NACE International was the world’s leading corrosion engineering organisation for more than seven decades before merging with SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings in January 2021 to form AMPP — the Association for Materials Protection and Performance. For terminal operators, pipeline engineers, and HSE managers, the practical effect is straightforward: the NACE certifications and standards that have governed corrosion control and coating inspection on aboveground storage tanks, pipelines, and marine infrastructure for decades now sit under the AMPP umbrella, with new AMPP credentials progressively replacing the legacy NACE designations.
From NACE International to AMPP: The 2021 Merger
NACE International was founded in 1943 as the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, growing from a small group of pipeline corrosion professionals in Houston into a global organisation spanning oil and gas, marine, water, power, and infrastructure sectors. SSPC — originally the Steel Structures Painting Council, founded in 1950 — was the parallel authority on protective coatings and surface preparation, particularly for structural steel.
AMPP launched on 6 January 2021, bringing together more than 145 combined years of corrosion control and protective coatings expertise from NACE International and SSPC. Today, AMPP is active in more than 130 countries and has more than 40,000 members. The combined organisation operates two governance structures: AMPP as a 501(c)(6) trade association, and AMPP Global Center as a 501(c)(3) focused on standards development, technical research, training, and conferences.
AMPP is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with an additional office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and further offices in the UK, China, Malaysia, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, plus a training centre in Dubai. Annual revenue stands at approximately $49.2 million, with around 194 employees.
NACE Certifications: What Terminal Operators Need to Know
For the tank storage and terminal sector, the most operationally significant certifications issued under the NACE International / AMPP system are the Coating Inspector Program (CIP) and the Cathodic Protection (CP) certification series. Both are widely specified by terminal operators and EPC contractors in project tender documents and inspection service agreements.
The CIP programme runs across three levels. The Basic Coatings Inspector (CIP Level 1) provides foundational knowledge of coating materials, surface preparation, application techniques, and inspection testing. The Certified Coatings Inspector (CIP Level 2) covers advanced inspection techniques including non-destructive and destructive testing on various substrates. The Senior Certified Coatings Inspector (CIP Level 3) is for experienced inspectors covering comprehensive aspects of coating inspection and field leadership. Each level requires both a practical examination and a computer-based test administered via Pearson VUE, with recertification required every three years.
The Cathodic Protection series — CP1 through CP4 — covers tester, technician, technologist, and specialist levels, addressing the cathodic protection systems installed on storage tank bottoms and buried pipelines. Both certification families are directly relevant to the tank coating companies and inspection contractors that work across the global terminal sector. AMPP certifications are now replacing legacy NACE credentials as the specified standard, though the transition period means both designations remain in active use on contracts and procurement documents.
AMPP Standards for Aboveground Storage Tanks
NACE/AMPP standards form a parallel framework to API standards for corrosion control on storage tanks — where API 653 governs inspection intervals and structural integrity, NACE standards govern the corrosion prevention and coating systems that determine how long a tank can remain in service between inspections.
Key standards directly applicable to terminal operations include SP0193, covering external cathodic protection of on-grade carbon steel storage tank bottoms; SP0188, addressing holiday testing of new protective coatings on conductive substrates; and SP0288, covering inspection of lining application in steel and concrete equipment. These standards are referenced by tank operators specifying coating systems for new builds and by inspection contractors carrying out internal lining inspections on tanks coming out of service. For the equipment manufacturers supplying tank components requiring corrosion-resistant coatings or cathodic protection systems, AMPP certification and standards compliance is frequently a contractual prerequisite.
AMPP also maintains SP0294, covering design, fabrication, and inspection of storage tank systems for concentrated sulfuric acid — a standard particularly relevant for chemical storage terminals handling aggressive liquid cargoes.
AMPP and the Steel Tank Institute: Parallel Standards Bodies
AMPP operates alongside — not in competition with — other tank standards bodies. The Steel Tank Institute (STI/SPFA) focuses on fabrication standards and quality programmes for steel tank manufacturers, while AMPP’s remit covers the corrosion control, coating inspection, and materials performance work that follows fabrication through the full asset lifecycle. In practice, tank construction projects typically require compliance with both: STI fabrication standards during manufacture and NACE/AMPP coating and cathodic protection standards during construction, commissioning, and ongoing inspection.
The AMPP Annual Conference and Expo — historically known as CORROSION, the NACE annual event — remains the largest gathering in the corrosion and coatings calendar, with the 2026 edition producing proceedings now available to registered attendees. AMPP also runs the Middle East Corrosion Conference and regional events including the AMPP Gulf Coast Conference and Alberta Conference, reflecting the geographic concentration of its core membership in oil and gas producing regions.
Relevance to the Tank Terminal Sector
Corrosion is the primary mechanism driving tank inspection intervals, repair costs, and ultimately asset retirement decisions. For a typical 10,000-cubic-metre crude oil storage tank, coating failure on the floor and lower shell can reduce the inspection interval under API 653 from ten years to two or three, with internal inspection costs running into six figures per event. The business case for correctly specifying and applying AMPP-compliant coating systems — and employing AMPP-certified inspectors to verify that application — is therefore measured in avoided inspection and repair expenditure rather than compliance alone.
Terminal operators procuring inspection services routinely specify AMPP CIP Level 2 or Level 3 as a minimum qualification for coating inspectors on internal tank lining work. Pipeline integrity programmes specify AMPP CP Technologist or Specialist for cathodic protection survey work. As corrosion-related regulation tightens under EPA, HSE, and national environmental frameworks, demand for qualified AMPP-certified personnel across the upstream, midstream, and downstream storage sectors continues to grow.
Organisation Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) |
| Formerly | NACE International (est. 1943) + SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings (est. 1950) |
| Merger date | 6 January 2021 |
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas, USA (+ Pittsburgh, PA) |
| International offices | UK, China, Malaysia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia; training centre in Dubai |
| Members | 40,000+ in 130+ countries |
| Annual revenue | ~$49.2 million |
| Employees | ~194 |
| Key certifications | CIP Level 1–3 (Coating Inspector), CP1–CP4 (Cathodic Protection), Senior Corrosion Technologist |
| Key tank storage standards | SP0193, SP0188, SP0288, SP0285, SP0294 |
| Annual conference | AMPP Annual Conference + Expo (formerly CORROSION / NACE) |
| Website | ampp.org |
What is the AMPP Coating Inspector Program and why does it matter for tank terminals?
The AMPP Coating Inspector Program (CIP) offers three certification levels — Basic (Level 1), Certified (Level 2), and Senior Certified (Level 3). These credentials are widely specified by terminal operators and EPC contractors for inspectors carrying out internal tank lining inspections, surface preparation verification, and coating application quality control. CIP Level 2 or Level 3 is a standard minimum qualification requirement on internal tank inspection contracts across the global terminal sector.
What NACE/AMPP standards apply to aboveground storage tanks?
Key AMPP standards for aboveground storage tanks include SP0193 (external cathodic protection of on-grade carbon steel tank bottoms), SP0188 (holiday testing of new protective coatings), SP0288 (inspection of lining application in steel and concrete equipment), and SP0285 (cathodic protection of underground storage tank systems). These standards govern corrosion prevention and coating systems and are referenced alongside API 653 on tank inspection and repair projects.
How large is AMPP?
AMPP has more than 40,000 members in over 130 countries and generates annual revenue of approximately $49.2 million with around 194 employees. It operates from primary offices in Houston and Pittsburgh, with additional offices in the UK, China, Malaysia, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, and a training centre in Dubai.
What is the difference between AMPP and the Steel Tank Institute?
The Steel Tank Institute (STI/SPFA) sets fabrication standards and quality programmes for steel tank manufacturers. AMPP covers corrosion control, coating inspection, and materials performance across the full asset lifecycle — from construction through ongoing inspection and maintenance. Most tank projects require compliance with both: STI standards during manufacture, and NACE/AMPP standards during coating application, cathodic protection installation, and periodic inspection.