Stainless steel pipes are used because of their corrosion resistance in a wide variety of service environments, usually without additional coatings. In certain circumstances, however, stainless steel components or structures may require a coated (paint) finish. Examples of this may include company colour schemes or logos, environmental blending and compatibility, and general aesthetic requirements.

Coating systems for stainless steels must be carefully selected to provide sufficient durability to meet the requirements of the service environment and its associated operating conditions. The combination of surface preparation and formulation of the paint system are key factors in meeting these objectives. In certain environments, localised breakdown of the coating can lead to corrosion, which may be more severe than that experienced with un-coated surfaces and may result in high, localised, rates of attack.

In general, stainless steels have flatter and smoother surfaces than carbon steels. This applies particularly to thin cold-rolled products (sheet and coil) and may adversely affect adhesion between the metal surface and the coating system. Roughening of stainless steel surfaces prior to coating is essential and can usually be achieved by abrasive blasting, light hand abrasion or chemical etching.