J. Henry Martin, PE, Henry Martin Consulting LLC, Metairie, La.

Specifying Products for Highly Corrosive Environments

The stakes are high when specifying products for highly corrosive environments. Beyond costly product failures, catastrophes can ensue, some even resulting in human harm. The total cost of corrosion in the United States has been estimated at approximately $276 billion/yr,1 a staggering figure that underscores the inherent economic dangers caused by improper product specification and resulting product failure. The corrosion costs for drinking water and sewer systems alone amounts to approximately $36 billion/yr (see Figure 1). Those who study corrosion and the dramatic implications of the damage it causes concur that: There is a misconception that nothing can be done about corrosion; to the contrary, the specification of optimum anticorrosive products provides opportunities for tremendous cost savings. Sound corrosion management, built upon proper product specification, depends on a comprehensive understanding of regulations and standards. Product life predictions and performance assessment methods are essential for determining what products will perform well over time. ALL PRODUCTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL For years, all available brands of PVC-coated galvanized conduit met exactly the same UL 6 standards and carried an identical UL Mark relating to safety conformance.