Presenter: Tim O'Leary and Matthew Francis

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) has been a recognized problem for decades. This session will provide an overview of the subject. The potential sources of MIC will be identified, and the reasons why it seems to be an escalating problem in the fire protection industry today will be discussed. A sample water test report analysis will provide an understanding of how mineral content is used to evaluate system corrosion processes. The effects of MIC, both financial and its impact on suppression systems’ performance, will be explored. Samples of both pipe and water will be circulated to bring home the seriousness of the problem. Photographs of external conditions will be used to show how they can reveal internal problems prompting further investigation. Methods of mitigating and controlling MIC will also be explored.