condensation inside steel column

[btr2012]

I am trying to find a solution to controlling condensation inside 4x4 steel post approximately 36" high used in the construction of railing on a project. These post have a 1 1/4" dia x 12" long piece of round stock welded to the bottom of them which is set into holes drilled in the concrete and grouted into the concrete. Drilling holes into the side of the post down low will only make rust run out all over the walk way and is not the preferred solution. A coworker suggested using 2 part expanding urethane foam and pouring it into the columns to prevent moisture from attaching itself to the inside of the steel. Any suggestions on how to solve this issue.

 

[spats]

Is this already constructed? If exterior application, posts should be HD galvanized. I assume there is a closure plate at top.

 

[Teguci]

Concrete is pretty cheap and is often usd to fill steel bollards.

 

[TXStructural]

I don't guess I understand the source of moisture. If you start with a dry interior (as I would expect) and provide an essentially sealed post, you will get very little moisture inside over time.

(Although you will get pumping of air in and out as the barometric pressure changes, precipitation usually comes with decreasing pressure, which means you will not draw moist air in by that mechanism.)

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Fill it with foam or concrete as suggested

 

[btr2012]

These post were just the structural part that holds all the individual rail sections between them together. The 4x4 steel is covered by PVC sleeves with PVC caps on top. Unfortunately the sections were not hot dipped, but even if they were, I don't think the accumulation of water inside is good thing. Since there is nothing really closing up the end cap except the PVC caps, moisture builds up inside the steel and runs to the bottom where it collects.

 

[msquared48]

I would fill them with a non-shrink grout.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com