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CORROSION I N S I G H T S
PETROCHEMICAL CORROSION AND STRUCTURAL FIRE PROTECTION by Nick Karakasch Total Corrosion Consultants – Victoria, Australia nkarakasch@gmail.com
When determining the most effective protection for structural members, evaluating engineers discover that there are numerous methods available for selection. In the early years, concrete was the only material available that was suitable; consequentially, it achieved recognition as a proven material. With improved knowledge and technology, specialised materials were developed, and it became obvious that there was a large discrepancy in performance between traditional concrete and these new materials.
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CORROSION PROTECTION | APRIL 2025
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he primary role of fire protection is to safeguard human life and to delay the temperature rise of structural elements to minimise the consequences of fire and prevent escalation.
Steel members are often highly stressed to meet structural requirements while minimising the weight of steel. However, the strength of this material starts to decrease significantly when exposed to temperatures above 550 °C, resulting in possible deflection and collapse (Figure 1). Petrochemical fires can reach temperatures of 1,200 °C within 3 to 5 minutes. Where process vessels are exposed, the temperature rise is somewhat slower due to the internal liquid acting as a heat