Failure of Cold Water Piping Due to Material Defects

The galvanized steel piping systems in over 500 homes had to be replaced by the builder after they developed extensive leaks. APTECH was hired to find the root cause of the piping failures. A field examination revealed internal corrosive attack only on the cold water piping. The pattern of the corrosion was randomly distributed throughout the development. Water chemistry tests were performed and the quality of the pipe was evaluated. We obtained lengths of the corroded piping and found that it had been supplied by numerous different manufacturers. Recommendations were made to the client for a systematic materials test program to pinpoint the source of the problem and identify the responsible parties.

Our primary contacts for matters involving water piping corrosion can be reached at (408) 745-7000.
Name Email Specialty
Satish Almaula
email button Plant failure and root cause analysis; process and design engineering analysis; process technology development and testing; plant engineering, operations, maintenance and safety management; plant and process control system management.

Philip Lindsay, P.E. email button Corrosion failure analysis, metallurgy, piping systems, corrosion mitigation, materials selection.

Geoffrey Egan, Ph.D. email button Engineering mechanics, welding engineering, stress and fatigue analysis, risk analysis, nondestructive examination, project management.

Eric Sullivan, P.E. email button Metallurgy, welding, failure analysis, fire and explosion investigations, equipment, piping.

 
   


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