Why would you install, but never test

Recently, I visited a power plant built around 1970. I was pleased to find out that there was a coating and cathodic protection (CP) system protecting the plant’s gas pipeline. But, I was dismayed to find out that no commissioning report was available, and the plant’s maintenance files lacked any test data to confirm that the system had ever worked properly. That didn’t surprise me as much as it probably does you. At too many power plants built with a pipeline CP system, the system is installed and turned on, but never inspected or tested later.

Tests determined that the system no longer worked- some rectifiers proved inoperable and anodes were depleted. The scary part is we couldn’t tell when it stopped working, or if it ever worked in the first place.

This case is all too common with competitive power plants because CP is not their primary concern. Sadly, I fear that one day, maybe not too far into the future, inadequate safety measures on a power plant gas line will lead to an explosion. Though it’s not part of a plant’s day-to-day operations on the surface, a failure on the gas line could lead to a major disaster resulting in injury, further equipment failures, widespread power outages, and even death.

It is in the public and private sectors’ interest to maintain power plants, so it’s critical to maintain the integrity of a plant’s systems. I would recommend that power plants across the country consult with an established and experienced cathodic protection systems firm.

CP- A balcony's best friend

The Florida coast is a particularly harsh environment for concrete structures, combining heat, humidity and high concentrations of chloride. Concrete balconies in the region are especially susceptible to corrosion of reinforcing steel, requiring major repair and maintenance.

Condo owners recognize that repeating patch maintenance cycles are disruptive and increasingly expensive. However, property managers don't always implement methods for corrosion prevention out of ignorance or because of the cost.

But, applying cathodic protection (CP) can lengthen the lifecycle of the reinforcing steel and concrete, delaying the need for maintenance. CP is a viable long term solution to protect these vulnerable concrete structures, but applying CP to condominium balconies is not easy. The evolution of cathodic protection, as applied to concrete balconies in Florida, has been an evolutionary process. Many systems have been tried with varying degrees of technical and commercial success. In ture Darwinian fashion, some of the solutions took the path to extinction, others evolved and have flourished, and some technologies moved to other, more favorable applications.

Many structural engineers now recognize the benefits of cathodic protection (CP) to stop the corrosion process and how to apply the right system in a given environment. This long-term solution extends the life of these important concrete structures and protects residents who own condos with balconies.

I just hope condo owners and property managers do their due diligence to find out what available technologies will keep residents safe.


Bill