Dry and pre-action fire sprinkler systems face unique challenges from internal corrosion, which can compromise their performance and service life. While high-purity nitrogen has long been used to mitigate these effects, Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors (VCIs) are now being successfully tested for application in fire protection systems.
For GAP and Cortec®, the Vapor Pipe Shield award places another stamp of approval on an exciting technology that is redefining the fire sprinkler protection industry. Vapor Pipe Shield is on track to change the way that people approach corrosion prevention in fire sprinkler systems.
In May, General Air Products (GAP) released 18-month data on a five-year test underway in partnership with Corrosion Laboratories, comparing corrosion rates on carbon steel specimens partially immersed in water and treated either with compressed air, 98 percent purity nitrogen (the current industry standard for fire sprinkler protection), or VCIs (in this case, Cortec® VpCI®).
At the one-year mark in December, GAP had reported that VCIs appeared to be up to seven times more effective at reducing corrosion than nitrogen and 34 times more effective than compressed air. Six months after that, GAP reported VCI effectiveness to be 14 times more effective than nitrogen and 117 times more effective than compressed air.
The US based Annual Conference + Expo 2025 where Gap picked up it award focuses on corrosion control and materials protection, drawing thousands of experts and innovators from around the world.
Since 2014, the official publication, Materials Performance (MP), has awarded Corrosion Innovation of the Year Awards to significant inventions in this field. “The winners of our technologies in the industry today,” says Editor in Chief Rebecca Bickham.
The results underscore the apparent advantages of VpCI® for corrosion protection alone, not to mention the major installation and upkeep advantages of Vapor Pipe Shield compared to the challenges of maintaining a pressurised 98 percent nitrogen system.
Vapor Pipe Shield is fully mechanical with no electrical connections and simply piped directly in-line between the air compressor and the dry pipe valve. makes corrosion mitigation in any dry or pre-action fire sprinkler system simple, efficient, and highly cost-effective.
With an industry award and new test data in hand, the effectiveness of Cortec’s underlying corrosion inhibitors signals exciting possibilities. The company says that these two milestones underscore the exciting potential of Vapor Pipe Shield as it is poised to set a new standard in fire sprinkler protection.
For building managers, it promises greater effectiveness with reduced maintenance for fire sprinkler integrity.
For innovators like GAP, it demonstrates the game-changing potential of Cortec’s VpCI® to take their designs to a new level of convenience and effectiveness in metals protection.