Key Takeaways
- Corrosion control is crucial for asset management, reducing downtime and preserving critical spares
- Basic corrosion control training is essential for facilities to understand the value of corrosion mitigation
- Vapor corrosion inhibitors offer a more effective alternative to traditional corrosion protection methods
- Evaluating facility corrosion risks is the first step in developing a culture of corrosion awareness
- Corrosion awareness initiatives can save facilities money and downtime, while also expanding storage space
Introduction to Corrosion Awareness
Corrosion is a significant threat to asset management, causing downtime, preserving critical spares, and recovering costs. A proactive corrosion strategy can strengthen asset management by reducing downtime and preserving critical spares. Facilities can save money and downtime by being alert to corrosion threats and understanding practical alternatives to traditional methods of corrosion control.
Corrosion Insights
A culture of corrosion awareness and mitigation can take a plant's asset management plan to the next level of quality and value. By understanding the basics of evaluating, justifying, optimizing, and adopting a corrosion mitigation plan, facilities can instill a proactive corrosion control mindset that overflows into plant-wide benefits. Corrosion control measures can save facilities an estimated $100,000 to $500,000 per year, depending on the size and location of the facility.
Evaluating Facility Corrosion Risks
The first step in developing a culture of corrosion awareness is to evaluate the need at a plant. This involves assessing internal and external corrosion threats, such as:
- Location: Is the plant located in a warm tropical coastal zone or a humid region?
- Environment: Are warehouses open to the environment or mostly closed?
- Climate: Are structures climate-controlled or subject to extreme temperature and humidity swings?
Facilities can use the following comparison table to evaluate the effectiveness of different corrosion protection methods:
| Method | Effectiveness | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Coatings | 70-80% | $10,000 - $50,000 |
| Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors | 90-95% | $5,000 - $20,000 |
| Cathodic Protection | 95-99% | $20,000 - $100,000 |
Implementing Corrosion Control Measures
Once the facility corrosion risks have been evaluated, the next step is to implement corrosion control measures. This can include:
- Using vapor corrosion inhibitors, which can be up to 90% effective in preventing corrosion
- Applying traditional coatings, which can be up to 80% effective
- Implementing cathodic protection, which can be up to 99% effective
Bottom Line
In conclusion, building a culture of corrosion awareness and mitigation is essential for facilities to reduce downtime, preserve critical spares, and recover costs. By evaluating facility corrosion risks and implementing effective corrosion control measures, facilities can save money and downtime, while also expanding storage space. With the right corrosion control strategy, facilities can reduce corrosion-related costs by up to 50%, resulting in significant savings and improved asset management.