NACE COATING INSPECTOR PROGRAM (CIP)
LEVEL 2 EXAM ACTUAL PREP QUESTIONS AND
WELL REVISED ANSWERS - LATEST AND
COMPLETE UPDATE WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS – ASSURED PASS
1. A coating inspector observes that abrasive blasting has produced a surface
profile deeper than the specified range. What is the most appropriate
inspector action?
A. Approve the surface because deeper profile always improves adhesion
B. Require immediate coating application to avoid flash rusting
C. Reject the surface and require corrective action to meet specification
D. Allow the applicator to reduce coating thickness to compensate
Rationale: Excessive surface profile can cause premature coating failure
due to peak exposure; inspectors must enforce specification limits.
2. Which standard is most commonly used to classify visual cleanliness of steel
after abrasive blasting?
A. ASTM D3359
B. ISO 8502
C. SSPC-SP / NACE No. visual standards
D. ASTM D4417
Rationale: SSPC-SP and equivalent NACE/ISO standards define blast
cleanliness grades.
3. A coating specification requires a 75–125 µm DFT. The inspector measures
60 µm in multiple areas. What is the correct determination?
A. Acceptable if average thickness meets minimum
B. Acceptable if no bare steel is visible
, C. Nonconforming and requires corrective action
D. Acceptable if coating manufacturer approves
Rationale: Individual readings below minimum specified DFT are
nonconforming unless otherwise stated.
4. Which environmental condition most directly affects condensation risk on a
steel surface?
A. Wind speed
B. UV exposure
C. Dew point spread
D. Barometric pressure
Rationale: Condensation occurs when surface temperature approaches
dew point.
5. What is the primary purpose of a coating inspector documenting daily
inspection reports?
A. To protect the contractor
B. To provide objective, traceable quality records
C. To justify schedule delays
D. To replace project specifications
Rationale: Documentation ensures accountability, traceability, and dispute
resolution.
6. A two-component epoxy coating shows incomplete curing. Which is the
most likely cause?
A. Excessive surface profile
B. Incorrect mix ratio
C. Excessive film thickness
D. Low humidity
Rationale: Incorrect component ratio directly affects polymerization.
,7. Which instrument is used to measure soluble salt contamination on steel
surfaces?
A. Dry film thickness gauge
B. Surface profile tape
C. Conductivity meter
D. Psychrometer
Rationale: Conductivity meters assess salt contamination via extracted
solutions.
8. What is the inspector’s responsibility when observing an unsafe work
practice?
A. Ignore if unrelated to coating quality
B. Document only after an incident
C. Stop work and report according to site safety procedures
D. Notify the client after project completion
Rationale: Safety is a shared responsibility; inspectors must act
immediately.
9. Which curing mechanism applies to moisture-cured urethanes?
A. Solvent evaporation
B. Oxidation
C. Reaction with atmospheric moisture
D. Thermal fusion
Rationale: These coatings chemically react with moisture to cure.
10.A coating failure characterized by small dome-shaped blisters is most often
caused by:
A. Over-application
B. Osmotic pressure from soluble contaminants
C. UV degradation
, D. Mechanical damage
Rationale: Soluble salts attract moisture, causing osmotic blistering.
11.Which SSPC standard addresses power tool cleaning to bare metal?
A. SSPC-SP 2
B. SSPC-SP 3
C. SSPC-SP 11
D. SSPC-SP 7
Rationale: SP 11 requires power tool cleaning to bare metal.
12.An inspector notices pinholing in a sprayed coating. What is the most
probable contributing factor?
A. Low surface profile
B. Entrapped air or solvent release
C. Excessive cure time
D. Incorrect dew point measurement
Rationale: Pinholing commonly results from air or solvent escape.
13.What is the primary function of a wet film thickness gauge?
A. Measure cured coating thickness
B. Verify surface profile
C. Ensure applied coating will meet specified DFT
D. Detect holidays
Rationale: WFT measurement predicts final DFT before curing.
14.Which document takes precedence when a conflict exists between drawings
and specifications?
A. Inspector’s judgment
B. Contractor’s method statement
C. Project specifications
D. Manufacturer’s data sheet
LEVEL 2 EXAM ACTUAL PREP QUESTIONS AND
WELL REVISED ANSWERS - LATEST AND
COMPLETE UPDATE WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS – ASSURED PASS
1. A coating inspector observes that abrasive blasting has produced a surface
profile deeper than the specified range. What is the most appropriate
inspector action?
A. Approve the surface because deeper profile always improves adhesion
B. Require immediate coating application to avoid flash rusting
C. Reject the surface and require corrective action to meet specification
D. Allow the applicator to reduce coating thickness to compensate
Rationale: Excessive surface profile can cause premature coating failure
due to peak exposure; inspectors must enforce specification limits.
2. Which standard is most commonly used to classify visual cleanliness of steel
after abrasive blasting?
A. ASTM D3359
B. ISO 8502
C. SSPC-SP / NACE No. visual standards
D. ASTM D4417
Rationale: SSPC-SP and equivalent NACE/ISO standards define blast
cleanliness grades.
3. A coating specification requires a 75–125 µm DFT. The inspector measures
60 µm in multiple areas. What is the correct determination?
A. Acceptable if average thickness meets minimum
B. Acceptable if no bare steel is visible
, C. Nonconforming and requires corrective action
D. Acceptable if coating manufacturer approves
Rationale: Individual readings below minimum specified DFT are
nonconforming unless otherwise stated.
4. Which environmental condition most directly affects condensation risk on a
steel surface?
A. Wind speed
B. UV exposure
C. Dew point spread
D. Barometric pressure
Rationale: Condensation occurs when surface temperature approaches
dew point.
5. What is the primary purpose of a coating inspector documenting daily
inspection reports?
A. To protect the contractor
B. To provide objective, traceable quality records
C. To justify schedule delays
D. To replace project specifications
Rationale: Documentation ensures accountability, traceability, and dispute
resolution.
6. A two-component epoxy coating shows incomplete curing. Which is the
most likely cause?
A. Excessive surface profile
B. Incorrect mix ratio
C. Excessive film thickness
D. Low humidity
Rationale: Incorrect component ratio directly affects polymerization.
,7. Which instrument is used to measure soluble salt contamination on steel
surfaces?
A. Dry film thickness gauge
B. Surface profile tape
C. Conductivity meter
D. Psychrometer
Rationale: Conductivity meters assess salt contamination via extracted
solutions.
8. What is the inspector’s responsibility when observing an unsafe work
practice?
A. Ignore if unrelated to coating quality
B. Document only after an incident
C. Stop work and report according to site safety procedures
D. Notify the client after project completion
Rationale: Safety is a shared responsibility; inspectors must act
immediately.
9. Which curing mechanism applies to moisture-cured urethanes?
A. Solvent evaporation
B. Oxidation
C. Reaction with atmospheric moisture
D. Thermal fusion
Rationale: These coatings chemically react with moisture to cure.
10.A coating failure characterized by small dome-shaped blisters is most often
caused by:
A. Over-application
B. Osmotic pressure from soluble contaminants
C. UV degradation
, D. Mechanical damage
Rationale: Soluble salts attract moisture, causing osmotic blistering.
11.Which SSPC standard addresses power tool cleaning to bare metal?
A. SSPC-SP 2
B. SSPC-SP 3
C. SSPC-SP 11
D. SSPC-SP 7
Rationale: SP 11 requires power tool cleaning to bare metal.
12.An inspector notices pinholing in a sprayed coating. What is the most
probable contributing factor?
A. Low surface profile
B. Entrapped air or solvent release
C. Excessive cure time
D. Incorrect dew point measurement
Rationale: Pinholing commonly results from air or solvent escape.
13.What is the primary function of a wet film thickness gauge?
A. Measure cured coating thickness
B. Verify surface profile
C. Ensure applied coating will meet specified DFT
D. Detect holidays
Rationale: WFT measurement predicts final DFT before curing.
14.Which document takes precedence when a conflict exists between drawings
and specifications?
A. Inspector’s judgment
B. Contractor’s method statement
C. Project specifications
D. Manufacturer’s data sheet
