Paskenell
Materials
- Sep 22, 2002
- 35
For your information - found on Stainless-steel-world.net
8-20-2001
Corrosion warning
A series of accidents has recently been affecting swimming pools all over Europe, with lampposts, air conditioners, ceilings and other suspended objects falling. In one incident in The Netherlands a whole ceiling collapsed into the swimming pool. The cause of these accidents appears to be stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel threaded bars used for attaching air conditioner units and air-channels. The units, weighing hundreds of kilograms, fell on the ceiling, causing it to collapse into the swimming pool. Luckily this happened while the swimming pool was closed. Stress corrosion cracking at 30º C, the temperature in the swimming pool, is in contradiction with general corrosion literature. According to this literature, this phenomenon only occurs at temperatures over 50–60º C. The reason for this accident was a combination of the presence of aerosols with the very strong oxidator sodium-hypochlorite and high internal stress in the fasteners and threaded bars. CorrOcean BV is involved in materials selections and has set up an inspection programme for swimming pools where materials of critical components (wires, cables, fasteners) can be checked. If they are fabricated out of stainless steel A2, A4, 303, 304, 316, immediate replacement will be advised. Materials that can be used in this situation are hot-dipped steel, galvanised steel, coated steel or duplex stainless steel.
Follow-up dated 8-13-2002
Last year, after the ceiling of a swimming pool at Steenwijk collapsed, concerns were raised about the safety of ceilings in other swimming pools (see this site, 20 August 2001). The subsequent inspection showed that some of the stainless steel bars supporting the ventilation system had become corroded. In the ensuing chain reaction, the entire ceiling caved in. A similar accident in Switzerland caused fatalities, but fortunately this was not the case in Steenwijk. Dozens of similar events are known to have occurred in The Netherlands, and a few weeks ago a similar accident occurred at a pool in Deventer. The Netherlands Corrosion Centre has therefore, in collaboration with Euro-Inox, organised a seminar “Stainless Steel in Swimming Pools.” It will take place on between 9am and 10pm on 14 November 2002 in the Best Western Hotel “De Korenbeurs”, Kerkstraat 13, 4921 BA Made, near Drimmelen. A small exhibition will also be held, giving suppliers a unique opportunity to present your products to this targeted group. The available space (18 stands of six metres) will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. There is also an opportunity to advertise. The participants will consist mostly of representatives of national, regional and municipal authorities, managers and owners of swimming pools, architects, builders and contractors, including suppliers. The seminar speakers consist of well-known figures both from The Netherlands and other countries. Contact: Nederlands Corrosie Centrum, PO Box 70577, 5201 CZ ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands; tel.: +31 73 624 1180; fax: +31 73 624 1185; e-mail: ncc@tiscalimail.nl
Nothing further found on this situation found at this time. This is posted for your information only
David Long
Marine Fasteners
8-20-2001
Corrosion warning
A series of accidents has recently been affecting swimming pools all over Europe, with lampposts, air conditioners, ceilings and other suspended objects falling. In one incident in The Netherlands a whole ceiling collapsed into the swimming pool. The cause of these accidents appears to be stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel threaded bars used for attaching air conditioner units and air-channels. The units, weighing hundreds of kilograms, fell on the ceiling, causing it to collapse into the swimming pool. Luckily this happened while the swimming pool was closed. Stress corrosion cracking at 30º C, the temperature in the swimming pool, is in contradiction with general corrosion literature. According to this literature, this phenomenon only occurs at temperatures over 50–60º C. The reason for this accident was a combination of the presence of aerosols with the very strong oxidator sodium-hypochlorite and high internal stress in the fasteners and threaded bars. CorrOcean BV is involved in materials selections and has set up an inspection programme for swimming pools where materials of critical components (wires, cables, fasteners) can be checked. If they are fabricated out of stainless steel A2, A4, 303, 304, 316, immediate replacement will be advised. Materials that can be used in this situation are hot-dipped steel, galvanised steel, coated steel or duplex stainless steel.
Follow-up dated 8-13-2002
Last year, after the ceiling of a swimming pool at Steenwijk collapsed, concerns were raised about the safety of ceilings in other swimming pools (see this site, 20 August 2001). The subsequent inspection showed that some of the stainless steel bars supporting the ventilation system had become corroded. In the ensuing chain reaction, the entire ceiling caved in. A similar accident in Switzerland caused fatalities, but fortunately this was not the case in Steenwijk. Dozens of similar events are known to have occurred in The Netherlands, and a few weeks ago a similar accident occurred at a pool in Deventer. The Netherlands Corrosion Centre has therefore, in collaboration with Euro-Inox, organised a seminar “Stainless Steel in Swimming Pools.” It will take place on between 9am and 10pm on 14 November 2002 in the Best Western Hotel “De Korenbeurs”, Kerkstraat 13, 4921 BA Made, near Drimmelen. A small exhibition will also be held, giving suppliers a unique opportunity to present your products to this targeted group. The available space (18 stands of six metres) will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. There is also an opportunity to advertise. The participants will consist mostly of representatives of national, regional and municipal authorities, managers and owners of swimming pools, architects, builders and contractors, including suppliers. The seminar speakers consist of well-known figures both from The Netherlands and other countries. Contact: Nederlands Corrosie Centrum, PO Box 70577, 5201 CZ ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands; tel.: +31 73 624 1180; fax: +31 73 624 1185; e-mail: ncc@tiscalimail.nl
Nothing further found on this situation found at this time. This is posted for your information only
David Long
Marine Fasteners
