A New Year Presentation

A NEW YEAR PRESENTATION

The London Branch started their 2010 programme of events with a New Year presentation by David H Deacon, as the guest lecturer.  There was a very good turn out, despite the adverse weather conditions, with over 30 members and their guests attending. David split his presentations into three sections. Firstly he paid a tribute to, The Late Harry Hatley, who had sadly passed away in December.  Secondly, he briefly summarised the History of the Institute with the 50th anniversary celebrations and finally, he talked about, Coatings Specifications - Successes and Failures a talk, which had previously, been given last year to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, at their annual Master Class Seminar.

David, summarised the input of Harry Hatley to the Institute over 50 years, being a Founder Member, a National Chairman of BACE and the first Chairman of the London Branch Committee.  In particular, Harry had been a Member of the membership and PAC Committees and was the author of the first code of professional conduct and this significant input had been recognised by the 50th Anniversary Committee, who awarded him VIP status, for his contribution to both industry and the Institute. A one minute silence, in memory of Harry then preceded the rest of his talk.

Secondly David briefly reviewed the six parts of the History of Institute, which have been covered in previous issues of this magazine, but he has pointed out that there were two further sections to be continued and these would be in the next issues.

He listed some of the achievements of individual Presidents, who had been involved in leading the Institute over the 50 years and he picked out in his own view, the three major achievements overt the past 50 years, with Redvers Parkins [President-1982-83] as the third greatest achievement with his involvement with NACE, the CCEJV and the CEA, which expanded the Institute and finally becoming President of NACE. 
His second placed achievement was Dr T P Hoar [President-1969-70] for his involvement with the DTI committee on the cost of corrosion in the UK and the effect that this had on the development and changes of the Institute over many years.

David, however, recognised that the greatest achievement was John O’Shea [President-2000–2002] for the acquisition of Corrosion House, something, which had been attempted by the Institute on many occasions in the past, but never previously achieved and this was coupled with major conferences and exhibitions in, Edinburgh–Scotland and Cardiff–Wales, as well as Dublin–Ireland.  He also was responsible for introducing recognition by the Science Council, for our members Chartered Science status.

David’s third item, was the subject of, Coatings Specifications – Successes and Failures, which he illustrated with two failures and two successes.  He picked these from many examples he could have used, following his career as a coatings consultant, in an industry in which he started in 1957.

The first failure he selected was a coating system based on aluminium thermal metal spray, with a sealer and four coats of paint, which had been designed for a 25 year life to first maintenance, but was showing signs of breakdown after 5 years.  He pointed out that this was an example of one of many failures of this type of system, which had been specified by engineers, without understanding the structures to which it could be applied. He said it had been selected on reputation, but on the basis of ‘horses for courses’ he stated that many engineers without knowledge picked the wrong horse for the wrong course.

His second failure related to an offshore wind turbine farm, where a high build coating system had failed within the first year of the coating life, which had been designed, again for 25 years to first major maintenance, with an expectation that it would last at least 15 years.  David was able to point out the causes for the failure, and how these could have been covered by a detailed specification and an understanding of the coating system.

His two successes were both London based structures. The first one being the Thames Barrier, with which he had been involved, since 1972 and interestingly at the first discussion meeting he attended, Harry Hatley was present to discuss the use of Cathodic protection, in conjunction with the coating system.  David pointed out that over 30 different systems had been tested over a 7 year period and the final detailed coating specification called for a one coat paint system, for a 25 year life.  He pointed out that this system had been examined over the last 4 years, now that it had reached its 25 years and the findings of the recent survey extended the life to first major maintenance to 40 years, a tremendous success for all those involved in this coating contract for such an important structure.

His final success was the refurbishment of the Cutty Sark.  He pointed out that although this project was still in the early stages, the testing and evaluation, which was based on the previous testing and evaluation of steel for the Thames Barrier had enabled a projected life of 40 years and possibly the Client’s request for a 50 year life would be achieved.

In conclusion, David linked his three themes together, by pointing out that Harry Hatley had, had an immense interest in all of the projects and in looking at the final section of the history ‘the new millennium and where are we going?’ [2000 – 2009] and beyond, David pointed out that examples he had picked, the flood defence systems, the conservation of historic structures, and the protection of the new phase of wind turbine energy, were chosen as examples of work that members of the Institute would be increasingly involved with, over the next 50 years.

A vote of thanks was given by Geoff White, Secretary of the ICorr London Branch.

The next meeting of London Branch will be on the 11th February 2010 and will be a presentation by David Eyre, of Penspen
on AC mitigation.