1996/7
Olympia House, Newport, Sth Wales

Olympia House is the home of HM Passport Office in Newport, Gwent. A concrete repair programme was undertaken in 1996 to refurbish damage to concrete elements suffering from corrosion of the steel reinforcement. The problem was understood to be caused by carbonation to the precast panels together with moderate chloride damage to stairwells due to years of usage. In addition to the normal concrete repair process it was decided to treat the external surfaces of the panelling and stairwells with corrosion inhibitor sprayed on following repair and prior to any other treatments. Performance of the inhibitor on the steel surface was conducted using linear polarisation (corrosion rate) probes embedded at discrete locations around the building. These were located to provide a comparison with the North, South, East and West facades as well as comparing different levels of the building. It is demonstrated that since first application the inhibitor is still maintaining a good level of protection to the steel. On average corrosion rates were reduced from base by 90-95% after 15 months since treatment using the corrosion inhibitor. This is sustained and indeed reduced still further to the 10-year stage.

 

1989
Channel Tunnel Approach, Folkestone

The Channel Tunnel Link is arguably the most important engineering feat of the century, connecting as its does the UK to Mainland Europe. C-Probe Technologies Ltd under contract to TransManche Link as Contractor to Eurotunnel has overseen a corrosion monitoring programme over the past decade which began with the installation of a revolutionary new monitoring system, which was installed with the construction programme in 1989 to 1990. The principal concern was to identify firstly the presence of stray current emanating from the catenary system to the galvanised steel reinforcing earth straps supporting structures running under and around the mainline to and from the tunnel. C-Probe was commissioned to assess performance by applying advanced electrochemical assessment techniques using the 3-electrode probe assemblies. These techniques over the years have included:  Linear polarisation resistance method  Faradiac distortion harmonic analysis  Transient corrosion potential measurements  Transient corrosion current measurements It has been demonstrated that the corrosion activity has remained constant over the 7-year period and is anticipated that this will continue for the foreseeable future. It is important to note that the structures are those of “difficult access” as they straddle the dominions of UK and France as well as possessing restrictions of track access to manually monitor. C-Probe possesses through its AchillesEDC system the means to assess automatically and remotely the continuous performance of these structures and hopes to do so in the near future.

 

1998
River Avon Viaduct, Leicestershire

A pilot corrosion prevention programme was undertaken in 1994 by C-Probe Technologies Ltd as advisors to Leicestershire CC, agents to the Highways Agency. This included intrusive (3D) half-cell potential mapping and pilot impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) discrete anode systems to a half-joint suffering from corrosion of the steel reinforcement. The corrosion problem has been caused by moderate chloride damage to the joints mainly associated with leakage of deicing salts from the road over the bridge through the joints to the soffit of the suspended slabs and table elements. The survey indicated corrosion susceptibility through the depth of the joint with corrosion already progressive within the first 100mm from the soffit. As a result and following a tender process all 8 half-joints were installed with conductive ceramic anodes along their 48m length and to full depth. The installation was achieved by drilling through the depth of the structure from the soffit. This avoided unnecessary disruption to the traffic flow on the M1 above. Monitoring instrumentation was installed within the hard shoulder and central reserve in addition to the soffit installed equipment within a single night closure of a single lane of the carriageway. The ICCP systems are monitored using C-Probe CP10P reference electrodes and CP101 corrosion rate probes. The viaduct was also installed with a state-of-the-art neural network management system (AchillesICP) to remote assess performance from the office through an Internet accessed interactive CAD facility (C-Probe Achilles interactive Management System – AiMS).

 

1998
Alexandra High School, Tipton

Alexandra High School is a 1960’s constructed reinforced concrete building under the auspices of Sandwell Metropolitan Council. C-Probe under contract to Bryant Construction Ltd as specialist sub-contractor to design, install, commission and manage a corrosion prevention programme in the autumn of 1998. This aimed to protect existing support columns to a new extension to the school. Fifteen columns (10 external and 5 internal) were targeted for protection using a discrete anode impressed current cathodic protection system. A concrete condition survey was performed to assess the corrosion of the steel reinforcement as well as to determine the steel densities for design purposes. The anode systems were installed by drilling and grouting in a vertical line up the centre of each column. Monitoring was installed within each column to assess performance relating to European standard practice. The system is managed using a state-of-the-art single zone neural system. This will limitless expansion should other areas of the school require monitoring or protection in the future. It will also begin to “learn” its own performance with the ultimate expectation of self-maintenance. The columns are now protected against corrosion for their lifetime.

 

2003
21-25 Bold Street, Liverpool

The steelframe to the front facade was installed with an Ebonex discrete anode ICCP system controlled with 2 AchillesICP zones. The scope of works also extended to 2m internally to cater for the transverse beams meeting the front frame. the problem was initiated internally due to the use of the building as a gym.

 

1999
Wrigley Field Stadium, Chicago

C-Probe installed a 2-part Preview study of the use of surface-applied corrosion inhibitor for the protection of walkway deck reinforcement and impressed current cathodic protection to protect the steelframe of the pedestrian walkway ramps. The test ran from 1999 to 2004. The strategy is one of the options for renovation of 7 more ramps (1 being reconstructed due to its advanced deteriorated condition).

 

2000
Blyth Bridge, South Yorkshire

The system installed at Blyth Bridge involves 3 integrated strategies for the hinge joints, prestressed beam anchor ends and the underside of the deck slabs. The hinge joints and prestressed anchors are protected using drilled in Ebonex anodes and separately controlled in 4 zones with AchillesICP. Performance monitoring has also been added for the assessment of surface-applied corrosion inhibitor (Sika FerroGard 903) to the underside of the deck slab. AchillesIES is interoperable with AchillesICP on a single network for the bridge. This bridge is 1 of 7 within the infrastructure management system for AMScott on behalf of the Highways Agency.

 

1999
Twyford Overbridge, A1, Leicestershire

This bridge is one of many similarly constructed bridges where the vulnerable elements are the half-joints within the deck. These can leak deicing salts through the depth causing the main structural steel supporting the deck to corrode. Local spalling is usually evident to the soffit but the problem lies deeper. C-Probe with Ivor Parnham Building Services installed an Ebonex discrete anode system controlled in 2 zones each side of the bridge with AchillesICP. The bridge forms part of a 7 bridge infrastructure management system on AiMS managed at present by AMScott for the Highways Agency.

 

2001
Phoenix House, Manchester

C-Probe was sub-contracted to Snape (now Bluestone plc) as the specialist supplier, onsite installation support and system commissioning and operation engineering company for the implementation of ICCP to this transitional steelframe building in Manchester. The system uses Ebonex discrete anodes drilled in from the external and controlled in 8 AchillesICP zones. C-Probe has operated AiMS for the Owner since the system was commissioned in 2001.

 

1999
Clifton New Bridge, Nottingham

The post-tensioned box sections within the void space of this segmental bridge built in the 1970s were locally damaged due to faulty guttering that leaked rainwater laced with deicing salts directly on to the top surface of the concrete box hosting the post-tensioned cables. This occurred in 6 areas and all were the subject of concrete repair and the use of surface-applied corrosion inhibitor (Sika FerroGard 903) with performance monitoring capability using AchillesIES.

 

2000
Transco Office Building, Bolton

The repair and renovation of the facades for this transitional steelframe building in Bolton was undertaken by Snape (now Bluestone) in 2000. C-Probe designed and installed an early detection corrosion monitoring system for assessing the performance of the repair and ongoing corrosion condition for the possible introduction of ICCP in the future. In the event of ICCP being used the monitoring will transfer to become the performance management system for that solution. This approach is especially useful to Owners looking to asset manage their building whilst being mindful of the commitments of the leaseholder.

 

2003 and 2007
Pricebusters Building, Blackpool

The Pricebusters Building on the promenade at Blackpool had been damaged by the marine environment over many decades. The facades were repaired in 2003 during phase 1 works with ICCP in the form of Ebonex discrete anodes installed to all 4 levels, roof enclosures and the Clocktower controlled using 15 AchillesICP zones to protect the structural steelframe. Morover the reinforced concrete internal floor slabs were repaired and the forward 1m section interfacing with the facade was further protected with Sika FerroGard 903 surface-applied corrosion inhibitor. The performance is monitored using AchillesIES on an interoperable LonWorks network with the ICCP system. The system is being extended currently to include new structural steel members being added during the refit for this revitalised commercial property..