Bare and Rusted Steel Beams

[dbucknavich]

Originally Posted by pbennett1

So, let's use a little common sense.
Why are steel bridges, ships and other structures painted?
Regards,
Peter

Just trying to help Peter. If you want hard enough for something to be wrong, you'll probably find something. For some inspectors, saying it's wrong is easier than saying it's right. Maybe we shouldn't ask questions if we don't want to hear answers.

[jkogel]

Originally Posted by pbennett1

So, let's use a little common sense.
Why are steel bridges, ships and other structures painted?
Regards,
Peter

Exposure to the elements, and in the case of bridges and ships, salt as well.

John Kogel
www.allsafehome.ca

[dbucknavich]

Originally Posted by jkogel

Exposure to the elements, and in the case of bridges and ships, salt as well.

John Kogel
www.allsafehome.ca

Wasn't going to go there. Speaking of common sense.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

aesthetics


who wants to look at a rusty bridge, ship or building. I said in "many" applications, not all and certainly not any that would impair the view. Yes, lets do use some common sense.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by pbennett1

So, let's use a little common sense.
Why are steel bridges, ships and other structures painted?
Regards,
Peter

Ahhhh, because the OTHER codes used to build these things require it?

Is there a prize?

And as for Doug and the passivation layer, dammit if he isn't dead on. I had to look it up that an oxide layer is considered a passivation layer. I have actively passivated things in the past and did not even think of rust as passivation layer.

Learn something new all the time.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Ahhhh, because the OTHER codes used to build these things require it?

Is there a prize?

And as for Doug and the passivation layer, dammit if he isn't dead on. I had to look it up that an oxide layer is considered a passivation layer. I have actively passivated things in the past and did not even think of rust as passivation layer.

Learn something new all the time.

Yes, Brian, there is a prize. You get two new nipple rings....installed slowly.

yeah, I once owned a car that had numerous passivation layers on it.

[jkogel]

My old Chevy P/U passivated itself into the scrap yard, once road salt and sea salt got under the paint.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by dedwards

Yes, Brian, there is a prize. You get two new nipple rings....installed slowly.

yeah, I once owned a car that had numerous passivation layers on it.

I will be 50 next month, and went snow skiing with my slightly younger brother monday, I at least bruised a rib during the outing, and laughing kinda hurts, you devil.

OUCH

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

In that case.....very very slowly.

[Richie Dimmerling]

Originally Posted by dedwards

Looks normal to me as well. I know in many applications the iron is allowed to rust forming basically a protective layer known as passivation, preventing any further rusting.

In the bridge design world, we designate if it is weathering steel or not. All types of steel do not have the properties needed to form the protective layer. In this case the beam looks fine (it is not exposed to extreme elements, ex. salt), but I have typically seen them painted or atleast shop primed.

Richie Dimmerling II, E.I., S.I.
Inspection Engineer
Champion Inspection Services, LLC.
www.champion-inspection.com

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

Originally Posted by dbucknavich

That looks normal to me. No protection needed unless flammable or exposed to elements I believe.

Is that how you report findings to clients?

[Billy Boerner]

Originally Posted by pbennett1

So, let's use a little common sense.
Why are steel bridges, ships and other structures painted?
Regards,
Peter

Peter I have no idea. Clue us in

[Mark Nahrgang]

Originally Posted by pbennett1

So, let's use a little common sense.
Why are steel bridges, ships and other structures painted?
Regards,
Peter

Actually not all of them are. John Deere company developed a structural steel that doesn't need painting. It is designed so that it's exterior oxidizes and protects the interior of the steel. They manufactured their world headquarters in East Moline, Il out of it. They affectionately call it the "rusty palace."

[Michael R. Boyett]

The Pennybacker Bridge not far from me in Austin, Tx was designed to rust and form the amber patina, passivation layer Doug was referring to. It's been in use for 25 years now and looks the same as it did on dedication day.

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Aloha Stadium was built with this type of steel also. However, in 1989 (14 years after being built) we had to retrofit and replace most of the structure.

Environmental conditions bear heavily on the the integrity of exposed structural steel components.