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We provide ultrasonic testing of piping systems and tanks throughout the United States and in other areas outside the country, either directly or through our affiliates.  Although we have attempted to explain its use and benefits through this site, specific questions are often raised.  Answers to many of those questions may be found below.  For all other questions, please Contact CorrView at any time.

Always The No. 1 Question

The first Home Page image is scary.  What is the background story?

Ultrasonic testing was performed at a 24 in. condenser water return riser as part of a downtown New York City commercial office building renovation during the winter season.  On the 12th floor, a small 6 in. by 6 in. valve access hatch to a wet tap allowed limited entry to the riser but also suggested something wrong by the offset appearance of the valve.  With it impossible to view the pipe directly, photographs were taken at its side to reveal that the threaded pipe nipple between the riser threadolet and brass valve had completely corroded away – now producing a distinct air gap between valve and riser.

Building management and engineering personnel were brought to the site for a first hand explanation to the problem – the waterfall like consequences of an impending failure most eloquently yet forcefully described.  We recommended its immediate repair; following up that recommendation in writing once returning to our office.

After valving off the abandoned tenant cooling line a few years earlier, rust and galvanic corrosion completely deteriorated the 1 in. schedule 40 short threaded pipe nipple to produce the existing failure; with corrosion product alone within the threadolet holding back 22 upper floors and approximately 156 lbs. of pressure to a live 24/7 condenser water system serving critical need tenants.  Closer inspection by camera showed the rust at the threadolet wet and actively dripping down the shaft, as shown at left.  With the threadolet directly facing only a sheetrock wall to the elevator lobby, it was obvious that a failure would quickly blow through the wall to substantially impact the below 12 floors.

In response, management removed the door spring to the access hatch door and added padding to soften any acoustical impact to the area should it slam.  Its visual inspection was then added to the engineering list of daily items and its status discussed as part of the weekly meeting agenda.  Multiple warnings by the building’s professional engineer to repair the deficiency were ignored, even though a further advisory explained that the addition of a 2nd 250 HP condenser water pump on the first day of the upcoming spring cooling cycle, and the instant 30-35 PSI of pressure increase returning to the roof would likely blow the rust plug free and catastrophically flood the building.

In response to multiple follow-up questions to CorrView from building management to help predict the remaining service life of the rust plug, we finally revealed our ability to predict its failure as the very second someone energized the CWP-2 motor contactor.  We also suggested, again with a certain degree of reserved eloquence, that with such conditions known and fully documented 3 months in advance, that such date would also be the last day of employment for that same individual and likely others knowledgeable of such conditions.

Following that final warning, the condition was repaired – 3 months later.

We provide answers to many other Frequently Asked Questions in the categories below:

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© Copyright 2024 – William P. Duncan, CorrView International, LLC