Resources

Cost of Corrosion Study

Current Cost Estimates and National Strategies to Minimize the Impact of Corrosion

Cost of Corrosion Study Unveiled

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a breakthrough study in 2002 on the direct costs associated with metallic corrosion in nearly every U.S. industry sector, from infrastructure and transportation to production and manufacturing. Initiated by NACE International—The Corrosion Society and mandated by the U.S. Congress in 1999 as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), the study provides current cost estimates and identifies national strategies to minimize the impact of corrosion.

The study, entitled ‘Corrosion Costs and Preventive Strategies in the United States,’ was conducted by CC Technologies Laboratories, Inc. (Dublin, Ohio) with support from the FHWA and NACE. Its main activities included determining the cost of corrosion control methods and services, determining the economic impact of corrosion for specific industry sectors, extrapolating individual sector costs to a national corrosion cost, assessing barriers to effective implementation of optimized corrosion control practices, and developing implementation strategies and cost-saving recommendations. The study also provided an overview of specific corrosion problems and important issues in each individual industrial sector.

Results of the study show that the total annual estimated direct cost of corrosion in the U.S. is a staggering $276 billion—approximately 3.1% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It reveals that, although corrosion management has improved over the past several decades, the U.S. must find more and better ways to encourage, support, and implement optimal corrosion control practices.

Download Cost of Corrosion Supplement (PDF)

Excerpt from the July 2002 MP Supplement— Corrosion Costs and Preventive Strategies in the United States

How to Order the U.S. Report

To obtain a copy of ‘Corrosion Costs and Preventive Strategies in the United States,’ Report FHWA-RD-01-156, contact the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; phone: 703/605-6000.

For online ordering go to www.ntis.gov. In the Search Now! box input FHWA-RD-01-156 then click Start.

Links and Downloads

View the Cost of Corrosion Presentation created by NACE International.

Download the presentation (Microsoft* PowerPoint®)

Go to the Corrosion Cost Web site

View Corrosion Costs and Preventive Strategies in the United States (PDF)