NACE CIP Level 1 Exam Evaluation
2026/2027 Complete Practice Examination -
200 Verified Questions Aligned to
AMPP/NACE CIP Level 1 Blueprint
Published by: AMPP Exam Preparation Resources
Edition: 2026/2027
Total Questions: 200
Domains Covered: Surface Preparation, Coating Application, Coating Inspection
and Testing, Health Safety and Environment
1. What is the primary purpose of SSPC-SP 1 Solvent Cleaning prior to
abrasive blasting in 2026/2027 practice?
A. To provide surface profile
B. To remove oil, grease, salts, and contaminants that would compromise
cleaning and adhesion
C. To achieve White Metal Blast
D. To neutralize concrete
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SSPC-SP 1 removes visible oil, grease, soluble salts and contaminants
prior to further preparation because blast cleaning alone can embed contaminants
and prevent coating adhesion per AMPP/NACE 2026/2027 manuals. Solvent
cleaning is a prerequisite for all other surface preparation methods.
2. SSPC-SP 2 Hand Tool Cleaning is defined as cleaning to remove loose mill
scale, loose rust and?
A. Tightly adherent rust only
B. Loose paint, loose rust, and loose mill scale using non-power hand tools
,C. All rust to bare steel
D. Concrete laitance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SP 2 uses hand tools like chipping hammers, wire brushes, and scrapers
to remove loose contaminants, not to remove tightly adherent materials. This aligns
with SSPC definition for 2026/2027 and emphasizes that tight mill scale and rust
may remain.
3. SSPC-SP 3 Power Tool Cleaning differs from SP 2 mainly by?
A. Use of power assisted tools to remove loose rust, mill scale, paint
B. Use of acid
C. Creation of White Metal surface
D. Water jetting requirement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: SP 3 allows power tools such as power wire brushes and grinders for
the same level of cleanliness as SP 2 but improves efficiency while still not
removing tightly adherent rust per 2026/2027 standards.
4. SSPC-SP 11 Power Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal requires creation of a?
A. 0.5 mil profile and bare metal appearance with no visible rust
B. 1.0 mil minimum profile and bare metal appearance with no visible rust
C. Painted finish
D. Concrete profile only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SP 11 requires removal to bare metal with a minimum 1-mil (25
micron) profile in many specifications, verified by visual and tactile comparison
for recoating. It removes all visible rust, mill scale, and paint, leaving a surface
suitable for high-performance coatings.
5. NACE No. 4 / SSPC-SP 7 Brush-Off Blast is intended to?
,A. Remove tightly adherent mill scale
B. Remove loose mill scale, rust, and coatings exposing intact underlying
material
C. Achieve White Metal
D. Clean concrete
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Brush-off blast cleans only loosely adherent materials, leaving tightly
adherent material. It is used where more aggressive blast cleaning is not required
per AMPP/NACE 2026/2027 and is often specified for maintenance painting.
6. NACE No. 3 / SSPC-SP 6 Commercial Blast requires what percentage of
surface free of visible residues?
A. 100% free
B. 66% free with staining allowed on remaining 33%
C. 80% free
D. 50% free
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SP 6 Commercial allows random staining not exceeding 33% of each
unit area, while removing all loose material. This is per visual standard VIS1 for
2026/2027 and is common for industrial maintenance coatings.
7. NACE No. 2 / SSPC-SP 10 Near White Metal Blast allows?
A. 5% staining with no loose residues
B. Unlimited staining
C. 100% white metal only
D. Heavy tight mill scale
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: SP 10 Near White allows 5% random staining while requiring removal
of all visible oil, grease, dust, mill scale, rust and coatings. This is common for
high-performance coatings in 2026/2027 and offers a balance between cost and
cleanliness.
, 8. NACE No. 1 / SSPC-SP 5 White Metal Blast requires?
A. 90% clean surface
B. 95% clean surface
C. 100% removal of all visible rust, mill scale, paint, and contaminants
D. 80% clean surface
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: White Metal Blast provides the highest level of cleanliness with no
visible residues on any surface area. It is required for critical service environments,
immersion service, and where absolute cleanliness is essential.
9. SSPC-SP 14/NACE No. 8 Industrial Blast Cleaning is defined as?
A. The highest level of cleanliness
B. Removal of all rust and mill scale
C. A standard between Commercial and Near White that removes tightly
adherent materials
D. Brush-off cleaning only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: SP 14 was developed as an intermediate standard between SP 6
(Commercial) and SP 10 (Near White) for applications where the higher degree of
cleanliness is needed but White Metal is not required.
10. SSPC-SP 16 Brush-Off Blast Cleaning of Coated and Uncoated
Galvanized Steel and Non-Ferrous Metals is specifically designed for?
A. Removing all galvanizing
B. Cleaning surfaces without damaging the galvanized coating
C. Creating maximum profile
D. Chemical cleaning only
Correct Answer: B
2026/2027 Complete Practice Examination -
200 Verified Questions Aligned to
AMPP/NACE CIP Level 1 Blueprint
Published by: AMPP Exam Preparation Resources
Edition: 2026/2027
Total Questions: 200
Domains Covered: Surface Preparation, Coating Application, Coating Inspection
and Testing, Health Safety and Environment
1. What is the primary purpose of SSPC-SP 1 Solvent Cleaning prior to
abrasive blasting in 2026/2027 practice?
A. To provide surface profile
B. To remove oil, grease, salts, and contaminants that would compromise
cleaning and adhesion
C. To achieve White Metal Blast
D. To neutralize concrete
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SSPC-SP 1 removes visible oil, grease, soluble salts and contaminants
prior to further preparation because blast cleaning alone can embed contaminants
and prevent coating adhesion per AMPP/NACE 2026/2027 manuals. Solvent
cleaning is a prerequisite for all other surface preparation methods.
2. SSPC-SP 2 Hand Tool Cleaning is defined as cleaning to remove loose mill
scale, loose rust and?
A. Tightly adherent rust only
B. Loose paint, loose rust, and loose mill scale using non-power hand tools
,C. All rust to bare steel
D. Concrete laitance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SP 2 uses hand tools like chipping hammers, wire brushes, and scrapers
to remove loose contaminants, not to remove tightly adherent materials. This aligns
with SSPC definition for 2026/2027 and emphasizes that tight mill scale and rust
may remain.
3. SSPC-SP 3 Power Tool Cleaning differs from SP 2 mainly by?
A. Use of power assisted tools to remove loose rust, mill scale, paint
B. Use of acid
C. Creation of White Metal surface
D. Water jetting requirement
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: SP 3 allows power tools such as power wire brushes and grinders for
the same level of cleanliness as SP 2 but improves efficiency while still not
removing tightly adherent rust per 2026/2027 standards.
4. SSPC-SP 11 Power Tool Cleaning to Bare Metal requires creation of a?
A. 0.5 mil profile and bare metal appearance with no visible rust
B. 1.0 mil minimum profile and bare metal appearance with no visible rust
C. Painted finish
D. Concrete profile only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SP 11 requires removal to bare metal with a minimum 1-mil (25
micron) profile in many specifications, verified by visual and tactile comparison
for recoating. It removes all visible rust, mill scale, and paint, leaving a surface
suitable for high-performance coatings.
5. NACE No. 4 / SSPC-SP 7 Brush-Off Blast is intended to?
,A. Remove tightly adherent mill scale
B. Remove loose mill scale, rust, and coatings exposing intact underlying
material
C. Achieve White Metal
D. Clean concrete
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Brush-off blast cleans only loosely adherent materials, leaving tightly
adherent material. It is used where more aggressive blast cleaning is not required
per AMPP/NACE 2026/2027 and is often specified for maintenance painting.
6. NACE No. 3 / SSPC-SP 6 Commercial Blast requires what percentage of
surface free of visible residues?
A. 100% free
B. 66% free with staining allowed on remaining 33%
C. 80% free
D. 50% free
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SP 6 Commercial allows random staining not exceeding 33% of each
unit area, while removing all loose material. This is per visual standard VIS1 for
2026/2027 and is common for industrial maintenance coatings.
7. NACE No. 2 / SSPC-SP 10 Near White Metal Blast allows?
A. 5% staining with no loose residues
B. Unlimited staining
C. 100% white metal only
D. Heavy tight mill scale
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: SP 10 Near White allows 5% random staining while requiring removal
of all visible oil, grease, dust, mill scale, rust and coatings. This is common for
high-performance coatings in 2026/2027 and offers a balance between cost and
cleanliness.
, 8. NACE No. 1 / SSPC-SP 5 White Metal Blast requires?
A. 90% clean surface
B. 95% clean surface
C. 100% removal of all visible rust, mill scale, paint, and contaminants
D. 80% clean surface
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: White Metal Blast provides the highest level of cleanliness with no
visible residues on any surface area. It is required for critical service environments,
immersion service, and where absolute cleanliness is essential.
9. SSPC-SP 14/NACE No. 8 Industrial Blast Cleaning is defined as?
A. The highest level of cleanliness
B. Removal of all rust and mill scale
C. A standard between Commercial and Near White that removes tightly
adherent materials
D. Brush-off cleaning only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: SP 14 was developed as an intermediate standard between SP 6
(Commercial) and SP 10 (Near White) for applications where the higher degree of
cleanliness is needed but White Metal is not required.
10. SSPC-SP 16 Brush-Off Blast Cleaning of Coated and Uncoated
Galvanized Steel and Non-Ferrous Metals is specifically designed for?
A. Removing all galvanizing
B. Cleaning surfaces without damaging the galvanized coating
C. Creating maximum profile
D. Chemical cleaning only
Correct Answer: B
