QP 7

SSPC QP7^SM Certification
(Painting Contractor Introductory Program)

SSPC developed the SSPC QP7^SM Painting Contractor Introductory Program to verify the capabilities of contractors with less than 6 months experience performing industrial surface preparation and coating application in the field.

The program’s objective is to determine if a painting contractor has the personnel, organization, qualifications, procedures, knowledge, and capability to produce quality surface preparation and coating application for complex industrial structures.

For the purpose of the Introductory Program, complex industrial structures are defined as those constructed of steel, such as metal producing and rolling mills, bridges (e.g., highways) and processing facilities, including chemical and petrochemical processing plants, pulp and paper mills, power plants and substations, and food and beverage plants and terminals.

Please note that the SSPC-QP7 Contractor Introductory Program does not involve inspection of the contractor’s coating work or training of its personnel. It does not cover coating application capability conducted exclusively at a contractor’s fixed facility (i.e. shop Painting). Also, Meeting the requirements of this special qualification program is not equivalent to SSPC certification (e.g., SSPC-QP 1 or SSPC-QP 2). Firms meeting requirements of this procedure have not been observed by a qualified auditor performing coating operations in the field on a complex steel structure project.

Finally, the program is not intended to guarantee the quality or safety performance of a specific contractor on any of its projects. Rather, it is intended to assist facility owners in their evaluation of painting contractors with limited or no industrial painting experience. The procedure is intended only for public works projects set aside by owners willing to hire contractors who meet the requirements of this procedure.

While SSPC QP7 confirms a company’s capability to perform industrial painting, owners, specifiers and general contractors are encouraged to also assess the painting contractor’s financial ability to perform a job as well as any work history, capability to meet site specific requirements, and other areas not covered under this program.

To better ensure the success of a project, owners should write quality specifications, implement a plan to enforce the requirements of the specification through appropriate quality assurance and establish a plan to maintain good communication with the contractor before work begins and throughout the project. This is in addition to ensuring that the contractor meets the requirements of this program.

Additional Information can be Found in the QP Applications & Forms box on the left side of this page:

• Applications for Certification
• Audit Checklist
• Auditor Evaluation Survey
• Contractor Performance Form
• DAC
• Job Notification Form
• List of Owners Known to Require Certified Contractors
• Technical Standards Library Requirements