Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Corrosion Protection Systems on Iron and Steel Products

A1068: Standard Practice for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Corrosion Protection Systems on Iron and Steel Products

When specifying and maintaining iron and steel products, the long-term financial implications of corrosion protection are paramount. ASTM A1068 provides an essential framework for engineers to move beyond initial expenditure and understand the true economic impact of different protection strategies over the asset's entire lifespan. This industry-leading standard offers a comprehensive methodology for comparing alternatives, ensuring that decisions are driven by sound economic principles and proven engineering practices.

What is A1068?

ASTM A1068, "Standard Practice for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Corrosion Protection Systems on Iron and Steel Products," establishes a systematic procedure for evaluating the economic viability of various corrosion control measures. Developed by ASTM International, this authoritative document guides professionals in conducting a thorough economic assessment by considering all costs associated with protection systems from initial installation through eventual rehabilitation or replacement. Its primary purpose is to facilitate informed decision-making by identifying the most cost-effective corrosion protection strategies for iron and steel assets.

Scope & Purpose

This standard governs the application of life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis techniques specifically for comparing alternative corrosion protection systems designed to meet the same functional requirements for iron and steel products. It details the methodology for calculating the present value of all relevant expenditures over a defined project lifespan. This includes costs for surface preparation, material application, construction, subsequent maintenance, rehabilitation, and eventual replacement. The standard focuses on the economic evaluation of these systems and does not address the technical specifications of the protection systems themselves.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Materials Engineers, Corrosion Engineers, Project Managers, Cost Estimators, and Maintenance Managers.
• • Industries affected: Manufacturing, Construction, Infrastructure Development, Oil and Gas, Automotive, and Aerospace.
• • Compliance nature: Voluntary, but highly recommended for projects where long-term cost-effectiveness is critical.
• • Enforcement: Typically driven by project owner requirements, internal company policy, or contractual obligations rather than regulatory mandates.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard requires professionals to:

• • Clearly define project objectives, identify all viable alternative corrosion protection systems, and acknowledge any project constraints.
• • Establish uniform assumptions for all analyzed alternatives, including the selection of an appropriate discount rate, the treatment of inflation, and the project design life.
• • Compile all pertinent cost data, encompassing initial installation costs as well as projected future costs for maintenance, repair, and eventual replacement.
• • Compute the life-cycle cost for each alternative by discounting all future costs to their present value, thereby enabling a direct comparison.
• • Evaluate the results to identify the alternative(s) offering the lowest estimated total cost over the specified project design life.

Related Standards & References

ASTM A1068 often works in conjunction with other standards. Practice E917, "Practice for Measuring Life-Cycle Costs of Buildings and Building Systems," provides a broader context for LCC methodologies. Additionally, technical specifications for specific corrosion protection systems, such as those developed by ASTM Committee A05, would be referenced to define the actual materials and application procedures being evaluated within the LCC framework of A1068.