SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC) is a professional association for the industry. It was founded in 1950 as the Steel Structures Painting Council, a non-profit association concerned with the use of coatings to protect steel structures such as bridges, ships, water tanks, and locks and dams. Since the original mission of the organization evolved over the years to include structures built with materials other than steel (concrete, composite materials, etc.), the name was changed in 1997 to SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings. The organization was originally affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University but is now independent.