Which cleaning method is described by SSPC-SP2?

The cleaning method described by SSPC-SP2 is known as "Hand Tool Cleaning." This method involves the use of hand-held tools to remove loose rust, loose mill scale, and old coating materials from steel surfaces. The objective is to prepare the substrate for further coating processes. Hand tool cleaning is commonly used when a more manual approach is needed, especially in areas that are difficult to reach or where blasting may not be practical. It is less aggressive than other methods, such as blasting, ensuring a degree of surface integrity is maintained while still effectively preparing the surface for coating applications.

Recognizing the other cleaning methods, solvent cleaning involves the use of solvents to remove grease and oil, but does not focus on rust or scale removal to the extent defined by SSPC-SP2. "Very thorough blast cleaning" and "light blast cleaning" refer to different levels of abrasive blasting and are classified under other SSPC standards that are more extensive than hand tool cleaning, focusing on mechanical surface preparation rather than manual methods.