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51313-02140-Weld Seam Corrosion of Steel Sprinkler Pipe

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Product Number: 51313-02140-SG
ISBN: 02140 2013 CP
Author: Paul Su
Publication Date: 2013
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Weld Seam Corrosion for Steel Pipe in Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems

Paul Sua* Fred W. Tatara Swathilekha Chivukulaa and William W. Doerra
a FM Global Research Norwood MA 02062 USA
* Corresponding author: pocheng.su@fmglobal.com

For steel sprinkler piping systems corrosion that results in pipe leakage or obstruction is the most significant issue for owners of water-based fire protection sprinkler systems (FPS) in terms of both cost and system reliability. Repair of corrosion damage leading to mechanical failure or water damage significantly adds to the lifecycle cost of sprinkler protection systems in buildings.

Preferential corrosion of weld seam generally called “grooving corrosion” or “knife-edge corrosion” is common for electric-resistance welded steel pipe in FPS. This kind of corrosion has been attributed to formation of unstable iron sulfides and high residual stresses in weld seams (i.e. causing anodic sites for corrosion to occur) created during the pipe manufacturing process. For many field installed FPS including wet dry or pre-action systems the weld seam is commonly orientated toward pipe bottom or at the 6 o’clock position which can lead to severe localized weld seam corrosion under corrosion scale/tubercles and eventually cause pipe leakage. Therefore it has been recommended to orient pipe weld seam toward the building roof3 in order to reduce grooving corrosion type leakage by preventing the weld from being located underneath corrosion scale/tubercles.

In this paper laboratory tests consisted of dynamic (aerated) and quiescent test racks electrochemical polarization technique and salt fog chamber testing were performed to validate and support this recommendation. Testing specimens were fabricated from black and galvanized steel pipe. The 12 months testing results show that pipe weld located at 6 o’clock (bottom) exhibited corrosion rate about 10 times higher than at 9 o’clock (side) under same testing condition. This finding validates and supports the recommendation of pipe weld being orientated toward the building roof in reducing leakage caused by pipe weld corrosion.

Keywords: Pipe Weld Corrosion Steel Pipe Corrosion Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems

Weld Seam Corrosion for Steel Pipe in Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems

Paul Sua* Fred W. Tatara Swathilekha Chivukulaa and William W. Doerra
a FM Global Research Norwood MA 02062 USA
* Corresponding author: pocheng.su@fmglobal.com

For steel sprinkler piping systems corrosion that results in pipe leakage or obstruction is the most significant issue for owners of water-based fire protection sprinkler systems (FPS) in terms of both cost and system reliability. Repair of corrosion damage leading to mechanical failure or water damage significantly adds to the lifecycle cost of sprinkler protection systems in buildings.

Preferential corrosion of weld seam generally called “grooving corrosion” or “knife-edge corrosion” is common for electric-resistance welded steel pipe in FPS. This kind of corrosion has been attributed to formation of unstable iron sulfides and high residual stresses in weld seams (i.e. causing anodic sites for corrosion to occur) created during the pipe manufacturing process. For many field installed FPS including wet dry or pre-action systems the weld seam is commonly orientated toward pipe bottom or at the 6 o’clock position which can lead to severe localized weld seam corrosion under corrosion scale/tubercles and eventually cause pipe leakage. Therefore it has been recommended to orient pipe weld seam toward the building roof3 in order to reduce grooving corrosion type leakage by preventing the weld from being located underneath corrosion scale/tubercles.

In this paper laboratory tests consisted of dynamic (aerated) and quiescent test racks electrochemical polarization technique and salt fog chamber testing were performed to validate and support this recommendation. Testing specimens were fabricated from black and galvanized steel pipe. The 12 months testing results show that pipe weld located at 6 o’clock (bottom) exhibited corrosion rate about 10 times higher than at 9 o’clock (side) under same testing condition. This finding validates and supports the recommendation of pipe weld being orientated toward the building roof in reducing leakage caused by pipe weld corrosion.

Keywords: Pipe Weld Corrosion Steel Pipe Corrosion Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems

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