Corrosion in sprinkler system piping can be a costly problem if leaks occur, causing damage to the interior of a structure, according to Matt Klaus, Principal Fire Protection Engineer with the National Fire Protection Association.
Replacing piping is no small expense, either. Corrosion can also cause blockages in the piping network, which can lead to an ineffective sprinkler system during a fire.
Corrosion can take on many forms, including oxidation, microbiologically influenced corrosion, and galvanic corrosion. The technical committees responsible for NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems, have been looking at ways to eliminate or reduce corrosion in sprinkler systems for several revision cycles.
Reducing corrosion in dry systems can be achieved by eliminating all of the water from these systems after testing/activation and using alternative gases like nitrogen for charging these systems. For wet systems, limiting the amount of air in the system is the goal. Air trapped in pressurized sprinkler system piping results in an increase in the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the piping, enabling corrosion. Venting the trapped air in a wet system reduces this problem, so a revision to the wet system sprinkler system standard requires that a single air vent be installed for each system.
Depending upon the building geometry and sprinkler design, it is possible to trap air in many locations in the system, meaning a single vent may not be effective. Therefore, some stakeholders believe that the requirement adds cost to the property owner and the design team without any assurance that there is a long-term benefit to the system.
Related Stories
| Nov 26, 2014
Cheyenne, Wyoming City Council kills downtown design standards proposal
The Cheyenne, Wyoming City Council voted down a measure that would have implemented design standards for new construction and building additions downtown.
| Nov 26, 2014
ASTM International develops first product category rules for asphalt roofing industry
The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) and ASTM International have developed Product Category Rules (PCR) for asphalt roofing in North America.
| Nov 26, 2014
International Green Construction Code will include option for outcome-based approach
The outcome-based approach requires the building owner to provide the building’s utility bills for a 12-month period within three years.
| Nov 20, 2014
Pentagon is reviewing hospital construction standards
An independent review panel of military specialists met with healthcare leaders Nov. 12 to consider whether construction standards for medical centers should be strengthened to align with industry best practices.
| Nov 20, 2014
ConsensusDocs releases first standard agreement for commissioning contracting
The new standard contract provides a contractual vehicle for owners to save significant money from operation and maintenance costs regarding energy performance.
| Nov 20, 2014
Revamped zoning is transforming several New Jersey downtowns
The zoning policy shift could produce the biggest transformation of North New Jersey’s downtowns since the arrival of malls pulled shoppers away from town centers in the 1960s and 1970s.
| Nov 20, 2014
ANSI approves 2015 Wood-Frame Construction Manual standard
The American Wood Council's 2015 “Wood-Frame Construction Manual for One- and Two-Family Dwellings” (WFCM ) has been approved as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
| Nov 17, 2014
AAMA releases new blast hazard mitigation specifications for vertical fenestration systems
This document provides a guide for manufacturers, architects/specifiers, contractors, and building owners for specifying types of systems and services to meet the requirements of blast hazard mitigation.
| Nov 17, 2014
National Roofing Contractors Assn. offers guide for LEED v4 provisions
National Roofing Contractors Association has released LEED v4: Roofing-related Provisions, a document that examines the roofing-related provisions of LEED v4.
| Nov 14, 2014
Army net-zero initiative moving past pilot stage
The U.S Army's ambitious net-zero initiative has had several successful pilot trials, and planners are prepared to expand the nine-part demonstration field to scores of other Army facilities.