QP 3 Certification Program
(Shop Painting Certification Program)
The requirements for QP 3 are similar to those for QP
1, except they are specifically focused on shop coating
operations.
QP 3 is a nationally recognized program that evaluates the
practices of shop painting facilities in key areas of business.
These standards are considered to be the MINIMUM level of
service and quality for today's coatings industry.
The complex nature of coating systems, the specific conditions
and surface preparation required by these systems, have made
the QP 3 guidelines vital to the longevity of protective
coatings applied in the shop.
QP 3 is segmented according to the type of shop:
- Enclosed Shop - A permanent facility, enclosure or building
(four walls to grade and a roof) where surface preparation
and coating activities are normally conducted in an environment
not subject to outdoor weather conditions and/or blowing
dust.
- Covered Shop - A permanent facility, enclosure or building
having a roof beneath where surface preparation and coating
activities are normally conducted out of direct exposure
to outdoor weather.
- Open Shop - A permanent area or facility with no roof
or walls where surface preparation and coating activities
are normally conducted. The area or facility is exposed
to outdoor weather conditions and blowing dust.
To be certified by SSPC, industrial contractors must
demonstrate competence in several key areas:
- Management Procedures
- Technical Capabilities
- Quality Control
- Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance
Contracting firms are evaluated through a series of submittals
to SSPC, which describe business operations. Then an impartial,
on-site audit is performed at the contractor's headquarters
and shop locations to verify the information provided in
the application submittals.
More on-site audit information can be found in both the
QP 3 Application and the Internal
Audit
Checklist. SSPC suggests that the contractor perform
a self-evaluation using the checklist to be sure all areas
are addressed prior to an audit.
Applications
The QP 3 application and self-evaluation checklist can
be found on the SSPC Lists, Forms & Applications page.
A web link is provided at the top of all Certification pages.
Additional Information found on the Lists,
Applications, and Forms page:
- Applications for certification
- Auditor Evaluation Survey
- Contractor Performance Form
- DAC
- Fee Schedules
- Job Notification Form
- List of certified contractors
- Contractors by name
- Contractors by state
- List of owners known to require certified contractors
- Certification News Center
- Technical Standards Library requirements
QP 3 Background:
SSPC issued the first version of the QP 3 standard in
1995, with the certification program being released in June
of 1996.
SSPC revised its QP 3 procedure and administrative certification
program in 1999 to coordinate its program with that of the
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). See below
for more details.
SSPC-QP 1, QP 2 and QP 3 are a part of SSPC Qualification
Procedure Standards developed through the SSPC consensus
process.
Worthy of Note:
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) administers
a Quality Certification Program with an optional Sophisticated
Paint Endorsement certification for steel fabrication shops
who apply protective coatings prior to shipping steel to
the field. SSPC accepts the AISC/SPE as an equal "by
intent" to QP 3, with the exception of safety, health,
and environmental compliance, which are not evaluated in
the AISC program.
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