NACE SP0112

Abstract

<strong>General</strong> <br>Corrosion management is the part of an overall management system that is concerned with the development, implementation, review, and maintenance of the corrosion policy for the owners of fixed assets. This standard is not intended to be all encompassing. This standard is not concerned with the actual techniques used to carry out evaluations, which are covered by other NACE standards.^1,2 <br>Because of the properties inherent in reinforced concrete and different exposure conditions, corrosion of reinforced concrete structures has unique characteristics and associated consequences when compared to other assets that suffer from corrosion. Corrosion management of reinforced concrete therefore requires unique knowledge and skills. <br>For example, 50 to 100 &#236;m (2 to 4 x 10^-3 in) section loss of reinforcing steel can typically cause concrete cover to crack and spall.³ This amount of section loss is several orders of magnitude less than that considered significant in most structural steel elements or steel containment structures. Also, the consequences of concrete at high elevation spalling off a structure can result in very different health and safety issues compared to section loss of a structural beam or column or perforation of a pipe or a containment vessel. <br>To establish the System for reinforced concrete assets, the Owner shall establish a corrosion policy, either standalone or within an overall integrity management policy and system. The Owner and managers of the assets shall identify the risks to safety and to the business resulting from the effects of corrosion. The requirements of national health and safety legislation shall also be incorporated into the System. The environmental impacts of corrosion and of corrosion control and mitigation techniques shall be considered as part of the System. <br>The System shall establish an objective of cost-effective life extension of reinforced concrete structures while ensuring safe and reliable operation with minimum disruption to all aspects of the operation of the structure during inspection and rehabilitation. To achieve this objective the System shall include the following steps: <br>Planning and Implementation: Review of reinforced concrete structure condition, inspection planning, identification of damage mechanisms, selection and application of remedial measures and their performance monitoring (e.g., measure of cathodic protection [CP] performance, use of inspection/embedded sensors for assessment of repair/inhibition, etc.). <br>Evaluate Performance of the Corrosion Management Team (the Team): Have actions been completed, have data been collected and reviewed as planned, etc.? What could have been done better? Adjust planning/procedures to reflect experience (good and bad). <br>Independent Audit: Review of actions of the Team by external verifiers. <br>The benefits from the implementation of the System are often realized in the medium-to-long term so the Owner should be steadfast in the initial stages. Like any change in general that can lead to tangible benefits in the medium-to-long run, the implementation of the System can cause initial disruption and inefficiencies.