We all know that structural steel is a durable, sustainable and resistant material that can withstand external factors such as rot and pest attack for decades. However, in some cases, even structural steel structures can get corroded, just like any other metal or alloy. It is also highly susceptible to moisture damage as it mainly contains iron. Iron is a reactive material and can get corroded or rusted very easily. Once the corrosion starts, it can spread to the entire structure.
The same applies to the structural steel stairs. Steel stairs located freely in an open space or inside a building, both are susceptible to corrosion. These stairs can experience these three types of corrosions.
Basic Corrosion
Basic corrosion is the common type of rust or corrosion that we see on different metals. Basic corrosion is a chemical reaction in which moisture and oxygen combine to cause rust. When both of these two components are constantly in contact with steel for a long time, the iron in steel reacts with the oxygen and the water to form brown rust. As long as there is no barrier between the iron and the moisture and oxygen molecules, the steel will continue to react and corrode the steel stairs.
Bimetallic Corrosion
Bimetallic corrosion occurs when a chemical reaction is caused by two metals come in contact or close contact with each other to cause degradation of the less corrosion resistant metal. This type of corrosion is more common in metal alloys such as structural steel. You might notice bimetallic corrosion at the joints of structural steel stairs that have portions underground or underwater.
Environmental Corrosion
Environmental corrosion is an indirect corrosion wherein pollutants and toxins in the environment can make corrosion worse. Steel stairs inside or around industrial or manufacturing buildings are more susceptible to environmental corrosion due to the pollutants and chemicals present in the environment.
The causes of these corrosion procedures can be:
Uncoated structural steel stairs
Cracks or holes in the stairs
Continuous contact with sulfates, chlorides, moisture, dust, etc.
Presence of impurities in structural steel
The corrosion process requires the simultaneous presence of water and oxygen. In the absence of either, corrosion does not occur. Therefore, in order to prevent corrosion, you must limit moisture and oxygen from coming in contact with the structural steel stairs. For this, you can coat the stairs with a rust-inhibiting primer and limit water from coming in contact. You must also repair your stairs and get rid of all the cracks and holes in the stairs that are vulnerable to corrosion. Always hire a good structural steel fabricator to make sure they use high-quality materials to build stairs and other steel structures.
