Dear CIP Participant,

We look forward to welcoming you to CIP Level 1. NACE CIP courses are intensive, and cover many subjects. Some participants have requested that they be given some notice of the subject areas, and some guidelines for study prior to arrival. We recommend that you do some preparation work before your course begins, and have the following suggestions to make. Of course, some people have more time than others, so you may not be able to work your way through this entire list. For that reason, the recommendations are set out in order of priority. If you can study only one subject, make it the first on the list; two subjects, make them the first two on the list, and so on.

Students should also be aware that there are strict lab day dress code requirements for this NACE course. All students should read and be prepared to follow the Lab Day Dress Code Requirements.

Preparation Recommendations

(1) Identify the ethical stance of the CIP Program and the code of practice that you will be committing to follow as a member of CIP. Review the following:

• NACE Coating Inspectors' Attestation (PDF 38 KB)
• NACE Coating Inspectors' Code of Conduct (PDF 10 KB)

(2) To introduce you to the Student Manual for CIP Level 1, read the following:

• CIP Level 1 Table of Contents (PDF 1.0 MG)
• NACE CIP Chapter 1.1, Introduction (PDF 902 KB)
• NACE CIP Chapter 1.2, Corrosion and Corrosion Control (PDF 1.4 MG)

(3) Establish familiarity with non-destructive test instruments.

• Read the Non-Destructive Test Instrument Overview. (PDF 960 KB)

(4) Establish familiarity with practical mathematics to be used during the course.

• Complete the exercises in the Math Review. (PDF 144 KB)

(5) Establish familiarity with key industry terminology.

• Read the Glossary of Coatings Terms. (PDF 23 KB)
• Most coatings manufacturers have product Technical Data Sheets and Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) posted on their Web sites. Try to obtain and study Technical Data sheets and MSDS. Ensure that you understand the terms that are used.

Further Suggested Reading

The following are excellent reference materials for anyone planning to take CIP Level 1. Students are not expected to purchase these materials. However, if you have access to any of these materials we encourage you to review them.

• NACE Standard RP0188 (latest revision), 'Discontinuity (Holiday) Testing of New Protective Coatings on Conductive Substrates'
• NACE Standard RP0178 (latest revision), 'Fabrication Details, Surface Finish Requirements, and Proper Design Considerations for Tanks and Vessels to Be Lined for Immersion Service'
• NACE No. 1/SSPC-SP 5 (latest revision), 'White Metal Blast Cleaning'
• NACE No. 2/SSPC-SP 10 (latest revision), 'Near-White Metal Blast Cleaning'
• NACE No. 3/SSPC-SP 6 (latest revision), 'Commercial Blast Cleaning'
• NACE No. 4/SSPC-SP 7 (latest revision), 'Brush-Off Blast Cleaning'
• SSPC-VIS 1 (latest revision), 'Guide and Reference Photographs for Steel Surfaces Prepared by Dry Abrasive Blast Cleaning'
• SSPC-VIS 3 (latest revision), 'Guide and Reference Photographs for Steel Surfaces Prepared by Hand and Power Tool Cleaning'
• SSPC-PA 2 (latest revision), 'Measurement of Dry Coating Thickness with Magnetic Gages'
• ISO 8504-2 (latest revision), 'Preparation of Steel Substrates Before Application of Paints and Related Products?Surface Preparation Methods?Part 2: Abrasive Blast Cleaning'
• ASTM D 4417 (latest revision), 'Standard Test Methods for Field Measurement of Surface Profile of Blast Cleaned Steel'
• ASTM E 337 (latest revision), 'Standard Test Method for Measuring Humidity with a Psychrometer (the Measurement of Wet- and Dry-Bulb Temperatures)'
• ASTM D 4414 (latest revision), 'Standard Practice for Measurement of Wet Film Thickness by Notch Gages'
• The Protective Coating User's Handbook, by Dr. Louis D. Vincent