Corrosion

Corrosion

Corrosion in fire sprinkler systems is a serious problem. Oxidation is the most common cause of corrosion. When oxygen is trapped in the system, it dissolves into water and reacts with the surface of the piping. This causes iron oxide debris, which reduces systems performance. While corrosion activity in fire sprinkler systems is a common problem, most building or property managers are not aware of the need for monitoring. Often, the first time they become aware of a problem is when there is a leak. By the time a leak forms, corrosion has already caused degradation in the functionality of the system.

Problems caused by corrosion:

  • Obstruction in piping
  • Sprinkler plugging
  • Reduced hydraulics function
  • Leaks
  • Reduction in sprinkler system life

When corrosion is not addressed, it can be costly. Not only is the life of your sprinkler system shortened, but repair and replacement costs are incurred, and business is disrupted.

Nitrogen Generation

Corrosion is a problem for both wet and dry sprinkler systems, but the pre-action and dry systems are the most at risk. Nitrogen generation systems can add significant lifespan to new systems and can preserve function in the existing systems. We offer systems to accommodate any sprinkler system capacity.

Benefits of Nitrogen Generation

  • Uses compressed nitrogen rather than air
  • Significantly extends the life of both steel and galvanized piping systems
  • Regulates air pressure
  • Saves money

Investigation Services

The NFPA recommends internal inspections of piping systems every five years. Even when there is no evidence of a problem, pipes can have hidden issues that lead to failure. It is critical to have a process in place to conduct regular inspections based on scheduled times, observations of conditions that warrant inspection and sampling random places in the system for corrosion.

There are four main elements of a pipe obstruction investigation: valves, risers, cross mains and branch lines. Businesses should perform routine assessments to determine when or if full inspections are warranted between standard five-year inspections. Routine assessments should identify evidence of debris, build-up or presence of rust, slime, organic or inorganic materials. Upon discovery of any of these elements, a thorough investigation may be needed.

If any of the unfavorable conditions are present, an investigation should be conducted to identify any blockages or obstructions. Hiller performs inspections on:

  • Yard mains
  • Dry pipe systems
  • Wet pipe systems

If a blockage is detected, we will determine if piping is still sufficient, if some piping should be replaced or if multiple piping and/or other components should be replaced.