Corrosion protection for steel structures in buildings
OBJECTIVE/SCOPE
To expand lecture Factors governing protection of steelwork, providing young architects and engineers with guidance on using the information on the protection of steelwork in buildings.
SUMMARY
This lecture discusses the practicalities of design and how to deal with connections (fasteners) and welds. It covers the effects of the environment on the external steelwork of buildings and suggests protective treatments. Common internal environments are discussed. Hidden steel and steelwork in perimeter walls are dealt with separately.
The lecture ends with 'special cases', i.e. steel in concrete and hollow sections.
General considerations, the benefits of designing to allow the effective use of protective coatings, and making a conscious decision as to where they should be applied are dealt with in Section 2 of the lecture Factors governing protection of steelwork. The requirements of Eurocode 3 [1] are described in Appendix 1.
Corrosion prevention truly starts on the drawing board. Design details which avoid water traps, ensure adequate drainage, and promote air circulation restrict corrosion. Avoiding contact between dissimilar metals and removing sharp edges and corners are all important. Supremely important, but frequently overlooked or ignored in design, is access for inspection, cleaning, and maintenance. If the surface cannot be reached, it cannot be maintained.
Design must take into account the required life of the building, the likely time to first maintenance, and the intervals between each subsequent maintenance. The questions to ask when attempting to assess the life requirement of a building are given in Section 1.3 of the lecture Factors governing protection of steelwork.
Connections (fasteners) are an integral part of every structure. Frequently, they appear to be forgotten when the corrosion protection for the steelwork is decided upon. For example, in an aggressive environment, several hundred microns of paint on beams will not effectively protect the structure if it is connected together by black bolts.
By closing this message, you consent to our cookies on this device in accordance with our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. You can change your cookie settings at any time, but parts of our site will not function correctly without them.
