Geberit
is taking steps to highlight and prevent the critical issue of accelerated
corrosion of precision carbon steel pipes in new and refurbished water systems.
Despite
the durability and suitability of precision carbon steel when handled,
installed, operated and maintained correctly, some projects are still facing
accelerated corrosion due to bad practice during the planning, installation and
maintenance stages.
Now
Geberit has launched a campaign to educate specifiers, contractors and
operators with the publication of ‘Makeit Right’, a free white paper which highlights the issue, examines the
causes of corrosion and offers six simple steps to prevent accelerated
corrosion.
Antony
Corbett, product manager of piping systems for Geberit, said: “When the price
of copper reached an all-time high in 2011, it signaled a shift within the
industry towards precision carbon steel pipework. The benefits were clear to
see; carbon steel is durable, proven over many years and more cost-effective
than stainless steel and copper, at the time. It also offers the added labour
time benefits of press-fit installation.
“However, precision
carbon steel comes with its own considerations. It is only suitable for
specific applications, namely in closed water systems - where dissolved oxygen
levels should be lower than systems with open or vented tanks.
“It should not be
installed outside buildings without adequate protection, in open systems or
with excessive water treatment.
The use of precision
carbon steels grew fast, but the implications of how systems would behave where
it was installed, along with other ‘value engineering’ practices, was perhaps
not fully understood.
“After corrosion
issues were identified on a number of high-profile projects, some specifiers
lost confidence in carbon steel and switched to alternative materials, but this
does not address the issue – it will simply move it elsewhere within the
system. It needs to be realised that the materials are not the cause of
failure, just simply an early evidence marker that something is awry.
“We’re working with
specifiers, contractors and operators to highlight the benefits of precision
carbon steel and to reinforce the fact that following a few simple rules
through planning, transport, storage, installation, commissioning and
maintenance can help to ensure a long system life.”
