Soufeiani, L; Foliente, G; Nguyen, KTQ; San Nicolas, R
(Elsevier, 2020-11)
Corrosion of steel elements in a façade system may cause failure that can adversely affect building performance. In this paper we review and synthesize the scientific literature in order to provide practical guidance for engineers, designers and material/product specifiers to avoid or minimize the corrosion of steel elements in façade systems as well as to identify the challenges for future research. The review covered different types of corrosion such as atmospheric, galvanic or bimetallic, embedded, and cut-edge corrosion and how different factors affect the corrosion rate of steel. Preventing or minimising the potential for steel corrosion in a building façade involves examination of the surrounding environment, a proper design of façade system, selecting a suitable steel grade, choosing an appropriate coating, and undertaking maintenance regularly. Further research has been identified, including the development of environmentally friendly and low cost nanocoatings, and establishing locally-validated corrosion rates of steel elements. The latter can form the basis for the development of hazard zone maps that consider industrial pollutants and other local environment factors.