  • Magnetic thermometer Dial surface temp Instrument
  • Electronic probe Thermistor contact temp Instrument
  • 85% RH Typical max humidity Limit
  • Stop work Surface at dew point Trigger
  • SSPC-TU 4 Environmental control guide Standard

Low-Voltage vs High-Voltage Holiday HO

Low-voltage

  • Wet sponge
  • ≤20 mils DFT
  • 9-90 V DC

High-voltage

  • Spark test
  • >20 mils DFT
  • Calculated voltage
  • Thin vs thick coating

Holiday Test Voltage Picker HO

  • DFT ≤20 mils → Low-voltage wet sponge ( 9-90 V DC )
  • DFT >20 mils → High-voltage spark ( Calculate voltage )
  • Thin-film tank lining → Low-voltage sponge ( D5162 )
  • Thick pipeline FBE → High-voltage spark ( SP0188 )
  • Pinhole detection thin → Low-voltage sponge ( Wet sponge )
  • Ensure grounding → Connect to bare steel ( Circuit required )

Holiday Detection HO

  • Holiday Coating discontinuity void Defect
  • Low-voltage Wet sponge ≤20 mils Thin film
  • High-voltage Spark test >20 mils Thick film
  • D5162 Holiday test standard ASTM
  • NACE SP0188 Voltage calculation guide AMPP
  • Grounding Required circuit path Setup
  • Pinhole Tiny film void pathway Defect
  • Repair Mark and retest verify Fix
  • 9-90 V Low-voltage DC range Range

Safety Ethics and Standards HO

  • OSHA 1910.1053 Silica dust exposure limit Safety
  • OSHA 1910.146 Confined space permit Safety
  • Code of Ethics Impartial honest conduct Conduct
  • Daily report Inspection documentation log Records
  • Inspector authority Hold or stop work Role
  • PPE Respirator gloves protection Safety

Common Traps

WFT vs DFT

  • WFT measured wet ≠ DFT measured cured

SP 5 vs SP 10

  • SP 5: 0% staining ≠ SP 10: 5% staining

Dew point vs surface temp

  • Dew point: air metric ≠ Surface temp: steel metric

Low-voltage vs high-voltage

  • Low: ≤20 mils sponge ≠ High: >20 mils spark

Inorganic vs organic zinc

  • Inorganic: silicate binder ≠ Organic: epoxy binder

Pot life vs induction time

  • Pot life: usable time ≠ Induction: wait before apply

Water jet vs blast profile

  • WJ: no profile created ≠ Blast: creates anchor pattern

Last Minute

  • 1. SP5 0%; SP10 5%; SP6 33%
  • 2. SP7 = lightest blast grade
  • 3. SP1 solvent clean before blast
  • 4. Surface ≥ 5°F above dew point
  • 5. RH max ~85% solvent-borne
  • 6. Spot = 3 readings; area = 5 spots
  • 7. 80/120 rule: spot DFT tolerance
  • 8. Testex tape: subtract 2 mil Mylar
  • 9. Low-voltage ≤20 mils; high >20
  • 10. WFT × volume solids = DFT
  • 11. Epoxy needs >50°F to cure
  • 12. Zinc-rich = galvanic protection
  • 13. Water jet creates no profile
  • 14. BMR zero calibration before DFT

AMPP CIP Level 1 Coating Inspector

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