The theoretical and practical knowledge of the inspector, as well as having an organized plan of analysis and inspection will ensure the ideal results in a material attacked by corrosion.
by Juan Manuel Álvarez
With regard to the inspection of a structure with a view to the detection of corrosion products, it should be noted that the competence of the inspector, the techniques selected and the equipment used will make a difference in the scope of this objective.
For example, the inspector, through his experience and training in the field of corrosion morphology for identification at the time of inspection, provides reliability in the final report, in such a way that the objective of the inspection allows it to be determined through treatment or repair, according to the level at which the affectation of the material by corrosion is found, the state of the structure, and likewise one can have a perception of the remnant life in conditions of service.
Likewise, the techniques selected for the inspection have interference for different reasons. The first has to do with access for inspection, which seeks to achieve the visual affectation of corroded material. In the second instance and, complementing the above, the sensitivity of the selected technique is of great importance, since this makes it easier for the inspector to facilitate ensuring the result of his inspection for the determination of the level of corrosion.
As for the equipment used for corrosion inspection, it is important to analyze from the same calibration of the equipment (do it every year, for example), to the procedure and pattern at the time of inspection (it can be daily or by work shift), in order to achieve, with the support of the previous variables (inspector and selected techniques), the reliability that is desired in the structure based on the result of the corrosion inspection.
Considering that the above recommendations are met to achieve the objective of the work and the valuation of the materials of the structures, it is now of the utmost importance to determine the inspection procedures, which must be based or based on standards, codes and / or manuals, in order to obtain a good elaboration or selection of formats, protocols, sequences, variables (humidity, temperature, time for example), and also make photographic records that allow to show the client the result of the work. This resulting information will be part of the log that with good management will allow to obtain a deep knowledge about the degree of aging of the analyzed structure, estimating the remaining life time and / or the level and frequency of maintenance that must be met from that moment.
It should be noted that the generation of corrosion inspection work is directly related to the probable failure times of the products or to the corrosion control techniques applied to the structure, which is why from the construction, commissioning or application of corrosion control products or techniques, a scheduled inspection included in the maintenance plan of the structure must be determined in a preventive manner. Unscheduled inspections (daily for example) resulting from a corrosion failure can also be made, through low-frequency tasks such as cleaning, washing or visual inspections of the structure.
Of course, these low-frequency tasks must be focused on corrosion control. Reason why the inspector must be related to these practices and must be informed about the type of products that are applied in the structures; it should also have competences relating to the assessment of the quality of the application, and to the techniques or products for corrosion control related to the level and duration of protection.
The importance given to these tools for compliance with corrosion inspection procedures leads to the quality and reliability of the reported records, as well as allowing to establish or improve corrosion inspection procedures day by day based on the updating of formats, protocols and sequences in compliance with standards, codes and/or manuals; where compliance with variables such as humidity, temperature and times that comply with the tolerance endorsed in the documents is complemented with photographic records.
Each of these variables will be developed in future articles in the course of this year, hoping to have the interest of readers in this topic that is increasingly important and that at the administrative level has gained great interest under the concept of integrity of structures.
Successes for this year in the tasks related to corrosion control!
* Juan Manuel Álvarez is a Consulting Member of the technical committees of NACE International, Member of A.S.T.M, of ACICOR (Colombian Association of Corrosion Engineers), of ASCOR (Colombian Association of Corrosion and Protection), of ACOSEND (Colombian Association of Welding and Non-Destructive Testing), of ICONTEC (Colombian Institute of Technical Standards), of the technical committees of END, Welding, Coatings, Fuels and others. He is also a university professor and lecturer. You can write to the e-mail: [email protected]
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