Corrosion in Sprinkler Systems: A Look at a Long-Term Experiment

Internal corrosion of fire sprinkler systems is a major concern in the reliability and life of the system(s). Corrosion in sprinkler systems can affect the system’s hydraulics and cause system leakage, which may result in property damage, as well as significant replacement costs. Fire sprinkler systems are subject to deterioration through different forms of corrosion. This webinar looks at the types of corrosion that occur in sprinkler systems, different methods of mitigating corrosion, and an overview and update to the long-term corrosion research project at Oklahoma State University.

At the completion of this seminar, you should be able to:

1. Describe different corrosion types in piping.
2. List methods to mitigate or monitor corrosion in sprinkler systems.
3. Discuss an overview and update to the OSU long-term corrosion project.

Dr. Virginia R. Charter, Ph.D., P.E., FSFPE;

Dr. Virginia R. Charter, Ph.D., P.E., FSFPE, earned her Master’s in Fire Protection Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2012, her Ph.D., in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies – Higher Education from Oklahoma State University in 2019, and is a licensed fire protection engineer in multiple states. Prior to her return to OSU in 2014, Dr. Charter worked in Las Vegas as a fire protection engineer, responsible for planning and evaluating the fire protection, life safety, and control systems in buildings and properties. Her research is focused on areas that impact fire protection system effectiveness, such as corrosion, application of building and fire codes and standards, the fire problem in informal settlements, and engineering education.

Caleb Pierce

Caleb Pierce is a senior in the Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology program at OSU. He works as a teaching assistant and is involved in undergraduate research, focusing on corrosion studies related to long-term fire sprinkler corrosion testing. Caleb currently serves as the President of the OSU chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Last summer, he interned at Jacobs’ global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and he plans to return for another internship next summer. After graduation, Caleb aims to work in the fire protection industry and become a licensed fire protection engineer.