This joint standard covers the use of blast cleaning abrasives to achieve a defined degree of cleaning of steel surfaces prior to the application of a protective coating or lining system. This standard is intended for use by coating or lining specifiers, applicators, inspectors, or others whose responsibility it may be to define a standard degree of surface cleanliness.

The focus of this standard is industrial blast cleaning. White metal blast cleaning, near-white metal blast cleaning, commercial blast cleaning, and brush-off blast cleaning are addressed in separate standards.