2017 Award Nomination

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Joshua Bruce Johns
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Title of Innovation: DeOx - DeOxygenation System Nominee(s) Jimmy O Connor, South-Tek Systems Category: (select one below) 2017 Award Nomination Coatings and Linings Cathodic Protection Materials

1 Title of Innovation: DeOx - DeOxygenation System Nominee(s) Jimmy O Connor, South-Tek Systems Category: (select one below) 2017 Award Nomination Coatings and Linings Cathodic Protection Materials Design Chemical Treatment Instrumentation Testing Integrity Assessment Other fill in Dates of Innovation Development: May 2012 to present Web site: Summary Description: Sprinkler pipe corrosion is a serious threat for organizations that rely on wet sprinkler systems to protect their facilities. Internal corrosion, resulting in the formation of localized pinholes, leads not only to costly damage from leaks, but catastrophic losses when compromised sprinkler systems are rendered inoperable during a fire. Under the law of simple physics, air migrates through wet sprinkler piping to the highest points of the system, where it accumulates in pockets under compression due to the water pressure in the system. Trapped air pockets are commonplace in wet sprinkler systems due to the complexities of pitching and/or maintaining a proper continuous sprinkler piping slope. Hence, the majority of corrosion in wet sprinkler systems occurs at the oxygen-water interface on the pipe walls of the trapped air pockets. Both the oxygen within the trapped air pockets and the dissolved oxygen within the fill water are driving factors of corrosion - and the eventual pinhole leaks that occur in wet sprinkler systems. Troubled facilities may experience multiple leaks

2 per month, and at an average expense of $2,000 to repair a single section of wet sprinkler pipe, it can be a very costly problem. Prior to the introduction of the DeOx - DeOxygenation System to the Fire Protection Industry, there had not been a single turn-key solution to address both the oxygen within the trapped air pockets and the dissolved oxygen within the fill water. As part of a simple 3-step process, the DeOx System pre-purges the sprinkler piping with 99.5% pure nitrogen gas, then fills it with deoxygenated water (1.0 ppm or less dissolved oxygen). Pre-purging the sprinkler piping with nitrogen displaces the oxygen from within the trapped air pockets. And by charging the piping with deoxygenated water, 1.0 ppm or less of dissolved oxygen remains in constant contact with the steel sprinkler piping. 1.0 ppm or less dissolved oxygen within the water is below the threshold of oxygen proven to cause corrosion. It also means that there is a limited amount of dissolved oxygen available to dissipate (outgas) from the water into the trapped nitrogen (formerly air) pockets - protecting the sprinkler piping areas that would have otherwise corroded in the past.

3 Full Description: (Please provide complete answers to the questions below. Graphs, charts, and photos can be inserted to support the answers.) 1. What is the innovation? The Patent Pending DeOx - DeOxygenation System effectively inhibits the onset of corrosion in wet sprinkler systems by displacing the vast majority of oxygen from both the trapped air pockets and city (fill) water prior to it entering the sprinkler piping. 2. How does the innovation work? First, the pre-existing, oxygenated water is completely drained from the wet sprinkler system. Then, in order to displace the majority of the 20.9% oxygen from within the sprinkler piping, it is pre-purged with 99.5% pure nitrogen from a liquid dewar(s). One (1) dewar of liquid nitrogen is enough to effectively pre-purge almost 6,000 gallons of wet sprinkler pipe capacity. After prepurging, an oxygen analyzer is connected to either a DeOx - Exhaust Port or O 2 -Release System (air vent). It is important to verify that less than 2% oxygen remains in the sprinkler piping before charging the system with deoxygenated water because gas levels within both the trapped pockets and fill water will eventually reach equilibrium. Thus, beginning with less than 2% oxygen in the sprinkler piping helps ensure that the trapped nitrogen (formerly air) pockets remain below the threshold required to effectively inhibit corrosion (i.e. < 2%) in an equilibrium state. 1 DeOx System Liquid N 2 Dewar Dual Vent O 2-Release System Exhaust Port DeOx System Typical Installation Layout The final step of the process is to refill the sprinkler piping with deoxygenated water. As city water flows through the inlet valve of the DeOx - DeOxygenation System, particulates are filtered and impurities are immediately removed before the water reaches the DeOx cartridge. The intent of the DeOx cartridge is two-fold; while it actively nitrogenates the water, thereby increasing the amount of nitrogen that will eventually outgas from the water and improve the nitrogen to oxygen ratio in the sprinkler piping s trapped gas pockets, it also works to reduce the dissolved oxygen content in the water to 1.0 ppm or less before its introduction to the wet sprinkler system. Once the system is full of DeOx water, gas levels within the trapped pockets

reach equilibrium with those in the water; however, there is not enough dissolved oxygen within the DeOx water to outgas and exceed the 2% oxygen threshold necessary for the corrosion process to

4 reach equilibrium with those in the water; however, there is not enough dissolved oxygen within the DeOx water to outgas and exceed the 2% oxygen threshold necessary for the corrosion process to initiate within the trapped pockets. Therefore, the electrochemical potential ceases to exist and Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion, Galvanized and Electrochemical Corrosion are effectively inhibited within the wet sprinkler system significantly extending the sprinkler pipe service life. 1 Van Der Schijff, O.J. & Bodemann, S.C. NACE Paper 2846 Corrosion of Piping in Dry and Preaction Fire Sprinkler Systems: Interim Results of Long Term Corrosion Testing Under Compressed Air and Nitrogen Supervision, NACE Corrosion 2013 International Conference Paper, No Describe the corrosion problem or technological gap that sparked the development of the innovation? How does the innovation improve upon existing methods/technologies to address this corrosion problem or provide a new solution to bridge the technology gap? Trapped air pockets are commonplace in wet sprinkler systems due to the complexities of pitching and/or maintaining a proper continuous sprinkler piping slope. Hence, the majority of corrosion in wet sprinkler systems occurs at the oxygen-water interface on the pipe walls of the trapped air pockets. Both the oxygen within the trapped air pockets and the dissolved oxygen within the fill water are driving factors of corrosion - and the eventual pinhole leaks that occur in wet sprinkler systems. Troubled facilities may experience multiple leaks per month, and at an average expense of $2,000 to repair a single section of wet sprinkler pipe, it can be a very costly problem.

Prior to the introduction of the DeOx - DeOxygenation System to the Fire Protection Industry, there had not been a single turn-key solution to address both the oxygen within the trapped air pockets

5 Prior to the introduction of the DeOx - DeOxygenation System to the Fire Protection Industry, there had not been a single turn-key solution to address both the oxygen within the trapped air pockets and the dissolved oxygen within the fill water. At that time, the consensus among those in the Fire Protection Industry was that pre-purging with nitrogen was the best all-around solution available for inhibiting wet sprinkler system corrosion in spite of its inability to reduce the dissolved oxygen content in the water. Solely pre-purging the sprinkler piping with nitrogen and refilling with city water may not ensure low oxygen levels within the trapped gas pockets and thus, may not single-handedly inhibit corrosion in a wet sprinkler system. Why? Water consists mainly of H 2 O and dissolved oxygen (O 2 ) molecules. In city water, the dissolved oxygen level can be as great as 20 parts per million. These dissolved oxygen molecules will contribute to corrosion. How? City water is nearly 1,000 times denser than the gas pockets (densities: water ~ 1,000 grams/liter, air ~ 1.25 grams/liter), hence the two mediums hold different quantities of oxygen molecules at equal volumes. In addition, by volume there is substantially more water than there are gas pockets in a wet sprinkler system. Due to these two factors and Henry's Law of Gases Seeking Equilibrium, the dissolved oxygen will transfer out of the water and into the gas pockets, and may increase the oxygen level significantly above the proven 2% threshold required to effectively inhibit corrosion. Henry's Law states that gases within two joining mediums will seek equilibrium. Consider an open bottle of soda; if left out, the dissolved CO 2 within the soda will transfer out into the air because the atmosphere has a lower concentration of CO 2 gas. Similarly, Henry's Law demonstrates that after the nitrogen pre-purging process and introduction of city water, oxygen and nitrogen levels within the gas pockets will return to an equilibrium state potentially elevating the oxygen levels in the gas pockets above the acceptable 2% threshold and allowing the corrosion reaction to occur.

South-Tek's Patent Pending DeOx - DeOxygenation System goes beyond nitrogen pre-purging and successfully inhibits the onset of corrosion by displacing the vast majority of oxygen from both the

6 South-Tek's Patent Pending DeOx - DeOxygenation System goes beyond nitrogen pre-purging and successfully inhibits the onset of corrosion by displacing the vast majority of oxygen from both the trapped gas pockets and city (fill) water prior to it entering the sprinkler piping. 4. Has the innovation been tested in the laboratory or in the field? If so, please describe any tests or field demonstrations and the results that support the capability and feasibility of the innovation. DeOx - DeOxygenation System Field Case Study 22 Month Results Background & Facility Layout (Layout drawing below) o 120,000 ft 2 of wet fire sprinkler system coverage o (4) wet fire sprinkler pipe risers averaging 1,500 gallons of capacity each o Schedule 10 black steel piping (mains) / Schedule 40 black steel piping (branch lines) o Municipal water supply

LAB 27 106 5 8/25/2014 RISER #2 - PHOTOGRAPHY 3 80 6 9/20/2014 RISER #2 - SEM PREP 26 69 7 10/6/2014 RISER #2 - MEZZANINE E&L 2 LAB 16 61 8 10/23/2014 RISER #4 - IT CLOSET 17 54 9 11/3/2014 RISER #2

7 Data Corrosion Related Sprinkler Pipe Leaks DATE LOCATION OF LEAK # DAYS BETWEEN LEAKS AVG. # DAYS BETWEEN LEAKS 1 10/8/2013 RISER #3 - CEO'S OFFICE /16/2014 RISER #2 - OUTSIDE E&L 2 LAB /26/2014 RISER #2 - MEZZANINE E&L 2 LAB /22/2014 RISER #4 - ROCK MECHANICS LAB /25/2014 RISER #2 - PHOTOGRAPHY /20/2014 RISER #2 - SEM PREP /6/2014 RISER #2 - MEZZANINE E&L 2 LAB /23/2014 RISER #4 - IT CLOSET /3/2014 RISER #2 - OUTSIDE E&L 2 LAB /5/2014 RISER #4 - CUBICLES HG LAB /24/2014 RISER #2 - CUBICLES ROCK/HG LAB /30/2014 RISER #2 - SEM PREP /1/2014 RISER #3 - CEO'S OFFICE /2/2014 RISER #4 - ROCK MECHANICS LAB /3/2014 DEOX SYSTEM BROUGHT ONLINE & SELECTIVE PIPE REPLACEMENT PROJECT STARTED 15 12/6/2014 RISER #2 - PHOTOGRAPHY /17/2014 RISER #4 - IT CLOSET /3/2015 RISER #2 - CENTRIFUGE LAB /19/2015 RISER #2 - MEZZANINE E&L 2 LAB /21/2015 RISER #2 - OUTSIDE E&L 2 LAB /27/2015 RISER #2 - CUBICLES ROCK/HG LAB /20/2015 SELECTIVE PIPE REPLACEMENT PROJECT FINISHED 10/7/ DAYS SINCE THE LAST SPRINKLER PIPE LEAK o Prior to the introduction of the DeOx System, the average frequency of leaks progressed to 32 days o On 12/3/14, the DeOx System was brought online and selective pipe replacement efforts began o Over the next several weeks, (6) leaks occurred along an 80 section of piping which was replaced

8 o With the DeOx System online, zero leaks have occurred since 2/27/15 a period of 588 days Cost-Benefit Analysis o Estimated cost of a full fire sprinkler system replacement (not recommended) ~ $240, o Annual sprinkler pipe repair spend ~ $24, (not including the cost of damaged equipment and other assets, as well as the focus of the maintenance staff) o Cost of DeOx System, installation and selective pipe replacement labor ~ $29, o Return on investment period ~ 1 yr. 4 mos. o 5-year savings ~ $88, The implementation of the DeOx System in conjunction with selective pipe replacement has proven to effectively inhibit corrosion in pre-existing wet fire sprinkler systems. In this case, there have been no leaks in the sprinkler piping for 588 days. The building owner recouped on their investment in both the DeOx equipment and rehabilitation efforts in roughly 16 months. Ultimately, the owner not only stands to reap the benefits of a significant sprinkler pipe service life extension, but has the peace of mind that they re doing everything to ensure their wet fire sprinkler system is operable in the event of a fire. 5. How can the innovation be incorporated into existing corrosion prevention and control activities and how does it benefit the industry/industries it serves (i.e., does it provide a cost and/or time savings; improve an inspection, testing, or data collection process; help to extend the service life of assets or corrosion-control systems, etc.)? Before the DeOx System hit the market, there was not a single turn-key product available for both displacing the oxygen from the trapped gas pockets and reducing the dissolved oxygen in the fill water to less than 1.0 ppm. The DeOx System easily integrates into any new or preexisting wet fire sprinkler system. And as proven in the above Case Study, the DeOx System effectively slows the rate of corrosion within wet sprinkler systems and ultimately results in a significant extension to the sprinkler pipe service life. 6. Is the innovation commercially available? If yes, how long has it been utilized? If not, what is the next step in making the innovation commercially available? What are the challenges, if any, that may affect further development or use of this innovation and how could they be overcome? The DeOx System has been commercially available and utilized in the field since It is distributed worldwide through the most recognized and respected Distribution Channels in the Fire Protection Industry.

9 7. Are there any patents related to this work? If yes, please provide the patent title, number, and inventor. The DeOx - DeOxygenation System is Patent Pending.

Materials Performance November Nitrogen generator inhibits corrosion within fire protection systems

Materials Performance November 2014 Nitrogen generator inhibits corrosion within fire protection systems When dry and pre-action fire protection systems experience internal corrosion in their piping network,