A WAB-cleaned surface is one prepared by combining water and abrasive in a blast cleaning operation by one of several methods, which include: 1) injection of water into the abrasive stream either internally or externally as the abrasive stream exits the blast nozzle; 2) injection of abrasive into pressurized water; or 3) use of an abrasive slurry under pressure to achieve the specified WAB degree of cleanliness.

This standard defines the Commercial Wet Abrasive Blast Cleaning (NACE WAB-3/SSPC-SP 6 [WAB]) degree of visible surface cleanliness of uncoated or coated steel surfaces achieved by the use of wet abrasive blast cleaning. The requirements include the end condition of the surface as determined by visual inspection, and materials and procedures used to achieve and verify the end condition.

This standard is limited to requirements for visible surface contaminants. Additional information on nonvisible contamination is provided in Paragraph A2 of Appendix A. Additional information on soluble salt testing is provided in SSPCGuide 15.