"Pier utility piping in splash zone"

Question:

"We have alot of fuel oil, Steam, and water piping under piers at this Naval Base. Our specification writers have specified 304 SS for specialty valves, bellows, and other fittings. I have bits and pieces of information that it is a bad choice of material, as far as Chloride Crevace Corrosion on 300 series SS. Nothing we have found specifically spells out splash zone problems on pressure or temperature rated pipe in a salt spray environment and the prober materials to use in these instances. Your help could keep catastrophic failures from having to happen to convince the 'powers that be' that those of us who are questioning them do know what we are talking about."

Answer:

304SS is not a particularly good choice for pressure boundary equipment or piping in the splash zone of seawater (or other waters containing appreciable chlorides). It is susceptible to pitting and crevice corrosion and could fail within a short time, depending on specifics, i.e. wall thickness, water temperature, other contaminants, etc.

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