Repair of Steel Columns in Natatorium (Chlorine)
Repair of Steel Columns in Natatorium (Chlorine)
(OP)
I have been hired to rapair steel built-up columns that are in a Natatorium. The chlorinated pool water soaked the bottom of the columns since the columns were not set up on piers.
On a few of the columns, portions of the webs are rusted clear through. The pool is closed and will be demolished at some time but there is an auditorium above the natatorium.
How should we prepare the surface? Should we sandblast or is wire brushing good enough? Will sand blasting get rid of the chlorides? I do not think so.
What about power washing the column webs and then drying them with a torch?
Am I worried about nothing?
On a few of the columns, portions of the webs are rusted clear through. The pool is closed and will be demolished at some time but there is an auditorium above the natatorium.
How should we prepare the surface? Should we sandblast or is wire brushing good enough? Will sand blasting get rid of the chlorides? I do not think so.
What about power washing the column webs and then drying them with a torch?
Am I worried about nothing?






RE: Repair of Steel Columns in Natatorium (Chlorine)
RE: Repair of Steel Columns in Natatorium (Chlorine)
For one, all that heat added during welding to the columns might soften them up enough to deflect. Plus, instead of messing around with a bunch of little plates, you can just do the top weld. And you've removed all the corrosion, instead of trying to clean it off.
RE: Repair of Steel Columns in Natatorium (Chlorine)
For the rust, I would definately chip away all loss rust, and wire brush. I would specify a minimum steel thickness, before that portion needs to be cut out.
You will also need to deal with the cause of corrosion: water and chlorine. This could mean chipping all the concrete around the column and replacing it with a low permeability concrete and detailing it so water slopes away from the column. (because remember, your source of corrosion is still present). A more expensive solution is an extraction/muigration technique.
Another question: Is this column part of a lateral system? If so, then you will need to be careful about not leaving stress risers and notches....details!
Now, if the column is corroding you may also want to explore with the client the option of verifying corrosion in the concrete slabs. Take cores to verify extent of chlorine penetration. Chip away to expose rebar and verify amount of steel area reduction.