Problem

Kent Engineering (KE) was requested to evaluate the type of degradation in the pipes and fittings, and the expected useful life of the system for a condominium in Seattle, Washington. KE’s root cause and remaining life findings led to KE developing a maintenance plan, the scope of repair/repipe, and rough order costs for lending and/or reserve planning. 

Scope | Methodology

The pipes and fittings were extracted from the condominium and taken to KE’s laboratory for inspection and testing. Almost all the piping and fittings degraded and fell apart upon extraction. Despite this, KE was able to mount samples and determine corrosion depth into the pipe walls. These mounted samples when viewed under a microscope allowed the engineers to view and study the microstructure of the pipe and determine the extent of corrosion. KE’s metallurgy/materials experts measured pipe walls and build up, then established a corrosion rate and mechanism providing a reliable life expectancy of the piping system. 

Root Cause | Solution

Due to the age of the piping, corrosion and degradation were expected. But, due to heavy use and less than favorable design the piping system corrosions rates were accelerated and it was determined that the whole condominium needed replacing. The graphitic corrosion was severe and made worse by build-up on the piping walls. Given the life expectancy estimation, KE recommended that the condominiums have their pipes replaced to prevent further damage. When redesigning the system, it was suggested to reduce the number of bends to help increase the system’s life. KE also offers owner consulting/representation including quality oversight of the design, materials choice, bid process, and installation.  For systems currently in place, KE also offers troubleshooting and maintenance consulting.

Leading Experts in Metallurgy

At Kent Engineering, we provide materials and corrosion support across a variety of industries, including construction, multifamily, manufacturing, transportation, plumbing, heavy equipment and machinery, food processing, and maritime. Our staff of engineers and architects lend their range of specialties and deep expertise to each industry, inspecting and identifying failures in order to help represent our clients well.

Find out how Kent Engineering the right partner for your engineering, analysis, and inspection needs. Feel free to get in touch with us; we are here for you!