Invisible contaminants like soluble salts can cause coatings to fail prematurely, even on a freshly blasted surface. Chlorides, sulfates, and other residues draw moisture through the coating, leading to blistering, rust, and costly rework. Our Surface Contamination Risk Calculator evaluates the likelihood of contamination based on environmental conditions, abrasive source, and blasting method. Use it to identify high-risk situations, determine when salt testing is necessary, and plan effective remediation steps—so your surface prep meets industry standards and your coatings perform as intended.
Surface Contamination Risk Calculator
SURFACE CONTAMINATION RISK CALCULATOR
Inputs
Assessment
Recommendation
Thresholds used
ISO 8502-6/9 (Bresle), SSPC-SP 12/NACE 5 (water cleaning), SSPC Guide 15 (soluble salts), AMPP/legacy NACE practices.
Interpretation & notes
• Abrasives: beach sand and unwashed slags are usual contamination suspects; modern washed garnet/slag and recyclable steel grit trend low.
• Wet blasting without verified clean water can add salts; RO/DI is preferred near the coast.
• Deep pits can hide ions; blast-clean steel can re-bloom salts later. Always recheck before coating if the window is long or humidity is high.

