No one likes to see the side of their building corroding. Seeing rust take over buildings, machinery, electrical systems, or equipment is an aesthetic and safety issue. The presence of rust and corrosion can lead to weakened and deteriorating structures. Although corrosion is something most structures made of iron, steel, and metals may encounter, there are many ways you can prevent rust from manifesting. Here are four ways corrosion can affect your building.
Rust Can Weaken the Structure
Rust may seem harmless, but it can cause structural failure. As metal corrodes, it becomes weaker—a threat to your building’s integrity and safety. As the rust expands to other parts of the building, it turns your strong metal materials into a flaky powder. This could be a great harm to those in your building.
Corrosion Gives Your Building a Poor Look
If you’ve seen a corroding building, you probably think it’s abandoned or poorly maintained. Rust alters the appearance of your facility for the worse, replacing the sleek and modern look of metal with a much rougher and displeasing look. Rust also discolors your metal into red-orange color. This will most likely turn away potential clients or customers.
Reduces the Bonding Strength
Another way corrosion can affect your building is by reducing the overall bonding strength. The metal strengthens the building’s precast concrete panels by eating the cross-section. This compromises the bond’s strength and the building’s integrity. This could lead to the building collapsing, which is dangerous for those inside and around it.
Causes Stress and Fatigue in the Structure
Another severe effect corrosion can have on your building is causing stress and fatigue in your building. This can lead to cracking in the structural steel and concrete elements. Corrosion can also make your building more susceptible to natural disasters—increasing the chances of it crumbling from force impact. This is why it’s important to take extra precautions to ensure that your team prevents rust growth and corrosion.
