We’ve talked about the reasons why fire sprinkler systems in stadiums are especially susceptible to corrosion.
If you’ve encountered corrosion-related headaches in a stadium application, you know how much this problem can cost and the associated risk; you’ll want to take steps to address the problem as soon as possible.
The solution starts with understanding the science and then choosing the correct course of action to address the corrosion.
What Causes Pipe Degradation and Rust in Stadium Pipes?
The chemical reaction causing pipe degradation and rust formation is comparable to the “fire triangle” that consists of fuel, heat, and air.
In the case of pipe corrosion, there must be three key ingredients for the corrosion to occur:
These ingredients, in combination, act as the “corrosion triangle.”
How Can You Stop Pipe Degradation and Rust in Stadiums?
If you remove any of the three ingredients of steel, water, or oxygen, corrosion stops in its tracks.
So which can you remove to stop corrosion?
The most cost-effective and practical corrosion mitigation method is to remove the corrosive gas, oxygen, and replace it with a chemically inert gas such as nitrogen. The good news is that nitrogen is abundant. 78.1% of atmospheric air is nitrogen, while 20.9% is oxygen.
How can you replace oxygen with nitrogen? With a nitrogen generator.
Nitrogen generators purify compressed air by removing three corrosive components: oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide.
For fire protection applications, nitrogen generators provide 98% nitrogen gas to the fire sprinkler system, resulting in a 90% reduction in oxygen levels. This action reduces corrosive activity to negligible levels.
Should You Repair, Replace, or Mitigate?
Installing nitrogen generators in existing systems can be a much more cost-effective option than doing a full or even partial sprinkler system replacement.
Install nitrogen generators as soon as possible before the corrosion activity gets out of control. Sprinkler system integrity shall also be properly assessed to determine if any pipe replacement shall be necessary prior to or during nitrogen implementation.
How to Make Sure New Stadiums Are Set Up to Prevent Future Corrosion
When nitrogen generators are installed in new stadiums, owners and operators can be rest assured that the fire sprinkler systems will last for years to come. In fact, the systems will most likely longer than the planned use for the facility itself.
Where Can You Find the Nitrogen Generators Best Suited for Stadium Applications?
Now that you understand the problem and the solution, it’s time to find the right nitrogen generator.
Engineered Corrosion Solutions builds award-winning nitrogen generators with unique advantages making them best suited for stadium-type environments. ECS’ laser-focus on science and corrosion prevention is the reason why we're the leader in corrosion control solutions and services.