QP 3 is a nationally recognized program that evaluates the practices of shop painting facilities in key areas of business. These standards are considered to be the MINIMUM level of service and quality for today's coatings industry.

The complex nature of coating systems, the specific conditions and surface preparation required by these systems, have made the QP 3 guidelines vital to the longevity of protective coatings applied in the shop.

To be certified by SSPC, industrial contractors must demonstrate competence in several key areas:

Management Procedures
Technical Capabilities
Quality Control
Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance

Contracting firms are evaluated through a series of submittals to SSPC, which describe business operations. Then an impartial, on-site audit is performed at the contractor's headquarters and shop locations to verify the information provided in the application submittals.

QP 3 Background:
SSPC issued the first version of the QP 3 standard in 1995, with the certification program being released in June of 1996.

SSPC revised its QP 3 procedure and administrative certification program in 1999 to coordinate its program with that of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

For More Information: SSPC - The Society for Protective Coatings