International standarts for Sandblasting (dry) application

I would suggest you try the ISO web site or the CENLEC website. Both of these organisations harmonise their standards.

A good standards web site for purchase is Global Documents.

Good luck.

Look at NACE or SSPC for blasting / coating standards.

generally used standards (in Marine industry) are

SA 1 - a sweep blast

SA 2 a rough blast.

SA 2.5 Near white metal finish

SA 3 - White metal

for a good quality coating, you need to go with SA 2.5 Minimum, or SA 3 preferably

Sand blasting process is banned in most of the countries due to health hazards caused by the fine powder of silca. The Silica dust, when inhaled gets deposited in the lungs which results in a condition known as Silicosis leading to lung failure.

For this reason, only shot blasting or grit blasting is used .

Thanks to Mr.Galala for providing such a wonderful answer.

Good morning (here)

I think the question is rather on procedures than aspect. If it isn't so pls forgive me.

The most commonly applied standards are that already commented SSPC.

But which has been perfectly stated by Abdel is regarding appearance of surfaces prior or after treatment.

Regarding procedures on how to achieve this, you should take a look to the following standards:

• SSPC-SP 5 "White metal blast cleaning"
• SSPC-SP 6 "Commercial blast cleaning"
• SSPC-SP 7 "Brush-off blast cleaning"
• SSPC-SP 10 "Near white blast cleaning"

All those standards deal with "dry blasting" (even it allows wet blasting too) and directed you to SSPC-SP COM which is a guide in which you can get information about abrasive selection, etc.

Of course, all dry blasting operations must be performed according to safety and health appropriate measures (use of breathing filters...) because prolonged inhalation of silica, alumina or silicon carbide dust can cause silicosis (also called "miners disease") by obstructing lungs paths.

Dear Kwetz,

Through my post #3, only I liked to tell tae14m that there is a such standard called SSPC which cover that aspect, and through that standard he can find all the required information.

From SSPC standard, you can find a lot of data related to Scope, Description, Procedures, Inspection, and Tables like the following:

3. Procedures

3.1 Select the photograph(s) of unprepared surfaces (A. B. C. or D) that most closely represent(s) the appearance of the steel to be cleaned. NOTE: Occasionally the material to be cleaned will contain more than one of the initial surface conditions.

3.2 Determine the method of surface preparation that is specified (e.g hand tool cleaning – SSPC-SP 2 white metal blast cleaning – SSPC.SP 5 etc. ).

3.3 Use Table 1 to determine which photograph depicts the finished surface. For example if the initial surface condition is rusted (C) and commercial blast cleaning- SSPC-SP 6 is specified, use photograph C Sa 2.

3.4 Compare the prepared surface with the photograph selected in Section 3.3 to evaluate the cleaning. NOTE: Steel surfaces will show variances in color shading etc., both before and after cleaning. Therefore the photographs can be used only as a guide and one car not expect an exact correlation when comparing a photograph to the surface

Also, from Table 1 of the same standard, you can find all the required such as :

● Initial Surface Condition (Sa 0 & St 0)

● SSPC-SP 2 (St 2) Manual Cleaning:Thorough Hand Tool Cleaning

● SSPC-SP 3 (St 3) Manual Cleaning: Very Thorough Power Tool Cleaning

● SSPC-SP 7 (Sa 1) Blast Cleaning: Light Brush-Off Blast Cleaning

● SSPC-SP 6 (Sa 2) Blast Cleaning: Thorough Commercial Blast Cleaning

● SSPC-SP 10 (Sa 2.1/2) Blast Cleaning: Very Thorough Near-White Blast Cleaning SSPC-SP 10

● SSPC-SP 5 (Sa 3) Blast Cleaning: Extremely Thorough (3) White Metal Blast Cleaning

(3) The photographs (1978 through 1982 printing) illustrating "A Sa 3," "B Sa 3," and "C Sa 3" do not adequately illustrate the surface texture of typically blast-cleaned steel.

The key word here is Fittings. We use vibratory cleaning and polishing techniques and have been able to add surface profiling to the part for painting and other surface treatments. This works great! Much easer than blasting, less problems and very easy to control. This is where we wound up after a year chasing blasting.

Thanks a lot for all replies to my message. They are all very useful for me.

NiCrMoNoMore; Could you please give more details about vibratory cleaning and polishing?

Its a bit wordy!

http://www.kramerindustriesonline.com/finishing-guides/barrel-finishing-guide.htm?ysmchn=GGL&ysmcpn=Finishing+Guides&ysmgrp=Barrel+Finishing+Guides&ysmcrn=&ysmtrm=vibratory+deburring&ysmtac=PPC&utm_source=GGL&utm_campaign=Finishing%2BGuides&utm_content=Barrel%2BFinishing%2BGuides&utm_term=%22vibratory%2Bdeburring%22&utm_medium=PPC

I think in your case you do not really read and blast cleaning or preparation as there is no rust involved and if the vibratory cleaning you are doing is creating the necessary profile, the paint would adhere properly and you will have very good results, so keep on doing what you are already doing. As for standards for blast cleaning, the only real standards are the Swedish standards which are SA2, SA2.5 and so on as suggested in other posts

There is another solution. There is a coating that requires only a SSPC-SP2 surface prep. NO SANDBLASTING REQUIRED. It is a one-part, one-coat paint system (primer/topcoat in one). It is metallic gray in color and cannot be tinted. It has maritime approvals from DNV, USCG, ABS and is currently being used on casino vessels, bridges, tanks, etc. This not just a paint, it is an industrial coating that has been field tested and lab proven. If you have an interest, reply back.