Why has Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) recently become a problem in fire sprinkler systems?
Corrosion has always been a problem in fire sprinkler systems, but corrosion agents were identified incorrectly as low quality pipe or bad water sources. Furthermore, the increased amount of commercial building space that is now required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to have sprinkler systems installed has led to more pipe out there that has the ability to develop corrosion problems. Finally, due to advances in technology over the years, fire sprinkler pipe wall thickness has been reduced. However, these technological advances did not take into account that the thinner the pipe wall, the less time it takes for corrosion to eat through pipes in fire sprinkler systems.
