SSPC QP1

APPLICATION, INSTRUCTIONS,
AND PROGRAM RULES

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Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 4
II. INITIAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS ....................................................................................................... 5
A. FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION:............................................................................................................................... 5
B. COMPILING THE REQUIRED ITEMS AS LISTED IN THE APPLICATION:................................................................................. 5
C. SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION: .............................................................................................................................. 6
III. GENERAL PROGRAM PROCEDURE ............................................................................................................ 6
IV. QP1 APPLICATION FORM FOR THE SSPC PAINTING CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, FIELD
COATING OF COMPLEX INDUSTRIAL/MARINE STEEL/METAL STRUCTURES .......................................................... 8
V. REQUIRED INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................... 14
VI. EVALUATION CHECKLIST ........................................................................................................................ 15
VII. QP1 FEE SCHEDULE (IN U.S. FUNDS) EFFECTIVE JUNE 2018 ................................................................ 17
VIII. SUBMITTAL PROCEDURE ................................................................................................................... 18
IX. EVALUATION PROCESS .......................................................................................................................... 18
X. CANCELLATION OF AUDIT POLICY........................................................................................................... 19
XI. CRITICAL ITEM PROVISION ..................................................................................................................... 20
A. CRITICAL EVALUATION ITEMS (20 TOTAL)............................................................................................................... 20
B. DETERMINATION OF STATUS ................................................................................................................................ 21
C. APPEAL PROCEDURE ........................................................................................................................................... 21
D. INTERNAL AUDIT ................................................................................................................................................ 22
XII. MAINTENANCE APPLICATIONS .......................................................................................................... 23
XIII. SPECIAL PROVISIONS......................................................................................................................... 25
A. MAJOR CHANGES IN A COMPANY’S ORGANIZATION ................................................................................................ 25
B. SUSPENSION FOR NON-PAYMENT OF FEES.............................................................................................................. 26
C. FORMAL COMPLAINT PROCEDURE......................................................................................................................... 27
D. SUBCONTRACTING WORK .................................................................................................................................... 27
E. JOINT VENTURES AND AUDITING........................................................................................................................... 29
F. REPORTING WORK AND CITATION HISTORY ON APPLICATION.................................................................................... 29
G. ADMINISTRATIVE SUSPENSION AND CHANGE OF COMPANY NAME ............................................................................. 29
XIV. RANDOM AUDIT PROGRAM (RAP) (QP1 AND QP2 ONLY) .................................................................... 30
A. CONTRACTOR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RANDOM AUDIT PROGRAM ........................................................... 30
B. LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THE RANDOM AUDIT PROGRAM ......................................................................................... 30
C. RESTORATION OF RANDOM AUDIT PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY......................................................................................... 31
D. DURATION OF RANDOM AUDIT PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY (THREE YEARS) ........................................................................ 31
E. APPLICATION FOR RAP ELIGIBILITY ....................................................................................................................... 31
XV. SCORING .......................................................................................................................................... 31
XVI. QP1 APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................................... 33
A. GENERAL DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................................... 33
B. CONTENTS OF THE PROGRAM – GENERAL TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS ........................................... 33
C. QUALIFICATION TO APPLY SPECIFIC MATERIAL AND USE NEW EQUIPMENT ................................................................. 34
D. SUPERVISOR ...................................................................................................................................................... 34
E. CAS (COATING APPLICATION SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION PROGRAM) ......................................................................... 34

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 F. ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION ................................................................................................................... 35
XVII. QP1 APPENDIX B ............................................................................................................................... 35
A. QCS FORMAL TRAINING COURSE (SSPC QCS OR EQUIVALENT) ................................................................................ 35

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Application Form, Instructions, and Program Rules / SSPC QP1

I. Introduction
SSPC developed the Painting Contractor Certification Program (PCCP) to verify
capabilities of contractors performing industrial surface preparation and coating
application in the field. The program’s objective is to determine if an industrial/marine
coatings contractor has the personnel, organization, qualifications, procedures,
knowledge and capability to produce quality surface preparation and coating application
on complex industrial and marine steel and metal structures and components.

NOTE: Complex industrial and marine structures are defined as those constructed of steel such as metal
producing and rolling mills, bridges and processing facilities, including chemical and
petrochemical processing plants, pulp and paper mills, power plants and substations, food and
beverage plants, terminals, storage tanks, Navy and commercial vessels. Complex structures also
include any steel or metal components or sections affixed to a steel structure.

NOTE: The SSPC QP1 Certification process does not involve inspection of the contractor’s coating work or
training of its personnel. It does not evaluate coating application capability conducted exclusively
at a contractor’s fixed blast and paint shop facility nor does it evaluate installation of protective
coatings on concrete or other non-metallic substrates. Shop painting is covered by the QP3
Certification Program ([Link] The QP8 Certification covers coating
concrete: Installation of Polymer Coatings and Surfacings on Concrete and Other Cementitious
Surfaces ([Link]

NOTE: 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 the primary technical capabilities of professional industrial/marine coating contractors. While
SSPC certification confirms a company’s capability to meet the requirements of SSPC QP1,
owners, specifiers and general contractors can also assess the painting contractor’s financial
ability to perform a specific job as well as the contractor’s previous work history, capability to
meet project-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 during the
project. This is in addition to ensuring that the contractor is capable of performing the work.

The package contains information and materials needed to apply for SSPC QP1
Certification. You will find copies of this application and all other documents detailing
program requirements, related procedures, clarifications, etc. on SSPC’s website at
[Link]

While every precaution is taken to ensure that all information furnished in this
document is accurate and complete, SSPC cannot assume responsibility nor incur any
obligation resulting from the misuse of the methods contained herein or of the program
itself.

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 IMPORTANT NOTE: REGARDING ELIGIBILITY FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATION: Contractors
applying for SSPC QP1 Certification must demonstrate a history of compliance
with QP1 quality and safety requirements.

To be eligible for an initial QP1 audit, applicants must meet the following criteria:
1) Shall be a legal entity (e.g., incorporated, assigned a federal tax ID) under the
name on its application for a minimum of 18 consecutive months prior to
submitting its application; and
2) Shall be owned – during the 18-month period prior to submitting its application
– by the same owner or owners that own the company at the time it submits its
application; and
3) Shall have successfully completed at least two projects or one extended project
or phase of an extended project with a cumulative 12 months of production on
projects falling within the scope of the QP certification being applied for prior to
submitting its application.
a. For example, QP1 applicants shall have completed industrial painting
work in the field on industrial steel structures; relevant projects
completed by the contractor shall add up to a minimum of 12 months of
production work, which includes time spent mobilizing, rigging,
performing surface preparation, performing coating application, and
demobilization; and
4) Shall have implemented applicable QP critical item procedures for at least 12
cumulative production months prior to submitting its application. In other
words, the contractor shall demonstrate that the company implemented QP1
critical item procedures on projects for at least 12 production months prior to
submittal of its initial application. See No. 3) above for a summary of production
activities.

Meeting the above prerequisites shall be confirmed by the Certification Program

Manager prior to accepting an application for QP certification and affirmed during the
initial audit by the SSPC technical auditor.

II. Initial Application Instructions

A. Filling out the application:

Fill out the information requested in the beginning of the application with proper
signatures and include this form with the required submittals.

B. Compiling the required items as listed in the application:

The required submittals are listed in detail and have been numbered for clarity in
Section VI: Evaluation Checklist below. Compiling the information in a three-
ring binder (hardcopy) or in an organized digital format is required to keep all

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 material in order. Provide each item (documents) as listed in the application and
“tab” and “label” each item as it is referenced in the application. This practice
will save time during the initial review process. After the initial review, if any of
the items (documents) are missing, SSPC will notify you and will not continue the
review until the missing items are provided. This is why it is important to
reference the submittal items, so that both the contractor and SSPC can confirm
that all the necessary information has been submitted.

C. Submitting the application:

You must provide SSPC with either an original hardcopy or one digital copy for
review. SSPC recommends that you keep a copy in case the application
submittals are lost or damaged.

Fees: Must be provided to SSPC when submitting the application for review. SSPC accepts
checks and credit cards. Credit card payments can be taken over the phone at 1-877-
281-7772, ext. 2209 or 412-288-6028.

After the Application is Reviewed by SSPC

Once the initial application review process is complete and your application and
submittal package is accepted by SSPC, SSPC assigns it to an auditor. The auditor
will contact you to schedule your initial audit, which consists of a visit to your
headquarters’ office and one or two active job sites under contract to your
company where the auditor can evaluate your company’s capability. Selection of
the auditor to conduct your audit is determined by SSPC. SSPC will consider
assigning a different auditor to conduct your audit when there is a documented
or potential conflict of interest.

If you have questions regarding the submittal process, please contact the
Certification Office at 1-877-281-7772, ext. 2209 or 412-288-6028, or by e-mail
at certification@[Link].

III. General Program Procedure

The SSPC QP1 Certification process contains this sequence of procedures that you must
follow:

A. Complete the application form found in Section IV: QP1 Application Form for the
SSPC Painting. Contractor Certification Program, Field Coating of Complex
Industrial/Marine Steel/Metal Structures.

B. Gather and prepare the required information outlined in Section VI following the
application.

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 C. Send SSPC the application, required submittals, and appropriate non-refundable
administrative fee and the required audit deposit.

D. SSPC staff will review your application and submittals within 10 working days
following receipt. If everything is in order and SSPC accepts your application and
submittals, SSPC will schedule an on-site audit. If not, SSPC will indicate what must
be done or what additional information is required to complete the submittal.
NOTE: The initial job site visit will most likely be unannounced and may be performed at one or
two job sites selected by SSPC.

E. An SSPC program auditor will conduct the evaluation at one or two active (complex
structure) job sites, to verify conformance with QP1 requirements. The audit usually
takes two to three days to complete, and always includes a visit to your
headquarters’ office and one or two active (complex structure) job sites that are
representative of work that your company performs.
NOTE: The auditor may also review randomly selected project files for projects listed in your
submittal. These files, as well as management and production personnel familiar with
those projects, must be available during the audit for an initial audit to be completed.

F. It is important to know what information must be available at the job site to show
the auditor during the audit. This information can be found on the SSPC website at
[Link] At the end of the audit, the auditor will
schedule an exit interview for the purpose of advising you of any findings, corrective
actions, or concerns cited or noted during the audit.

G. If your company has a qualifying score, SSPC will certify your company for a three-
year period subject to its ability to maintain program standards. Your company’s
ability to maintain certification standards during the three-year certification term is
confirmed through:
i. Annual announced and unannounced audits which your company
must undergo at least once in each of the three years of the
certification term;
ii. Your company’s ability to adhere to the program’s administrative
rules; and
iii. Avoidance of disciplinary actions as described in the Disciplinary
Action Criteria (DAC).
The certification term lapses after three years. If your company does not qualify,
you have up to 45 days after SSPC notifies you of your audit results to submit an
acceptable written Corrective Action Plan to correct deficiencies, change system
procedures, and request a follow-up audit. If you do not submit acceptable
corrective actions within 45 days, SSPC has the option to revoke your certification.
Corrective Action Plans must be filed online at [Link]

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 H. The program provides for an appeal procedure, should you choose to contest audit
findings.

IV. QP1 Application Form for the SSPC Painting Contractor Certification
Program, Field Coating of Complex Industrial/Marine Steel/Metal
Structures
INSTRUCTIONS: The application form is used to provide information that will aid in
evaluating and rating your company. To avoid delays in carrying
out the evaluation process, you must answer all questions
accurately and truthfully. Information must be either typed or
clearly printed. Please send SSPC a printed copy or one digital
copy of your completed application and all submittals with the
correct non-refundable fees. Thank you!

1. Company Name:

Principal Officer/Title:

Company Address:

City: State: Zip:

E-Mail Address:

Website Address (if applicable):

Telephone (include Area Code):

Fax Number: Federal I.D. / EIN:

(enclose copy of fed ID/EIN notification from the IRS or equivalent form for non-USA-based contractors)

2. Branch / Division Office Address (if more than one, please submit a list of branch
/ division offices with the information requested in Question 1:

Company Name:

Principal Officer / Title:

Company Address:

City: State: Zip:

E-mail Address:

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 Website Address (if applicable):

Telephone (include Area Code):

Fax Number: Federal I.D. / EIN:

(enclose copy of fed ID./EIN notification from the IRS or equivalent form for non-USA-based contractors)

3. Ownership:  Private Ownership  Sole Proprietorship

 Partnership  Corporation  Other

4. Years your company has operated under name listed in Question #1:
If less than 5 (five) years, list previous names/owners below:

Previous Name/Owner: From: To:

Previous Name/Owner: From: To:

Is the location listed in Question #1 the main place of business?

 Yes  No

5. Has your company undergone (within the past 18 months) or is it planning to

undergo any significant changes (e.g., name change; change in ownership;
Chapter 7, 11, or 13; purchase or takeover of another contracting company; joint
venture/partnership with another contractor; executive management personnel
changes, etc.)?
 Yes  No
If yes, please attach an explanation that meets the notification requirements described in Section
XIII, Part A: Major Changes in a Company’s Organization.

6. Field Audit of an Active Job Site. The certification program requires the auditor
to conduct a field visit to one or two active complex structure job sites. List
location of jobs in progress where job site audits can be conducted. Please
include any restrictions below such as special safety requirements, facial hair,
security clearances, access requirements, etc.

6a. Job Site:

Restrictions:

Name, title, phone # (including cell phone) of contact person on this site:

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 Day and Time Work Crews on job site:

6b. Job Site:

Restrictions:

Name, title, phone # (including cell phone) of contact person on this site:

Day and Time Work Crews on job site:

6c. Job Site:

Restrictions:

Name, title, phone # (including cell phone) of contact person on this site:

Day and Time Work Crews on job site:

7. Current Interstate and Intrastate Experience Modification Rates (EMR) for

State/Province of Domicile and Principal States/Provinces of Operation. Provide
documentation of experience modification rates on your Insurance Company or
State/Provincial Workmen’s Compensation Bureau (Board) letterhead.

7a. IMPORTANT NOTE: Submit a detailed explanation for any EMR above
1.00.

8. Attach copies of any federal, or state/provincial or local regulatory agency

worker safety and health or environmental non-compliance, or other regulatory
violations (e.g., wage and hourly violation) and citations issued to any of your
company’s industrial painting operations during the previous 36 months.
Provide resolution/settlement/notice of consent documentation if applicable, as
well as a brief summary of policy changes and actions your company has taken
as a result of the citations. Submit required copy of appropriate OSHA or
equivalent form regarding fatalities that have occurred on your job sites in the
last 36 months.

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 9. Has your company or any of its personnel been accused/charged/alleged by a
Court (Local, State or Federal) of involvement in any illegal business practices in
the past 36 months? If yes, please explain below in a separate attachment.
 Yes  No

10. List the names and headquarters locations of any industrial/marine coating
contractors your company is affiliated with.

NOTE: An affiliated company is, “A company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, or other
business entity operating under a different name than the certified company, which
performs surface preparation or coating application or administrative and other support
functions for the certified company; and which an officer, director, owner, partner or
stockholder of the certified company, a previously certified company disciplined by SSPC,
or the certified company itself, exercises directly or indirectly (such as through family
members) any significant degree of ownership, management or control.”

10a. Affiliated Company Name:

Location:

Principal Contact:

Phone: E-Mail:

10b. Affiliated Company Name:

Location:

Principal Contact:

Phone: E-Mail:

10c. Affiliated Company Name:

Location:

Principal Contact:

Phone: E-Mail:

11. Is your company now, or has it been in the past, associated in any way with a
contracting company operating under another name, which has been disciplined

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 by the SSPC under the Discipline Action Criteria (DAC)? A copy of the DAC can be
found on SSPC’s website at: [Link]
 Yes  No

If yes, please explain:

12. Are any of your company’s officers, directors, owners, managing agents, or
managers now exercising (or have previously exercised) direct or indirect
control, management, or ownership of another contracting company, which has
been disciplined by the SSPC under the DAC?
 Yes  No

If yes, please explain:

If your company has not had such association with a company previously
disciplined under the DAC, please check this box: 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Failure to answer truthfully or any instance of

providing inaccurate information can result in
immediate revocation or denial of certification
status or rejection of your application.

13. Has your company been disqualified or disbarred from any bidder’s list in the
past 24 months or have you defaulted on any coating contracts in the same
period?
 Yes  No
If yes, please provide the reason for disqualification, disbarment, or default and the name of the
entity:

14. Attach copy of most recent (12 months) OSHA Accident and Illness forms. (OSHA
Forms 300 and 300A if US-based).

15. Please submit a copy of your corporate Health and Safety Plan.

16. Average number of workers you’ve employed over preceding 3 years:

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 17. Is your company an organizational member of SSPC?  Yes  No
If yes, indicate category of membership:  Patron  Sustaining

Membership Number:

Date Membership Expires:

18. If your company is ISO 9001 (2015) certified or maintains another third-party
Quality Management System accreditation, please describe in a separate
attachment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Failure to answer truthfully or any instance of

providing inaccurate information can result in
immediate revocation or denial of certification
status or rejection of your application.

NOTE: By my initials and signature below, I acknowledge that I have read and understand:

Initial: The QP1 Certification Program Application Form, Instructions, and

Program Rules.

Initial: The QP1 procedure set forth therein.

Initial: The SSPC Disciplinary Action Criteria.

As a principal officer of the contractor, I attest that the company agrees to abide
by and be bound by the rules, regulations and procedures set forth herein.
(Must be initialed above and signed by the President, Chief of Operations Officer
or Chief Executive Officer).

Signed:

Printed Name and Title:

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 Date Submitted:

Certification Fee and Audit Deposit Submitted with this Application: $

NOTE: Failure to report accurate, complete information will delay your certification evaluation.
Omission or falsification of information or failure to answer all questions truthfully will
result in withholding or denial of certification status. Your company will be checked
against the provisions of the Disciplinary Action Criteria (DAC). If your company has
critical faults under the DAC, SSPC will reject your application for a time period
equivalent to any specified penalty.

V. Required Information
In order to rate and evaluate your company, the program uses specific criteria organized
into four business areas outlined below. The Evaluation Checklist in the following
section contains additional information.

(1) Management Procedures: Measures utilized by your company to organize,

coordinate, and otherwise manage the various activities required to prepare
surfaces and apply coatings properly.

(2) Technical Capabilities: Resources maintained by your company to properly

interpret and execute job specifications and requirements.

(3) Quality Control: Procedures implemented and maintained by your company

to verify that all stages of work are performed in accordance with contract
documents and specifications.

(4) Safety Procedures and Recordkeeping: Practices and procedures used by your
company to see that safe operations are maintained.

Each of these four areas contains several subcategories focusing on your company’s
policies, personnel, procedures, and resources. All items must be submitted in writing
with the application. They must be typed on separate sheets of paper and clearly
identified. Documents such as charts or file documents, which already exist, must be
submitted and identified in the same manner. They should be bound or digitized in the
order of the evaluation items listed in Section VI: Evaluation Checklist in order to avoid
delays processing your application. All non-public information submitted is treated as
confidential.

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 The auditor will verify and evaluate items from the audit checklist during the on-site
audit. The necessary records or files that you must present at that time include but are
not limited to job files for reported projects, inspection reports, and equipment and
maintenance records. Some information will be presented verbally. The auditor may
also evaluate DAC-related items as directed by the Program Manager or Director.

Section VI: Evaluation Checklist lists and describes the required items of information. A
score of “2” is required for each critical item to pass the initial audit.

VI. Evaluation Checklist

This is a list of all items of required information to be submitted for QP1 application
review. Following each item is a statement telling you whether it is a critical item.
Documentation explaining each item, including “critical items,” must be submitted with
your initial application. To find out what your company must do to meet the requirements
for each evaluation item, carefully review the QP1 audit checklist before you prepare your
submittal package. You can find the QP1 Audit Checklist on the SSPC website at
[Link] All non-public information submitted which
describes how your company meets each evaluation item is treated as confidential.

A) Management Reviews
1) Mission Statement
2) Procedures for Disseminating Company Policies within the Organization
3) Current Organization Chart – with names and positions, signed and dated by
executive management
4) Job Descriptions of Key Personnel
5) Current EMR on Carrier Letterhead
6) Insurance Certificates (general liability, etc.)
B) Administrative and Management Procedures
7) Written Description of Financial Record Keeping
8) Contract Review Procedures
9) Procedures for Distributing Project Specifications within the Organization
10) Procedures for Learning About and Complying with Applicable Regulations
11) Legal Viability Documentation
(i) Copy signature page from most recent filed tax return matching applicant
name (financial information can be blacked out)
(ii) IRS federal tax ID notice matching applicant name
12) Procedures for Qualifying and Monitoring Performance of Subcontractors
13) Regulatory Citations Issued to the Company and Company’s Response
(Critical Item #1)
C) Technical Capabilities
14) Craft Worker Assessment Program including CAS Implementation (Critical
Item #2)

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 15) Listing of Technical Resources and Standards Library (Critical Item #3)
16) Document Control Procedures
17) Procedures for Clarifying Ambiguous, Conflicting, Incorrect Specifications
(Critical Item #4)
18) Communication of Contract and Technical Requirements to Field Personnel
(Critical Item #5)
19) Quality Control Program (Critical Item #6)
20) Production Work Plans/Process Control Procedures (Critical Item #7)
21) Industrial/Marine Coating Projects Completed within Previous 24 Months
(Critical Item #8)
22) Evidence of Successful Completion of Recent Projects Going Back 18 months
(final pay notice, e-mail from principle indicating completion, etc.)
23) List of any Defaults, Contract Terminations, and Litigations related to Project
Work, Disbarments, etc.
24) Equipment Maintenance and Repair Program
D) Quality Control (QC)
25) Name, Qualifications/Experience of Quality Control Supervisor, including
Credentials/Proof of Qualifications (Critical Item #9)
26) Qualifications of Quality Control (QC) Coating Inspectors (Critical Item #10)
27) Sampling of Completed Daily Inspection Reports used by QC Coating
Inspectors, Signed and Dated by QC Personnel (Critical Item #11)
28) Detailed Written Procedures for Calibration and Verification of Inspection
Equipment Accuracy (Critical Item #12)
29) Procedures for Handling Non-Conforming Work and Requests for Deviation
from Specification (DFS) (Critical Item #13)
30) Corrective Action Procedures (Critical Item #14)
31) Hold Point Inspection Process Detailed
32) Documentation of Tool Box Meetings
E) Environmental Health and Safety (EH & S)
33) Name, Qualifications/Experience of Environmental, Health and Safety Officer
including Credentials/Proof of Qualifications (Critical Item #15)
34) Safety and Health Program (Critical Item #16)
35) Pre-Job Hazard Identification Process
36) Accident Reporting Procedure
37) Procedures for Monitoring of Safety and Loss Control
38) Operating Procedures for Major Equipment (Critical Item #17)
39) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program (Critical Item #18)
40) First Aid Program & First Aid Trained Personnel
41) Procedures and Policies for Enforcing Safety Program (Critical Item #19)
42) Availability of Safety Information to Job Site Personnel
43) “General” Environmental Compliance Program (Critical Item #20)

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VII. QP1 Fee Schedule (In U.S. Funds) Effective June 2018
Companies applying for certification must submit the applicable Administrative Fee plus
Audit Deposit to cover anticipated audit expenses with their application. SSPC will
withhold your certification until receiving total payment.

NOTE: The fees cover the cost of staff time to review and process your application package, the cost of
the on-site evaluation and audit, and the overhead expenses required to operate the Contractor
Certification Program.

Annual administrative fees are not refundable if a contractor’s certification(s) are suspended or
revoked.

Determine your audit expense from the following:

QP1 Fee Schedule

Sustaining Patron Non
Member Member Member
Administrative Fee $2,100 $2,400 $2,700
Audit Deposit $3,100 $3,100 $3,100
Certification
ApplicationTotal with $5,200 $5,500 $5,800
no Corrective Action

** Applicants outside of US/Canada/Mexico are subject to additional audit deposit cost. Please
contact SSPC for specific quote at certification@[Link]

QP1 Additional Fees, As Applicable

Sustaining Patron Non
Member Member Member
With Corrective
+$300 +$550 +$800
Action Verification:

EXAMPLE: If your company is an SSPC Patron Member applying for initial QP1 Certification, submit
$5,400 ($2,400 Administrative Fee + $3,000 Audit Deposit).

SSPC will return non-responsive and inactive applications submittals and fees to the
applicant after six months of inactivity when no audit was conducted. SSPC will assess a
$750 USD administrative processing fee that will be deducted from the administrative
fee and audit deposit initially submitted with the application.

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 For program members who withdraw from the QP program during a certification term,
SSPC will retain the entire administrative fee submitted at the beginning of the
certification period and return any unused audit deposit.

You must pay post-audit fees for QP1 deficiency audits or additional audit expenses
when they are due. Failure to pay in a timely manner will result in a six-month
suspension from the program and public notification of your suspension. If you do not
pay the fees after the suspension period, you will be decertified and have to reapply for
QP1 Certification. When reapplying, you will have to pay all applicable fees and all past
due fees.

NOTE: Maintenance applications are due December 15. SSPC will assess a $500 late fee for maintenance
applications received by SSPC between December 16 and March 31.

VIII. Submittal Procedure

To avoid delay, gather and submit application package materials as follows:

1. Type or clearly print all entries on the application form.

2. Be certain all items on the form are answered completely and accurately.
3. Send the original of the application package to SSPC.
a. Keep a copy on hand for your use at the on-site audit.
4. Clearly identify the submittal items included with the application. Secure all
pages in a binder to minimize chance of loss or separation. Organize submittal
items in the order listed in Section V: QP1 Application Form for the SSPC
Painting Contractor Certification Program, Field Coating of Complex
Industrial/Marine Steel/Metal Structures.
5. Determine and send the non-refundable administrative processing fee/audit
deposit using the fee schedule described in Section VII: QP1 Fee Schedule (In US
Funds) Effective June 2018 above. Make check payable to: SSPC Painting
Contractor Certification Program.
6. Mail the entire application package to:
SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings
ATTN: QP Certification Program Manager
800 Trumbull Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15205-4365

IX. Evaluation Process

SSPC performs the evaluation of your company based on the current version of SSPC
QP1: Standard. Procedure for Evaluating Qualifications of Painting Contractors: Field

V 2. July 2019 Page 18 of 36

 Application to Complex Structures and the QP1 audit evaluation checklist already
mentioned at the beginning of Section VI: Evaluation Checklist above.

Upon acceptance of the application and submittals by SSPC, the application and
submittal package are forwarded to the SSPC auditor assigned by SSPC to your company
to schedule and conduct the initial audit.

When a date and time has been selected for the initial audit, mutually agreed upon, and
confirmed in writing or verbally by you and the SSPC auditor, the auditor will visit your
office and job site(s) to perform the evaluation. The job site visits may take place before
or after the office visit and may be unannounced or done on short notice.

NOTE: In order for SSPC to deem the audit complete, the SSPC auditor must visit at least one active job
site to observe operations being performed as well as equipment and material, personnel and
documentation on site. During the audit, the auditor will:
• Confirm data submitted in the application package.
• Interview key supervisory personnel.
• Observe and rate company organization and operation – including field operations –
using the standard program guidelines and rating procedures.
• Examine and rate equipment and facilities.
• Schedule an exit interview.

At the conclusion of the audit, the auditor will schedule an exit interview with your
supervisory or management personnel to review audit findings rated “2,” “Less than 2,”
and any “Concerns.” If there are any findings, the auditor will fill out a deficiency
schedule for the employee, designated as your representative, to sign at the conclusion
of the audit. Your representative’s signature does not connote agreement with the
results. It only confirms that you have been made aware of the results. Refusal to sign
the deficiency schedule results in denial of certification.

If you choose to contest audit findings, you must notify the SSPC Certification Program
Manager in writing within 10 working days after the exit interview. It is your
responsibility to confirm with the Certification Program Manager that SSPC has received
your notice contesting any audit findings.

X. Cancellation of Audit Policy

If after the audit date has been agreed upon by both your representative and SSPC, and
confirmed in writing or verbally, you cancel the audit or request a change in the date,
you will be responsible for any additional expenses incurred by SSPC as a result of the
cancellation and rescheduling.

V 2. July 2019 Page 19 of 36

XI. Critical Item Provision
The QP1 Critical Item Provision identifies the evaluation items program auditors use to
evaluate contractors for certification. SSPC has deemed compliance with these essential
items critical to maintaining QP1 Certification. The provision requires the contractor to
score a minimum of “2” on a scale of 1 to 3, on a minimum of 18 out of 20 critical
evaluation items in order to achieve and maintain certification.

SSPC allows applicants who have not attained an adequate score within 45 days to make
corrections in the deficient areas, submit a Corrective Action Plan to change system
procedures, and ask for a follow-up audit. That same 45-day period is available to
program members unable to achieve the required minimum score on a minimum of 18
critical evaluation items during annual on-site maintenance or follow-up audits.

For initial applicants, SSPC will withhold certification until corrections are made,
required procedures are put in place and SSPC can verify implementation at a follow-up
audit, if necessary, and a passing score is achieved during any follow-up audit.

For program members unable to achieve the required score during an annual audit
(which at a minimum consists of an evaluation of all 20 critical items), SSPC provides 45
days to submit an acceptable Corrective Action Plan and request a follow-up audit.

If a program member is deficient in no more than two critical items upon completion of
the annual maintenance audit or any follow-up audit, SSPC will extend certification
status until any follow-up evaluation is successfully completed. If the program member
receives a rating of less than “2” for more than two critical items, this shall be cause for
SSPC to suspend certification status for up to six months, pending receipt and
acceptance of written corrective actions and any required verification through a follow-
up audit. If submission of a required CAP (Corrective Action Plan) is not received or
post-marked by the established deadline and there are no mitigating circumstances,
SSPC will revoke certification. If the required Corrective Action Plan(s) is submitted on
time but rejected and SSPC requests a revised CAP and the revised CAP is not submitted
by the second deadline established by the SSPC Program Manager, this will also be
cause to revoke certification.

NOTE: Refer to the Special Provisions section for information regarding Joint Ventures and Auditing.

A. Critical Evaluation Items (20 total)

1. Regulatory Citations Issued to the Company and Company’s Response
2. Craft Worker Assessment Program including CAS Implementation
3. Listing of Technical Resources and Standards Library
4. Procedures for Clarifying Ambiguous, Conflicting, Incorrect Specifications

V 2. July 2019 Page 20 of 36

 5. Communication of Contract and Technical Requirements to Field
Personnel
6. Quality Control Program
7. Production Work Plans/Process Control Procedures
8. Industrial/Marine Coating Projects Completed within Previous 24 Months
9. Name, Qualifications/Experience of Quality Control Supervisor, including
Credentials/Proof of Qualifications
10. Qualifications of Quality Control (QC) Coating Inspectors
11. Sampling of Completed Daily Inspection Reports used by QC Coating
Inspectors, Signed and Dated by QC Personnel
12. Detailed Written Procedures for Calibration and Verification of Inspection
Equipment Accuracy
13. Procedures for Handling Non-Conforming Work and Requests for
Deviation from Specification (DFS)
14. Corrective Action Procedures
15. including Credentials/Proof of Qualifications
16. Safety and Health Program
17. Operating Procedures for Major Equipment
18. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program
19. Procedures and Policies for Enforcing Safety Program
20. “General” Environmental Compliance Program

B. Determination of Status
At the conclusion of the evaluation process described in Parts III, VI, and IX, the
SSPC Technical Auditor will report audit findings to the SSPC Certification
Program Manager. The SSPC QP Program Administrator (Department Director)
will make the final decision regarding your status. Those decisions are either:

1. Confer Certification: Your company achieved required scores and has no

unresolved disciplinary actions.

2. Deny Qualification: Your company has not attained a score adequate to

achieve QP1 Certification or has unresolved disciplinary actions. You
then have 45 days after written notification of audit results to submit an
acceptable Corrective Action Plan to address deficiencies, and any
unresolved disciplinary actions and request that SSPC re-evaluate and
conduct a follow-up audit(s) as necessary to verify implementation of
your Correction Action Plan(s).

C. Appeal Procedure
During the audit exit interview, the auditor will document and explain all
deficiencies cited during the audit. If you dispute any of the audit findings, you
may appeal using the steps listed below.

V 2. July 2019 Page 21 of 36

 1. You must notify the SSPC Corporate Certification Program Manager in
writing within 10 working days of the exit interview, specifically
identifying the deficiencies you are appealing, and substantively
explaining why you dispute them, including providing supporting
documentation for each deficiency being contested. As stated earlier, it
is your responsibility to confirm with the Program Manager that your
appeal has been received in a timely manner.
2. SSPC will evaluate your written appeal and notify you in writing within 30
calendar days of the appeal submission receipt by SSPC whether SSPC
accepts your initial appeal. SSPC appeal evaluations will result in either
acceptance of your written appeal (e.g., vacating or reducing an audit
deficiency from “major to minor” or other justification) or denial of the
appeal (sustaining the findings). Following denial of any appeal, the
contractor has the option to accept the SSPC appeal resolution and
submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) which may require a follow-up
audit to verify CAP implementation. Finally, an appeal denial by SSPC
could also result in a suspension of QP1 Certification for up to one year.
3. The contractor can continue the appeal process by requesting an
informal conference in writing and within 10 business days of the appeal
denial. The informal conference will be held at SSPC headquarters in
Pittsburgh, PA in order to allow the Contractor to further explain its
position and request a different outcome.
4. The final option for the Contractor wishing to continue with the appeal is
to utilize the existing Disciplinary Action Criteria (DAC) Arbitration Panel
Procedure to resolve the matter. Refer to the DAC for details.

D. Internal Audit
Conducting a minimum of one annual internal audit is required in each year of
certification after initial certification. SSPC recommends using the published QP1
audit checklist to perform your internal audit and recommends conducting an
internal audit at each job site.

Your customers are given an opportunity to comment directly to SSPC at any

time on your company’s performance. All comments will be treated as
confidential and will be used to determine if your company satisfactorily
completed a project or phase of a project. Documented complaints alleging that
your company is not complying with QP1 requirements may result in SSPC
conducting a special audit for probable cause. Failure to pass the
aforementioned annual or any follow-up audits can result in SSPC suspending
your company’s certification. See Part XII: Maintenance Applications for
specific rules governing maintenance of QP1 certification status after initial
certification.

V 2. July 2019 Page 22 of 36

 IMPORTANT NOTE: Failure to cooperate with the program auditor or SSPC
Corporate Certification Program Manager or Program
Administrator, or failure to provide access to data,
personnel, or on-site premises, or failure to be truthful to
SSPC shall be sufficient cause for denial, suspension or
revocation of your company’s certification status at the
Program Administrator’s discretion.

XII. Maintenance Applications

The SSPC QP1 Certification term is three years. To verify that your operations remain in
compliance with certification standards during that period, the program requires that
SSPC evaluate your company at least once in each of the second and third years of the
term. The evaluation may be announced or unannounced. Additional audits may be
performed at SSPC’s discretion.

To maintain uninterrupted certification status, you must reapply for certification

annually by December 15. You must submit a maintenance application, a signed
internal audit report completion statement, list of applicable (e.g., complex
industrial/marine structure) work in progress and completed since the last evaluation
and evidence of successful completion of your projects, current safety information and
maintenance fee by the December 15 due date. The necessary forms and applications
can be found on SSPC’s website at [Link] Follow the
appropriate links to the QP1 maintenance application. SSPC will assess a $500 late
application fee for any maintenance applications submitted after December 15. SSPC
also reserves the right to reject any maintenance applications submitted after March 31
and require the contractor submitting the late application to reapply as an initial
applicant.

SSPC will make every effort to send you a reminder letter approximately 45 days before
the December 15 submittal due date as a reminder to reapply. If you fail to reapply
when your submittal is due, your company’s certification will expire and your company
will be decertified. SSPC will send a letter to any contractor who has failed to reapply as
a reminder that certification has expired.

NOTE: You are responsible for ensuring that SSPC has your current mailing address, phone and fax
numbers, etc. Failure to receive a reminder letter from SSPC does not relieve you of the
responsibility to submit your renewal application when due.

Once you have reapplied, the annual evaluation (complex industrial/marine structure
job site(s) and possibly office visit) must take place within the calendar year barring any
mitigating circumstances or else your certification will expire.

V 2. July 2019 Page 23 of 36

 NOTE: Job records for projects reported in the annual submittal and those for which a job notification is
on file are subject to review during a maintenance audit and should be available if the auditor
asks for them. It is mandatory to show the auditor an active job site during the annual audit.

SSPC reserves the right to audit any project being performed by an SSPC QP Certified
contractor that involves surface preparation or coating application and cure on an
industrial/marine structure. Such projects are eligible for an SSPC audit regardless of
whether:
1. The job is “reportable”; or
2. Whether the project requires QP certification; or
3. Whether there’s a formal coating specification for the work.

If you are unsure whether a project you are performing is eligible for an audit, please
contact the Program Manager for clarification. If you have active work and have not
been audited prior to September 1, you are obligated to inform the Program Manager
so the audit can be conducted to avoid a situation where you have no work to show for
the annual audit. Contractors who have no active work face loss of certification, in the
absence of mitigating circumstances. Note, too, that a visit to a second job site within a
100-mile radius of the first site visited on the same audit trip is considered one audit for
sampling purposes.

IMPORTANT NOTE: SSPC reserves the right to suspend contractors who fail two
consecutive certification maintenance/annual audits for up to 12
months following failure of the second audit.

NOTE: Corrective action verification audits following a failed audit are not considered
maintenance/annual audits. Probable cause audits are considered the equivalent of an annual
maintenance audit if the contractor has not yet had its annual audit.

Contractors who fail the annual maintenance evaluation will be given up to 45 days
after notification of audit results to submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) and request
that SSPC re-evaluate and also conduct a follow-up audit. SSPC reserves the right to
withhold certification from companies who fail a maintenance or follow-up evaluation
until a CAP is submitted and accepted by SSPC.

NOTE: SSPC may opt, in certain cases, to extend the company’s certification status following acceptance
of a CAP for a limited period subject to specified conditions.

Contractors placed on suspension for failing a maintenance audit during their

certification term will be formally notified in writing (e.g., certified letter, e-mail) of the
suspension.
1. The contractor is given up to 45 days from notification to make corrections and
submit an acceptable CAP and be re-audited, if determined by the Program
Administrator;
2. The contractor is asked to immediately return original certificates; and

V 2. July 2019 Page 24 of 36

 3. The contractor is not to represent itself as a QP1 Certified contractor during the
suspension period.

During a suspension period the contractor’s name will be removed from SSPC’s online
searchable database of QP Certified contractors. Contractors will be formally notified in
writing when a suspension is lifted. When SSPC reinstates certification status, it will
reissue valid certificates and add the contractor’s name back to the online searchable
database of QP1 Certified contractors.

NOTE: Contractors in the Random Audit Program (RAP) are normally exempt from undergoing the
mandatory annual audit. However, a contractor in the RAP is subject to selection for an audit at
random by SSPC at the Program Manager’s or Administrator’s discretion.

XIII. Special Provisions

A. Major Changes in a Company’s Organization

SSPC certified contracting companies are required to notify the Program
Manager or Program Administrator in writing within 30 days of any major
organizational or name change. Examples of a major change include, but are not
limited to:
• Change in ownership.
• Partnership/joint venture arrangement or change in existing
partnership status.
• Change in executive management (e.g., president, CEO, general
manager).
• Declaration of bankruptcy.
• Incorporation or change in corporate status.
• Name change.
• Becoming a subsidiary.
• Change to sole proprietorship.
• Relocation of main or branch business offices or opening of new
branch offices.

The notification shall include the following information:

• Specific details about changes.
• Revised organizational and responsibility chart.
• Effective dates of change.
• Names of officers of reorganized company.
• Any change in tax identification/EIN, federal or state
o Submit statement from IRS or Secretary of your state assigning
new tax ID/EIN

V 2. July 2019 Page 25 of 36

 SSPC cannot begin the process of considering transferring certification status to a
newly organized company until this information is provided.

NOTE: If a company changes federal or state tax ID numbers or is incorporated in a new state, it
will automatically have to reapply as a new company. If it is a simple change of name
(e.g., “John R. Doe Co., Inc.” to “J.R. Doe, Inc.” or a change in location) and incorporated
in the same state with the same tax ID numbers, a simple transfer of certification can be
authorized after review by the Program Administrator. Contact the Program Manager if
you are unsure whether an event at your company is considered by SSPC a “major”
change in a company’s organization.

SSPC will subsequently schedule a special audit, at the contracting company’s

expense, within 60 days of notification. SSPC will also schedule another audit, at
the contracting company’s expense, within six months after the special (first)
audit to verify that the reorganized company is in fact maintaining the standards
of the program. If the company does not pass the six-month audit, certification
will be rescinded.

No transfer or certification status to a new company will be approved until the

company provides SSPC with any required or requested information, passes the
special (first) audit and obtains approval from the Program Administrator.

Failure to notify the Program Manager or Program Administrator of any major

changes within the required time period can result in an automatic six-month
suspension.

A company, which has changed its name or has otherwise reorganized, must
certify in writing that it will assume responsibility for any disciplinary actions or
violations of federal, state and local regulations issued under a former name. In
addition, any violations of the SSPC PCCP program (e.g., written complaints from
owners or Disciplinary Action Criteria (DAC) critical faults) by the company
under its original name will be considered as part of the record of the company
under its new name.

A company submitting a change of organizational status can request that SSPC

waive the requirement for a special (first) audit before approving any transfer.
SSPC will evaluate each request and reserves the right to waive the requirement
at its own discretion. Requests to have the audit waived must be submitted at
the time of notification of the organizational change.

B. Suspension for Non-Payment of Fees

Failure to pay all fees in a timely manner will result in a six-month suspension
from the program and public notification of the suspension. SSPC will notify a
company of its suspension if it fails to respond within three business days to the
final (second) notice of non-payment. SSPC will also withhold issuing

V 2. July 2019 Page 26 of 36

 certification for initial and annual renewal applicants who pass the evaluation
but still have fees due.

C. Formal Complaint Procedure

Any authorized representative of an owner who hires a QP1 Certified painting
contractor could file a formal complaint against the contractor if the
representative has information that the contracting company does not practice
QP1 Certification procedures. The contractor may respond to the complaint by
submitting information supporting its position to SSPC. Documented complaints
by an owner or its designated representative can result in a probable cause
audit, authorized at the discretion of the Program Administrator.

SSPC is committed to a fair and transparent Complaints and Appeals process

regarding our certifications. If you would like to learn more about this process, or
to communicate an issue to our Certification Body please contact
certification@[Link] and describe your issue and/or request a phone call back.
We will respond within two business days to your email communication. You
may also call us at 877-281-7772 to speak to someone about your issue.

D. Subcontracting Work
SSPC certified contractors are responsible for monitoring the actions of
subcontractors to ensure they perform in accordance with PCCP requirements.
Contracted tasks include, but are not limited to, environmental monitoring and
testing; personnel monitoring; medical surveillance; structural repairs, cleaning,
surface preparation and painting; erecting and moving containment and
scaffolding; and equipment maintenance.

The QP1 contractor is responsible for controlling its subcontracting process to

ensure that its subcontractors conform to PCCP quality management
requirements subcontracted to them. The contractor shall evaluate and select
subcontractors based on their ability to provide products/services in accordance
with the contract and applicable QP1 quality management requirements.

Purchasing documents sent to the subcontractor shall specify information

describing the product or service being purchased. The contractor shall ensure
that specified requirements are adequately defined in the purchasing documents
prior to their release to subcontractors. Subcontractors must also be notified by
you – the certified contractor – that SSPC retains the right to audit their surface
preparation and coating application operations.

In all circumstances, SSPC certified contractors should hire only SSPC certified
subcontractors for surface preparation and coating application work. SSPPC

V 2. July 2019 Page 27 of 36

 certified contractors must hire SSPC certified contractors as required by the
facility owner.

SSPC realizes that there are circumstances when you are hired because of your
credentials as an SSPC certified contractor and yet are required as part of your
contract to hire painting subcontractors that may not be certified (e.g., minority
or set aside contracts). In cases when you do hire non-certified subcontractors
to fulfill a contract obligation which cannot practically or reasonably be met by
the contractor or other PCCP certified subcontractor, you will need a written
waiver of the QP requirement for the subcontractor from the facility owner.
Regardless of the subcontractor’s certification status, you are still responsible for
the actions of those subcontractors to ensure they perform in accordance with
your QP quality programs.

All subcontractors hired by SSPC certified contractors must be formally approved

in writing by the facility owner or its official representative. Failure to comply
will result in issuance of a severe critical fault under the DAC.

If a certified contractor’s job site is audited and one or more of the painting
subcontractors performing surface preparation and coating application work at
the job site are not in compliance with QP requirements, SSPC will issue the
certified contractor a warning for violations of the PCCP Subcontracting Special
Provision. A second incident will result in an automatic 12-month suspension
from the certification program.

SSPC certified contractors who hire non-certified contractors even though the
facility owner, general contractor or specifying engineer specifically call out in
their contract or general notice to contractors that all cleaning and painting
subcontractors must be SSPC certified, will be subject to disciplinary action (i.e.,
deliberate violation of specification requirements – a severe violation resulting in
suspension) under the Disciplinary Action Criteria (DAC).

If a certified contractor utilizes another contractor’s workers (e.g., applicators,

blasters, helpers, laborer, pot tenders, equipment operators, quality control
inspectors, competent persons) and these workers are paid by another entity –
regardless of whether they are under your direct supervision – the workers are
considered to be subcontracted from the other entity. If the contract calls for a
QP1 or QP2 contractor, the other entity must also be certified or else it is
considered a violation of the DAC.

If a certified contractor is borrowing, leasing, renting, etc. workers, and those

workers are on the certified contractor’s payroll and under the certified
contractor’s direct supervision, the workers are considered employees of the
certified company.

V 2. July 2019 Page 28 of 36

 Complaints from facility owners, prime contractors or their representatives
concerning SSPC certified contractors allegedly violating subcontracting practices
described above will be investigated by SSPC and may result in an unscheduled
probable cause audit of job records and job site.

E. Joint Ventures and Auditing

When SSPC audits a project being done by one or more QP certified companies
as a Joint Venture (JV), the audit counts as an audit for all the QP certified
companies involved in the JV. That is, if the audit is successful, all the JV QP
companies audited share in the success. If the audit is not successful, the audit is
unsuccessful for all JV QP companies involved. In addition, SSPC reserves the
right to audit a non-JV project being done by one or more of the joint venture
contractors as part of their routine annual audit.

F. Reporting Work and Citation History on Application

Contractors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of reporting of
regulatory citation history information submitted to SSPC when completing an
initial or maintenance application. Failure to accurately report this information
on the application will delay the application or result in disciplinary action or if
the company is already certified, could result in suspension of the company’s
certification status.

G. Administrative Suspension and Change of Company Name

Change of company name, ownership or structure does not void a suspension or
revocation issued by SSPC. Any company that is suspended or revoked for failing
to meet QP audit standards, SSPC administrative policy or any other policy
related to QP certification is restricted from reapplying for certification as a
newly formed, merged or renamed company. Recertification in any form is
prohibited for the stated duration of the suspension. Once the suspension or
revocation period has lapsed, any suspension or revocation history and records
will be transferred to the new business.

Any representative of the management, including but not limited to, an officer,
director, superintendent, quality control supervisor, safety director, general
manager, stockholder or any person who exercises directly or indirectly,
including through an intermediary person, any degree of ownership,
management or control of the suspended contracting company, who forms or
purchases a new company or who exercises any degree of ownership of a new,
existing or purchased company renders the new, existing or purchased company
ineligible for certification while any suspension of the company the person was
associated with is in effect. The intent is to prevent management or other key
individuals associated with the suspended company from forming or purchasing

V 2. July 2019 Page 29 of 36

 a new company or exercising any control over an existing affiliated company –
such as through an intermediary person – to avoid the consequences of a PCCP
suspension.

A suspended contractor may re-enter the program when the suspension or

revocation period has lapsed and the conditions for reinstatement have been
met. A newly formed, merged, renamed or otherwise reorganized company
must submit an application and follow all procedures for QP Certification.

NOTE: For purposes of this document, “Affiliated Company” is defined as, “A company,
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business entity operating under a
different name than the certified company, which performs surface preparation or
coating application or administrative and other support functions for the certified
company; and in which an officer, director, owner, partner or stockholder of the certified
company, a previously certified company disciplined by SSPC, or the certified company
itself, exercises directly or indirectly – such as through an intermediary person or family
member – any significant degree of ownership, management or control.”

XIV. Random Audit Program (RAP) (QP1 and QP2 Only)

A. Contractor Eligibility Requirements for the Random Audit Program

1. The contractor must successfully complete the most recent three-year
certification term. That is, the contractor must pass the initial and two
subsequent QP1 and QP2 reconfirmation audits and any subsequent audits.
During the course of the above audits, a contractor must not have received a
rating less than “2” for any critical evaluation item or receive more than
three ratings less than “2” on any non-critical evaluation item in the QP1
program; or any deficiency requiring a major Corrective Action Report (CAR)
or more than three deficiencies requiring a minor CAR in the QP2 program.
NOTE: The RAP is applicable to both QP1 and QP2 certifications. Companies
holding both QP1 and QP2 certifications must qualify for RAP under
both programs to enter the RAP.
2. Establish a record free of disciplinary actions as defined by the Disciplinary
Action Criteria (DAC) during the certification term.
3. Operate without any major changes in company organization as defined in
the QP1 Special Provisions during the course of the contractor’s most
recently completed three-year QP1 Certification term or any part of a
subsequent uncompleted term. A contractor may change its name without
losing eligibility, but it must meet the criteria listed in Special Provisions for
such an action.

B. Loss of Eligibility for the Random Audit Program

1. A contractor fails any certification or random audit when it does not achieve
a passing score or is rated “Less than 2” on any QP1 critical item or “Less
than 2” on four or more non-critical items; or is cited for any deficiency

V 2. July 2019 Page 30 of 36

 requiring a major Correction Action (CAR) or four or more deficiencies
requiring a minor CAR under the QP2 program.
NOTE: Contractors who fail a random audit must submit an accepted
Corrective Action Plan within 45 days of notice and undergo a full audit
in order to be considered for reinstatement of certification status.
2. If a contractor undergoes a major organizational change that requires a
change in tax ID or EIN.
3. If SSPC assesses any disciplinary action against a contractor as determined by
the DAC.
4. If a contractor voluntarily discontinues or disrupts its certification status
(e.g., failure to meet an application or submittal deadline; failure to pay fees
or expenses when due).
5. Declaration of Bankruptcy.

C. Restoration of Random Audit Program Eligibility

1. Successful completion of a new three-year term (see A.1. above) will begin
with a full audit in the year following loss of RAP status.
2. Pass a special audit following a major organizational change.

D. Duration of Random Audit Program Eligibility (three years)

1. A contractor is subject to random audit in any of the three years that it is in
the Random Audit Program.
2. A contractor must pass a full audit (all items on the checklist) in the fourth
year to be eligible for a new three-year term in the Random Audit Program.
3. Random reconfirmation audits consist of – at a minimum – an on-site
evaluation at an active job and a visit to the corporate offices to verify
compliance with certification program requirements.

E. Application for RAP Eligibility

1. Applications for RAP eligibility are due on October 15 in the following
calendar year.
2. To apply, simply submit a letter requesting consideration for entry into the
RAP program and include copies of your three most recent SSPC audit
summaries and corresponding deficiency schedules as well as evidence of
successful completion of projects completed during the most recent QP1
Certification term. Determination will be made no later than January 15.
Requests submitted after October 15 cannot be considered.

XV. Scoring
The SSPC auditor rates your company on all applicable* evaluation items. Only findings
rated “1” or “2” are reported on the deficiency schedule, which is given to the auditee

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 at the exit interview. Lack of a finding for an evaluation item means that the auditor
rated it “3” or did not rate the item.

*More items are evaluated on initial and full audits than are evaluated on maintenance, spot-check or
corrective action follow-up audits.

Below are the ratings and what they mean.

The rating of “1” is a major CAR or deficiency, and indicates:

a) The required training, written program, practice or procedure is non-existent;
b) The required training or written program is inadequate; or
c) The required practice or procedure has not been in place for the minimum time
of six consecutive production months, or it has been in place sporadically (e.g.,
less than 2/3 implemented based on sampling).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Typically, auditors will not issue major deficiencies for isolated
breakdowns in a contractor’s quality system. However, there
are exceptions. For example, auditors will issue a rating of “1”
when they observe one or more safety violations or safety
hazards that could result in an injury or serious incident. An
obvious example would be a person working without
appropriate fall protection as required by the contractor’s safety
and health plan and/or governing regulations. Auditors will also
issue a rating of “1” if they discover one or more unauthorized
deviations from contract requirements or deviations from good
painting practices found in the paint shop, shipyard or field job
site.

The rating of “2” is a minor CAR or deficiency, and indicates the training or written
program is adequate but requires minor revision. Examples include a practice or
procedure that is in place with isolated instances of non-conformance no more than 1/3
of the time based on sampling, lack of practice or documentation due to personnel
turnover, non-performance by field personnel, personal hardship and natural disaster.

The rating of “3” indicates that a contractor – based on audit sampling – consistently
adheres to specific training and written program requirements as well as required
practices and procedures that consistently meet the letter of the standard. When there
are no audit findings it means that all items evaluated during the audit were rated “3.”

A Corrective Action Report (CAR), using the SSPC automated CAP form found on the
SSPC website at [Link] is required for each rating of “1” (major
deficiency) found by the auditor. Remedial action for a major CAR requires the
submission of a Corrective Action Report followed by an on-site audit to confirm that
the contractor has corrected the deficiency and implemented the corrective action plan

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 submitted to SSPC. With the exception of initial audits and maintenance or follow-up
audits where multiple CARs are written (e.g., four to five), remedial action for a minor
CAR requires that the auditor confirm remediation at the next audit. Minor CARs that
are not remedied by the contractor by the next audit turn into a major CAR or
deficiency.

Initial Audits require Corrective Action Report submission for all deficiencies cited – both
major and minor.

Concerns: Occasionally, the auditor will note a “Concern” on an audit report. A Concern
is not a rating – it is simply a statement for the contractor to consider for its own
business purposes. No response is required for a Concern.

XVI. QP1 Appendix A

A. General Description
In order to meet the requirements of QP1 Section 3.2.1. the contractor must
document implementation of the program to:
1. Assess the skills and general training needs of newly hired craft
workers* and qualify them for their assigned tasks;
2. Verify the qualifications of existing craft workers;
3. Train inexperienced craft workers (trainees) as necessary;
4. Evaluate the performance of craft workers at least once per calendar
year and provide additional training as necessary;
5. Ensure compliance with contract specific worker training/qualification
requirements.

*A craft worker is one who performs surface preparation and/or applies coating materials.

B. Contents of the Program – General Training and Qualifications Requirements

NEWLY HIRED EXPERIENCED CRAFT WORKERS
The program must contain provisions to administer written tests and/or a hands-
on evaluation to assess the skills of new hires that claim to have previous
experience or verify previous qualifications through a formal training or
qualification program.

1. When written tests are used, they shall include information that the
contractor determines to be necessary to verify the general
knowledge of the trade and the qualifications of the individual tested
to perform work assigned. While it is left to the contractor to create
or use the test that works best for its business, the contractor must
show that the questions and answers are based on training materials,

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 or standards, or publications developed by SSPC, ASTM, PDCA, the
IUPAT or its affiliates; NCCER or materials developed by another
organization that are acceptable to SSPC.
2. Hands-on Skill Evaluation: At a minimum, abrasive blasters shall be
qualified using the SSPC C-7 hands-on skill assessment protocol for
testing blasters or an equivalent hands-on evaluation or performance
verification acceptable to SSPC. The hands-on evaluation can be done
in a controlled qualification session in the shop or yard or in the field
at an actual production site. The C-7 skills assessment form is
available from SSPC, [Link]
3. Spray painters shall be qualified per the contractor’s Quality Control
Procedures Manual using industry accepted qualification procedures
from one or more of the sources listed in B.1. above.
4. Specialty skill qualifications for such processes as UHP Water Jetting,
Thermal Spray Metalizing or Plural Component Spray shall be
developed, whether in-house or outsourced, based on material or
equipment supplier best practices when industry standard training or
training materials do not exist.
5. Craft workers previously trained or qualified by your company who
have been laid off or who have left to work for another contractor,
only to return to work for your company within a two-year period,
need not be re-qualified to update your assessment of their skills.

TRAINEES
General training for trainees shall be based on training materials developed by
SSPC, PDCA, the IUPAT or its affiliates, NCCER or equivalent materials acceptable
to SSPC.

C. Qualification to Apply Specific Material and Use New Equipment

The program must contain procedures to qualify craft workers to apply materials
or use equipment unfamiliar to the craft worker. The program must also
document that those workers have been qualified or trained.

D. Supervisor
Each contractor shall designate a “Supervisor” to be responsible for
implementation of the company’s craft worker training and qualification
program and monitoring its effective use in the field. The Supervisor shall have
sufficient technical knowledge and documented training in the use of specific
materials and equipment.

E. CAS (Coating Application Specialist Certification Program)

Beginning in calendar year 2013, QP1 contractors are required to implement
their QP1 CAS program. Information on CAS QP1 implementation requirements

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 can be found at [Link] QP1 companies based outside
of the USA can petition the Corporate Certification Program Manager for a
waiver from the CAS requirement if:
1. CAS is not available in the company’s geographic area; or
2. CAS is not available in the language of the workplace.
To qualify for a waiver, the company must have in place a viable alternative plan
such as SSPC C-7 and C-12 certifications for blasters and painters or other
recognized third party accredited craft worker qualification program. Any SSPC
waiver would be exclusive of any other waivers already allowed by the program.

F. Annual Performance Evaluation

The contractor must have implemented procedures and documentation to show
that his/her production supervisor evaluates and documents each craft worker’s
performance at least annually. Annual performance evaluation is a major critical
item (see Audit Item Number 9).

XVII. QP1 Appendix B

A. QCS Formal Training Course (SSPC QCS or equivalent)

Course material should meet the BOK outlined in ASQ Quality Management
System (basics) – 16-hour course minimum (final lecture examination, minimum
passing grade 80%) – curriculum must include definitions of quality systems,
quality manuals and procedures, documentation and data controls, calibration
programs, contract document and specification review, work plans and process
control procedures, inspection plans, inspection reports, internal audits and
SSPC QP audit requirements. Certificates must be issued after successful
completion minimum instructor qualifications (SSPC QCS or equivalent, three
years’ experience in industrial/marine protective coatings QCS and inspection).

QC Inspector Formal Training Course (e.g., include SSPC PCI, NBPI, BCI, NACE
CIP Level I, KTA Level I, or equivalent):

• Course material should meet the BOK outlined in ASTM D 3276.

• 24-hour course minimum (final lecture examination, minimum
passing grade 70%).
• Course must include an eight-hour hands-on inspection instrument
workshop (graded instrument use examination, minimum passing
grade 70%).
• Inspection plan development.
• Documentation of inspection results.
• SSPC industry standards and visual guides.
• Specification review and product data sheets.

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 • Certificates must be issued after successful completion.
• Minimum instructor qualifications (e.g., include SSPC PCS, PCI, NBPI;
BCI, NACE CIP Level I, KTA Level I, or equivalent; three years’
experience in industrial/marine protective coatings QC inspection).

For QP course equivalency consideration, please submit the following:

• Curriculum, course schedule, and course locations.
• Training materials.
• Quizzes and examinations.
• Instructor roster and instructor qualifications.

SSPC retains the right to audit a QC course being presented for “equivalency”
consideration prior to accepting the course as an “equivalent” at the contractor’s
expense.

SSPC also reserves the right to audit a previously accepted “equivalency” course
at the contractor’s expense or request training records.

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