On November 1, 2018, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) modified and updated the general building requirements of the DoD Building Code, known as Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 1–200-01.
The UFC updates include a variety of new corrosion prevention and control (CPC) Requirements, including specifications for the application of environmental severity classification (ESC) and humidity design factors.
New Corrosion Control Requirements
Specifically, the new CPC requirements address the importance of using the appropriate materials, systems, components, and coatings during the design and construction phases of a DoD facility project.
In addition, instructions for pinpointing the ESC factor at the location of a new construction project are provided to help engineers and architects determine how best to design and construct the project for maximum longevity.
The update also addresses the selection of materials and the design requirements for corrosion-prone locations, based on the ESC and other environmental factors that can influence a design.
Within the CPC chapter, design considerations for certain systems and components are elucidated for piping and system corrosion, structural members, hardware and fasteners, and dissimilar metals in close contact. Other requirements are explored for protective coatings, buried or submerged structures or systems, and waterfront and coastal structures and systems.
Revised Industry Specification Lists
Following the UFC modification, 31 unified facilities guide specifications (UFGSs) were updated with CPC requirements for various ESC zones and published at WBDG.org. Included in the revised specification list are CPC requirements for concrete, carpentry, roofs, flashing and sheet metal, doors and frames, windows, gypsum boards, plaster, paints and coatings, and other construction categories.
The UFGSs are specification-type documents that translate design criteria into construction requirements. The full UFGS revisions can be accessed at the above website.
For more information, contact: DoD Corrosion Policy and Oversight Office, (713) 557-9792, www.corrdefense.org