SSPC-QP 7
May 1, 2003
SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings
QUALIFICATION PROCEDURE NO. 7
Procedure for Evaluating Painting Contractors With
Limited Industrial Work Experience
1. Scope
1.1 The procedure describes a method for evaluating the
qualifications of field painting contracting firms with less than 6
months industrial painting experience. The procedure defines
minimum requirements for this qualification.
1.2 The procedure determines if a painting contractor
has the personnel, organization, qualifications, procedures,
and knowledge to perform surface preparation and coating
application of the required quality for complex steel structures
under the conditions and restrictions specified by the owner.
1.3 The procedure encompasses assessment of resources
to perform field application of coatings in the industrial market.
Specialty applications, such as lining materials, bituminous
products, galvanizing, metallizing, etc., are not covered by the
requirements of this standard procedure.
1.4 Meeting the requirements of this special qualification
program is not equivalent to SSPC certification (e.g., QP 1 or
QP 2). Firms meeting requirements of this procedure have
not been observed by a qualified auditor performing coating
operations in the field on a complex steel structure project.
1.5 This procedure qualifies contractors only for contracts
that are specifically designated by owners or their represen-
tatives as being open to bids from contractors who meet the
requirements described below.
2. Description and Use
2.1 DEFINITIONS:
Auditor: The person possessing the necessary technical
competence to review contractors’ submittals, conduct on-
site audits of contractors, and report results to the qualifying
agency (henceforth SSPC) in compliance with the requirements
of this procedure and the written requirements of the formal
audit program.
Competent Person: One who is capable of identifying exist-
ing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working
conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to
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employees, the public, and the environment, and who has
authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate
them. OSHA requires a competent person on-site during ex-
posure-producing operations.
Painting Contractor: An individual or firm whose primary
business is providing surface preparation and coating appli-
cation services in the industrial, marine, or heavy commercial
markets.
Qualifying Agency: The body responsible for development,
maintenance, and operation of the program to ensure uniform
compliance with the provisions of this procedure. In this pro-
cedure SSPC is the qualifying agency.
Qualification: The procedure by which written assurance
is given that a contractor conforms to the prescribed set of
conditions or requirements of this procedure.
Procedure: The sequence of steps taken to carry out a par-
ticular course of action.
2.2 USAGE: The qualification procedure may be used by
a residential, commercial, or light industrial contractor desiring
to enter the heavy industrial market and/or to become qualified
to SSPC-QP 1 and QP 2.
2.3 FUNCTIONS TO BE EVALUATED: The procedure
identifies five function areas to be evaluated depending upon
the qualification category sought: Management Procedures;
Technical Procedures; Quality Control Procedures; Personnel
Qualifications; Safety, Health and Environmental Compliance
Programs; including proper handling and disposal of hazardous
waste. General requirements for each of these function areas
are presented in Section 3.
2.4 EVALUATION PLANNING: SSPC must develop criteria
or rating plans to evaluate each contractor against this standard.
SSPC shall also determine which of the specific critical items
within the five function areas are to be evaluated for subsequent
follow-up or evaluation, ensuring the items evaluated are the
same for all contractors. The sequence of steps for conducting
an evaluation within this program is outlined in Section 5. The
auditor will perform the evaluation, in each instance.
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May 1, 2003
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3. Referenced Standards
3.1 The latest issue, revision, or amendment of the stan-
dards shall govern, unless otherwise specified.
3.2 SSPC STANDARDS
SSPC Guide 7 Guide for the Disposal of Lead-
Contaminated Surface Preparation
Debris
SSPC-QP 1 Standard Procedure for Painting
Contractors (Field Application to
Complex Industrial Structures)
SSPC-QP 2 Standard Procedure for Evaluat-
ing the Qualifications of Painting
Contractors to Remove Hazardous
Paint
General Qualification Requirements
4.1 QUALIFICATION CATEGORIES: This procedure
defines two qualification categories: Category 1–Surface
Preparation and Coating Application and Category 2– Hazard-
ous Paint Removal in Conjunction with Coating Operations.
4.1.1 Firms seeking qualification under Category 1 shall
meet all the requirements of Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5.1, 4.5.4,
4.5.5, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.6.4 and 4.6.6.
4.1.2 Firms seeking qualification under Category 2 (Hazard-
ous Paint Removal) shall meet all the requirements of Category
1 plus those of Sections 4.5.2, 4.5.3, 4.6.3, and 4.6.5.
4.2 MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES: The applicant must
demonstrate adequate procedures for disseminating company
policy and for personnel, administrative and financial manage-
ment as follows:
4.2.1 Contractor Policy: The contractor shall have:
a. Written policies on quality, safety and health, and
environmental compliance.
b. Written procedures for disseminating company poli-
cies to personnel within the organization.
4.2.2 Organization and Personnel: The contractor shall
have:
a. An organizational chart showing division of respon-
sibility within the company.
b. A list of names, titles, duties, and job descriptions
for key personnel (management, technical, quality
control, safety, health and environmental compli-
ance). Each job description shall state the experience,
licenses, certifications and training, and refresher
courses required for each position.
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4.2.3 Administrative and Management Procedures:
The contractor shall provide:
a. A brief, written description of the contractor’s method
of financial record keeping.
b. Procedures used for contract estimating and schedul-
ing, and for keeping track of job costs.
c. Procedures used to review specifications and other
bid documents.
d. Formal procedures for learning about and meeting
current federal, state, and local environmental, health,
and safety regulations.
4.3 TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE: The contractor shall
have adequate technical resources, suitable job conversion
procedures, and appropriate equipment and facilities to perform
work. The contractor shall provide the following:
4.3.2 Technical Resources:
a. A list of technical societies, trade associations, other
industry groups, or Internet resources utilized by the
contractor to keep abreast of technology develop-
ments.
b. Verification that the company maintains a library of
current SSPC and other technical standards ap-
propriate for types of work the contractor intends to
compete for and obtain.
4.3.3 Procedures: Formal procedures, which are used
to convert job specifications into field work orders, job plans,
etc., including procedures for:
a. Logging receipt of specifications and revisions and
recording who gets copies, as well as removing ob-
solete or superseded documents from active files.
b. Documenting communication that notes exceptions
to specifications or other clarifications.
c. Communicating specification requirements to site-
based personnel.
d. Quality assurance programs (where used). Work
procedures should specifically define quality control
methods and criteria.
e. Safety, health and environmental compliance pro-
grams.
4.3.4 Equipment and Facilities:
a. List of contractor-owned or leased equipment.
b. Formal description of maintenance and repair proce-
dures utilized for equipment, including repair logs.
4.4. QUALITY CONTROL: The contractor must demon-
strate that it has proper inspection and recording procedures
for job quality control.
4.4.1 Inspection Procedures and Recording Systems:
The contractor must demonstrate the following:

a. That standards and specifications for coating inspec-
tion work are available to QC personnel.
b. That a system for maintaining and filing in-process
inspection reports exists.
c. That inspection equipment and calibration standards
and procedures are available.
d. That procedures for on-site quality control personnel
to stop non-conforming work exist.
e. That procedures for verifying proper coating applica-
tion have been established.
f. That procedures exist for site personnel to ensure
that each major operation (e.g., surface prepara-
tion, primer, intermediate and topcoat application) is
inspected, if a site specific inspection or quality plan
is not specified by the facility owner.
4.5 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS
4.5.1 Quality Control Supervisor: At a minimum, the
designated Quality Control Supervisor must:
a. Have successfully completed formal training programs
in quality control and inspection procedures from a
training provider approved by SSPC, and
b. Have a minimum of 3-5 years varied coatings industry
experience.
4.5.2 Competent Persons: Evidence or documentation
shall be furnished that the competent person shall have had
at least 32 hours training (SSPC C-3 course or equivalent).
4.5.2.1 Evidence or documentation shall be furnished that
the competent person shall have had:
a. A minimum of two years industrial painting field ex-
perience.
b. Experience in safety practices relevant to industrial
painting.
c. Experience in waste handling procedures relevant to
industrial painting
d. Experience in environmental monitoring relevant to
industrial painting.
4.5.3 Safety Coordinator: At a minimum, the safety co-
ordinator must have a minimum of 40 hours of training by an
approved training provider in industrial hygiene and safety. This
person may be on the contractor’s staff, or the contractor may
utilize the services of an industrial hygiene or safety profes-
sional with knowledge of hazardous coating removal operations.
The safety coordinator is to be available for consultation on
compliance issues as they arise. Since the competent person
is required to be on site to implement all compliance activities,
it is not necessary for the safety coordinator to be on site at
all times. However, the safety coordinator should be available
for consultation as needed.
4.5.4 Quality Control Inspectors: Requirements for des-
ignated quality control inspectors are defined. At a minimum,
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May 1, 2003
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inspectors employed by the contractor must have formal training
in quality control and inspection procedures and at least two
years experience in the industrial painting industry.
4.5.5 Craftspersons: The contractor shall provide evi-
dence of:
a. A program to ensure that persons hired to perform
surface preparation and coating application are
qualified. Training, if necessary, must be available to
and utilized by qualified workers, including training
required to meet regulatory requirements.
b. A method for monitoring proficiency of workers per-
forming surface preparation and coating application
and relevant documentation exists.
4.6 SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM: The contractor
must possess a written safety and health program in confor-
mance with US OSHA Safety & Health (29 CFR Part 1926)
or equivalent Canadian or Mexican regulations applicable to
industrial painting operations; have provisions to maintain
safety records; and provide access to safety resource material
as follows:
4.6.1 Safety Procedures and Record-Keeping Sys-
tems:
a. Document all safety education meetings and related
activities.
b. Have a formal procedure for conducting pre-job safety
or hazard analysis.
c. Hold and document pre-job safety meetings.
d. Report accidents in accordance with regulations.
e. Have a formal procedure for determining the profi-
ciency of the safety and loss control program.
f. Have formal safety procedures and training for op-
erating specialized equipment.
g. Have adequate personal protective equipment and an
established, formal system to check the effectiveness
and maintenance of the equipment.
h. Have a procedure to ensure that available employ-
ees trained in first aid are on all sites where work is
performed on complex structures.
i. A procedure to keep records of non-compliance with
federal, state, and local regulations, and documenta-
tion that corrective actions are taken to avoid repeat
violations.
4.6.2 Resource Materials:
a. Maintain a list of available safety resource materi-
als.
b. Operate a formal procedure for acquiring safety
information and materials.
c. Operate a formal procedure to ensure that safety
information and materials referenced in submittals
are available to on-site personnel.
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May 1, 2003
Editorial Revisions November 1, 2004
4.6.3 Environmental Compliance Plan: The contrac-
tor shall have a written plan to protect the environment from
hazardous coating debris generated at the job site. This plan,
shall include, at a minimum:
a. An environmental protection plan detailing how the
contractor will control discharges to air, soil, and
water.
b. A hazardous waste materials management and
disposal plan. (See SSPC-Guide 7 and 40 CFR, sub-
chapter 1, Solid Wastes, Parts 260-263 and 268).
4.6.4 The contractor’s written safety, health, and environ-
mental compliance programs must be reviewed and formally
approved in writing by a recognized industrial hygiene (i.e. CIH)
or safety professional (i.e. CSP), and by the firm’s executive
management.
4.6.5 Monitoring Plan: The contractor shall have a writ-
ten procedure specifying criteria for monitoring emissions
of hazardous substances and a resulting action plan for the
competent person overseeing deleading or other hazardous
paint removal operations. The plan shall require the competent
person to be on site at all times (unless otherwise authorized)
during operations resulting in exposure to hazardous sub-
stances. Instructions shall require this person, without regard for
production pressures, to stop non-conforming operations (i.e.,
work that deviates from the safety, health, and environmental
compliance programs). This procedure shall also provide for a
qualified back up person in the event the oversight or competent
person is absent from the job site during exposure producing
operations.
4.6.6 The contractor shall have procedures and policies
in place to ensure that the contractor’s worker safety, health,
and environmental compliance plans are enforced.
5. Evaluation Sequence
5.1 SUBMITTAL OF WRITTEN APPLICATION PACK-
AGE: The initial step is to request an application form and
instructions. The request, along with an application fee must
be submitted to the qualifying agency.
The application process involves gathering required
information about the contractor or shop as described in the
application form. This information and documentation will be
submitted to the qualifying agency at the same time as the
formal application for qualification.
5.2 REVIEW OF APPLICATION PACKAGE: The contrac-
tor’s application package is reviewed by the qualifying agency
using guidelines for evaluation that have been established by
that agency. The evaluation items are based on Sections 4
and 5 of this document.
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5.3 ON-SITE AUDIT OF CONTRACTOR: Subject to
satisfactory evaluation of the application package referred
to Sections 4 and 5 and on a date mutually agreed upon by
the contractor and the qualifying agency (unless the audit
is unannouced), the qualifying agency’s auditor will visit the
contractor’s premises and complex structure job site where
surface preparation and coating application is being performed
to investigate and rate the following areas directly and indirectly
affecting quality of work provided: Management Procedures;
Technical Capabilities; Quality Control; and Safety and Health.
The auditor will perform the following:
• Confirm data submitted with the application for
qualification.
• Conduct interviews with key supervisory personnel
and some subordinate employees.
• Observe and rate the organization and operation,
including management procedures, technical capabili-
ties, quality control, and safety and health programs
and procedures.
• Examine and rate equipment and facilities.
The on-site audit will usually require from one to three days
to complete.
5.4 EXIT INTERVIEW: Following the site audit, and be-
fore the auditor leaves the site, an exit interview will be held.
At the exit interview, the auditor will review observations and
the evaluation with the contractor, including discussions of
deficiencies and omissions, if any. A written list of deficiencies
and omissions will be provided to the site supervisor, who will
be asked to confirm receipt of the list. Every attempt will be
made by the auditor during the exit interview to fully explain
how the evaluation was conducted.
5.5 EVALUATION OF APPLICATION AND DETERMINA-
TION OF STATUS: At the conclusion of the evaluation process,
the auditor will report the findings to the qualifying agency,
which will make the final decision regarding applicant status
based on the following options:
5.5.1 Qualify: The auditor has determined that the con-
tractor has met or exceeded the requirements of Sections 4
and 5 above. The qualifying agency will make final determina-
tion of the contractor’s qualification status based on the audit
results and disciplinary or other evaluation criteria defined in
the application materials. Upon review of all information, the
qualifying agency will issue a certificate identifying the contrac-
tor by name and by location of the contractor’s home office.
Subsequent annual reconfirmation is subject to the qualifying
agency’s requirements.
5.5.2 Withhold Qualification: Based on audit results and
other factors, the qualifying agency has determined that the
contractor or shop has not met the requirements of Sections 4
and 5 above. If qualification is withheld, the qualifying agency
shall submit to the contractor or shop an itemization of deficien-

cies that resulted in the decision to withhold qualification. The
contractor or shop will be allowed 90 days after notification to
submit corrective actions, and request an audit to verify that
corrective actions have been implemented as stated by the
contractor or shop.
5.6 METHOD OF APPEAL: If a contractor disputes the
qualifying agency’s decision, the contractor may appeal, utiliz-
ing the following steps of recourse:
• The contractor shall notify the qualifying agency within
10 working days after notification of audit results,
identifying the specific reasons for the appeal.
• The contractor may arrange with the qualifying agency
to have a second independent auditor acceptable to
both parties brought in at the contractor’s expense to
inspect and re-evaluate the contractor for compliance
with the standard’s requirements.
• In the event the foregoing step fails to resolve the
dispute, a mutually agreed-upon arbitration panel
consisting of three persons (one person chosen by
the contractor, one by SSPC, and one agreed upon
by both parties) with expertise in protective coating
operations will convene to hear evidence and make
a final decision. If the arbitration panel finds for the
contractor, the cost of all fees and expenses of the
arbitration will be shared by the contractor and the
qualifying agency. If the arbitration panel does not find
for the contractor, the contractor will be responsible
for payment of all fees and expenses. Any other costs
incurred by any party to the dispute will be borne by
that party.
5.7 RECONFIRMATION OF QUALIFICATION:
5.7.1 Internal Audit: The contractor shall at his own ex-
pense perform an annual internal audit, based on the require-
ments of Sections 4 and 5 above, following initial qualification.
The results of this internal audit will be forwarded to the qualifying
agency, with a copy retained on file by the contractor or shop,
and will be made available to the auditor upon request during
any announced or unannounced audits.
5.7.2 Reconfirmation of Qualification - Owner Com-
ments: Owners for whom the contractor performs work will be
given an opportunity to comment on the qualified contractor’s
performance by completing an owner comment form provided
by the qualifying agency. Comments will be in the form of replies
to specific questions asked of owners regarding performance on
specific jobs. All owner replies will be treated as confidential.
5.8 REVOCATION: Failure to satisfactorily complete the
annual internal audit or pass unannounced audit(s) or failure
to meet disciplinary or other evaluation criteria established by
the qualifying agency will be cause for suspension or revoca-
tion of certification.
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5.9. QUALIFICATION PERIOD: The qualifying agency
shall determine the time period for which qualification shall be
valid, and the requalification schedule during the qualification
period.
5.10 QUALIFYING AGENCY FILES: The qualifying agency
will maintain a list of certified contractors, as well as pertinent
information submitted by owners and users who have utilized
the contractor’s services. This information will assist in the
validation process during the certification term.
All information gathered will be used only for purposes
intended. Information determined to be proprietary in nature
will be treated as confidential.
5.11 QUALIFICATION PERIOD: This qualification is limited
to a one-time 18 consecutive calendar month period following
initial qualification or first eligible job site audit opportunity,
whichever comes first. Extensions beyond the 18 months
may be granted by SSPC for exceptional circumstances. No
extensions will be granted for more than 12 months after the
18-month eligibility period expires.
5.12 OBTAINING A PAINTING CONTRACT: Firms quali-
fied to this procedure who have bid and are awarded a painting
contract must notify SSPC within 10 working days of receiving
the contract award. SSPC will subsequently attempt to con-
duct a mandatory audit of that job site, at the firm’s expense,
to confirm implementation of the contractor’s quality program
in the field and thus the contractor’s possible eligibility for
SSPC certification. Failure to notify SSPC in a timely manner,
or coordinate with SSPC to arrange a visit to the job site in a
timely manner (i.e. while coating operations are in progress)
or pass the audit, will result in revocation of qualification to this
procedure.
5.13 SSPC FILES: SSPC will maintain a list of contractors
qualified to this procedure, as well as pertinent information sub-
mitted by owners and users who have utilized the contractor’s
services. This information will assist in the validation process
if the contractor applies for SSPC certification.
5.14 ELIGIBILITY STATUS: Contractors who achieve
SSPC certification status while qualified to this procedure lose
their qualification to this procedure. New companies affiliated
with formerly certified companies whose certifications have
been suspended or revoked as a result of disciplinary actions
defined in the PCCP Disciplinary Action Criteria (DAC) are
ineligible for qualification to this procedure. Contractors hav-
ing an owner, officer, partner, or key employee above the field
superintendent level who has held any of these positions within
another company that has applied to SSPC for any contractor
certification category within the previous 2 years are not eligible
for qualification to this procedure
5.15 CONFIDENTIALITY: All information gathered by
SSPC will be used only for purposes intended. Information
SSPC-QP 7
May 1, 2003
Editorial Revisions November 1, 2004

determined to be proprietary in nature will be treated as con-

fidential.

6. Disclaimer

6.1 While every precaution is taken to ensure that all infor-

mation furnished in SSPC guides, standards, and procedures
is as accurate, complete, and useful as possible, SSPC cannot
assume any responsibility, nor incur any obligation, resulting
from the use of any materials or methods specified therein, or
of the procedure itself.

6.2 This procedure does not attempt to address all problems

concerning safety and health associated with its use. The user
of this procedure, as well as the user of all products or prac-
tices described herein, is responsible for instituting appropriate
health and safety practices and for ensuring compliance with
all governmental regulations.

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