NACE CIP Level 2 Practice Exam - 2026 Edition |
Verified Against Latest NACE/SSPC/ISO/ASTM
Standards | Complete Rationale Guide | Coating
Inspection
DOMAIN 1 – ADVANCED STANDARDS & SPECIFICATION INTERPRETATION (Q 1-20)
Q1
The project specification cites both SSPC-SP 10/NACE No. 2 and ISO 8501-1 Sa 2½. The
inspector observes a 75 µm (3 mil) angular anchor profile on a 10 mm (0.4 in.) thick
carbon-steel deck plate. Which statement is correct?
A. SSPC-SP 10 allows up to 100 µm profile regardless of base-metal thickness.
B. ISO 8501-1 limits profile to 50 µm on steel < 3 mm thick; the observed profile is
non-conforming.
C. Both standards are silent on profile vs. thickness; the inspector should invoke the
coating manufacturer’s written limit only.
D. SSPC-SP 10 supersedes ISO 8501-1 on U.S. projects; therefore the profile is
acceptable.
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: ISO 8501-1 Annex B (2023 ed.) cautions that Sa 2½ on steel < 3 mm should
not exceed 50 µm to avoid burn-through. SSPC-SP 10 is silent on thickness, so the more
restrictive clause applies (NACE SP0178-2021 §4.3). Distractors: A ignores ISO; C is
,incorrect—standards are not silent; D misapplies precedence rules (project spec listed
both, so both apply).
Q 2 (Calculation)
A specification requires a 125 µm (5 mil) dry-film thickness (DFT) with 2-coat epoxy
system. The theoretical spreading rate (TSR) of the primer is 8.0 m²/L at 75 µm. What is
the minimum volume of primer required for 1,000 m² at the specified 75 µm?
A. 100 L
B. 125 L
C. 133 L
D. 150 L
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: Volume = Area / TSR = 1,000 m² / 8.0 m²/L = 125 L (ASTM D5163-22, §6.2).
No loss factor applied—question asks “theoretical.”
Q3
The contractor proposes using power-tool cleaning to SSPC-SP 11 instead of
abrasive-blast SP 10. The specification is silent on SP 11. Per NACE SP0178-2021 the
inspector should:
A. Approve—SP 11 provides a 25 µm profile equal to SP 10.
B. Reject—SP 11 does not produce the required 75 µm profile cited for SP 10.
,C. Request written approval from the specifier; SP 11 and SP 10 are not interchangeable
without consent.
D. Allow if surface-tolerance test (ASTM D4541) exceeds 3.5 MPa.
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: SP 11 can produce profile but cleanliness and visual standards differ;
substitution requires written specifier approval (NACE SP0178 §5.2). Distractors: A is
false—SP 11 profile is typically 13–40 µm; B is speculative—profile requirement must be
in spec; D is a performance test, not a substitute for standard compliance.
Q4
A pipeline spec invokes NACE RP0188-2021 for holiday detection. Which maximum
voltage is permissible for a 500 µm (20 mil) fusion-bonded epoxy (dielectric constant 4)
on a 12 in. line?
A. 1,200 V
B. 1,700 V
C. 2,200 V
D. 2,700 V
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: RP0188 Eq. 4: V = √(1294 × t) where t = mil → √(1294 × 20) ≈ 1,610 V; nearest
listed option 1,700 V (rounded up per §7.3). Using metric: 0.5 mm → 5 kV/mm × 0.5 =
2.5 kV upper; still 1.7 kV acceptable.
, Q5
SSPC-PA 2 (2021) Type 2 gauge is used to verify DFT on a 3-coat marine system. The
spec demands any 10 m² area must have ≥ 90% of measurements ≥ specified DFT. The
inspector takes 15 spot measurements (3 per 10 m²). Maximum allowable number of
below-spec readings is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: 90% of 15 = 13.5 → minimum 14 readings ≥ spec; therefore ≤ 1 reading may
be below (SSPC-PA 2 §5.4.2).
Q6
A spec excerpt requires “surface salts ≤ 8 µg/cm² chloride as per ISO 8502-6/9.” Field
test shows 12 µg/cm². Per NACE SP0718-2020 the inspector should:
A. Allow coating if flash-rust grade is ≤ B.
B. Require fresh-water wash until ≤ 8 µg/cm².
C. Document as deviation; salts acceptable up to 15 µg/cm² for epoxy mastic.
D. Increase blast profile to compensate.
Verified Answer: B
Verified Against Latest NACE/SSPC/ISO/ASTM
Standards | Complete Rationale Guide | Coating
Inspection
DOMAIN 1 – ADVANCED STANDARDS & SPECIFICATION INTERPRETATION (Q 1-20)
Q1
The project specification cites both SSPC-SP 10/NACE No. 2 and ISO 8501-1 Sa 2½. The
inspector observes a 75 µm (3 mil) angular anchor profile on a 10 mm (0.4 in.) thick
carbon-steel deck plate. Which statement is correct?
A. SSPC-SP 10 allows up to 100 µm profile regardless of base-metal thickness.
B. ISO 8501-1 limits profile to 50 µm on steel < 3 mm thick; the observed profile is
non-conforming.
C. Both standards are silent on profile vs. thickness; the inspector should invoke the
coating manufacturer’s written limit only.
D. SSPC-SP 10 supersedes ISO 8501-1 on U.S. projects; therefore the profile is
acceptable.
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: ISO 8501-1 Annex B (2023 ed.) cautions that Sa 2½ on steel < 3 mm should
not exceed 50 µm to avoid burn-through. SSPC-SP 10 is silent on thickness, so the more
restrictive clause applies (NACE SP0178-2021 §4.3). Distractors: A ignores ISO; C is
,incorrect—standards are not silent; D misapplies precedence rules (project spec listed
both, so both apply).
Q 2 (Calculation)
A specification requires a 125 µm (5 mil) dry-film thickness (DFT) with 2-coat epoxy
system. The theoretical spreading rate (TSR) of the primer is 8.0 m²/L at 75 µm. What is
the minimum volume of primer required for 1,000 m² at the specified 75 µm?
A. 100 L
B. 125 L
C. 133 L
D. 150 L
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: Volume = Area / TSR = 1,000 m² / 8.0 m²/L = 125 L (ASTM D5163-22, §6.2).
No loss factor applied—question asks “theoretical.”
Q3
The contractor proposes using power-tool cleaning to SSPC-SP 11 instead of
abrasive-blast SP 10. The specification is silent on SP 11. Per NACE SP0178-2021 the
inspector should:
A. Approve—SP 11 provides a 25 µm profile equal to SP 10.
B. Reject—SP 11 does not produce the required 75 µm profile cited for SP 10.
,C. Request written approval from the specifier; SP 11 and SP 10 are not interchangeable
without consent.
D. Allow if surface-tolerance test (ASTM D4541) exceeds 3.5 MPa.
Verified Answer: C
Rationale: SP 11 can produce profile but cleanliness and visual standards differ;
substitution requires written specifier approval (NACE SP0178 §5.2). Distractors: A is
false—SP 11 profile is typically 13–40 µm; B is speculative—profile requirement must be
in spec; D is a performance test, not a substitute for standard compliance.
Q4
A pipeline spec invokes NACE RP0188-2021 for holiday detection. Which maximum
voltage is permissible for a 500 µm (20 mil) fusion-bonded epoxy (dielectric constant 4)
on a 12 in. line?
A. 1,200 V
B. 1,700 V
C. 2,200 V
D. 2,700 V
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: RP0188 Eq. 4: V = √(1294 × t) where t = mil → √(1294 × 20) ≈ 1,610 V; nearest
listed option 1,700 V (rounded up per §7.3). Using metric: 0.5 mm → 5 kV/mm × 0.5 =
2.5 kV upper; still 1.7 kV acceptable.
, Q5
SSPC-PA 2 (2021) Type 2 gauge is used to verify DFT on a 3-coat marine system. The
spec demands any 10 m² area must have ≥ 90% of measurements ≥ specified DFT. The
inspector takes 15 spot measurements (3 per 10 m²). Maximum allowable number of
below-spec readings is:
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
Verified Answer: B
Rationale: 90% of 15 = 13.5 → minimum 14 readings ≥ spec; therefore ≤ 1 reading may
be below (SSPC-PA 2 §5.4.2).
Q6
A spec excerpt requires “surface salts ≤ 8 µg/cm² chloride as per ISO 8502-6/9.” Field
test shows 12 µg/cm². Per NACE SP0718-2020 the inspector should:
A. Allow coating if flash-rust grade is ≤ B.
B. Require fresh-water wash until ≤ 8 µg/cm².
C. Document as deviation; salts acceptable up to 15 µg/cm² for epoxy mastic.
D. Increase blast profile to compensate.
Verified Answer: B
