AMPP 2021 Merger: Complete Guide to Re-Designated NACE/SSPC Standards
On January 1, 2021, NACE International and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings formally completed their organizational merger to form AMPP — Association for Materials Protection and Performance. For surface preparation engineers, coating inspectors, procurement specialists, and project specification writers, this merger has created a significant re-designation of the standards they rely on daily.
This guide provides a complete reference for all re-designated standards, explains the technical implications (there are fewer than you might expect), and provides practical guidance for updating specifications and purchasing documents.
Background: Why NACE and SSPC Merged
NACE International, founded in 1943 as the "National Association of Corrosion Engineers," and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings, founded in 1950, had overlapping technical scopes for decades. Both organizations developed surface preparation standards, and since 1994 had been publishing joint standards with dual designations such as "NACE No. 2 / SSPC-SP 10."
The merger into AMPP was driven by complementary technical missions, elimination of membership and administrative duplication, unified educational and certification programs (including AMPP CIP Inspector certification, previously NACE CIP), and a single authoritative voice for the protective coatings and corrosion engineering community.
Complete Re-Designation Table: Surface Preparation Standards
The following table provides complete mapping of all surface preparation standards from their former NACE/SSPC designations to new AMPP designations:
| AMPP Designation (New) | Former NACE No. | Former SSPC-SP | Standard Title | ISO Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMPP SP 1 | — | SSPC-SP 1 | Solvent Cleaning | — |
| AMPP SP 2 | — | SSPC-SP 2 | Hand Tool Cleaning | ISO St 2 |
| AMPP SP 3 | — | SSPC-SP 3 | Power Tool Cleaning | ISO St 3 |
| AMPP SP 5 | NACE No. 1 | SSPC-SP 5 | White Metal Blast Cleaning | ISO Sa 3 |
| AMPP SP 6 | NACE No. 3 | SSPC-SP 6 | Commercial Blast Cleaning | ISO Sa 2 |
| AMPP SP 7 | NACE No. 4 | SSPC-SP 7 | Brush-Off Blast Cleaning | ISO Sa 1 |
| AMPP SP 10 | NACE No. 2 | SSPC-SP 10 | Near-White Metal Blast Cleaning | ISO Sa 2½ |
| AMPP SP 11 | — | SSPC-SP 11 | Power Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal | — |
| AMPP SP 12 | NACE No. 5 | — | High/Ultra-High Pressure Water Jetting | ISO 8501-4 |
| AMPP SP 13 | NACE No. 6 | SSPC-SP 13 | Surface Preparation of Concrete | ICRI 310.2R |
| AMPP SP 14 | NACE No. 8 | SSPC-SP 14 | Industrial Blast Cleaning | Between Sa 2 and Sa 2½ |
| AMPP SP 16 | — | SSPC-SP 16 | Brush-Off Blast of Galvanized Steel | — |
What Changed — and What Did Not
What changed:
- Organization names on all documents (NACE International → AMPP, SSPC → AMPP)
- Document designations: "NACE No. X / SSPC-SP X" → "AMPP SP X"
- Certification program names: NACE CIP → AMPP CIP
- Inspector certification designations: NACE CIP Level 1/2/3 → AMPP CIP Level 1/2/3
- Website, contact information, and membership structure
What did NOT change:
- Technical requirements of any standard
- Cleanliness grade definitions (white metal, near-white metal, commercial blast, brush-off)
- Percentage of allowable staining per unit area
- Assessment methods and visual comparators
- Certification holder qualifications — all NACE certifications remained valid
Impact on Existing Specifications and Contracts
This is the question most frequently received from specification writers and project engineers: "Our project specification says NACE No. 2 / SSPC-SP 10. Do we need to update it?"
The practical answer for most projects is no, not urgently. Specifications referencing old NACE/SSPC designations remain technically valid. However, AMPP recommends updating project specifications over time to use the new AMPP designations. For long-term asset maintenance programs, company master specifications, and template documents, updating to AMPP designations is recommended to avoid ambiguity on future projects.
Abrasive-Specific Standards: SSPC-AB Series
The SSPC-AB series of abrasive quality standards (AB 1, AB 2, AB 3) are in the process of transition under the AMPP umbrella. At the time of writing:
- SSPC-AB 1 (Mineral and Slag Abrasives) — still referenced under SSPC designation; AMPP re-issuance pending
- SSPC-AB 2 (Cleanliness of Recycled Ferrous Metallic Abrasive) — still referenced under SSPC designation
- SSPC-AB 3 (Ferrous Metallic Abrasive) — still referenced under SSPC designation
These standards remain active and continue to be referenced in coating specifications. Inspectors and engineers should continue to use these as they would any active standard.
Inspector Certification: AMPP CIP vs NACE CIP
Coating Inspector Program (CIP) certifications issued by NACE before the merger are fully recognized by AMPP. No re-testing is required. AMPP issued letters directly to all certification holders confirming this equivalency. The certification designations in use are:
- AMPP CIP Level 1 (formerly NACE CIP Level 1)
- AMPP CIP Level 2 (formerly NACE CIP Level 2)
- AMPP CIP Level 3/Peer Inspector (formerly NACE CIP Level 3)
Practical Guidance for Specification Writers
When preparing new project specifications or updating master specifications, the following language is recommended:
This language provides clarity for contractors and inspectors who may still be more familiar with NACE/SSPC designations while establishing compliance with the current AMPP document.
Summary
The AMPP merger is primarily an organizational change with minimal technical impact on day-to-day surface preparation inspection. The key takeaways for engineers and inspectors are:
- All NACE and SSPC certification holders retain their qualifications under the AMPP umbrella
- Technical requirements of all surface preparation standards are unchanged in re-designations
- Existing project specifications are still valid; update at next contract renewal
- New specifications should use AMPP SP X designations
- The SSPC-AB abrasive quality standards are still active under SSPC designation pending AMPP re-issuance