Chapter 1 – Cost of corrosion in the United States

Publisher Summary This chapter develops an estimate of the total economic impact of metallic corrosion in the United States and identifies national strategies to minimize the impact of corrosion. Corrosion costs result from (1) equipment and structure replacement, (2) loss of product, (3) maintenance and repair, (4) the need for excess capacity and redundant equipment, (5) corrosion control, (6) designated technical support, (7) design, (8) insurance, and (9) parts and equipment inventories. It was determined that the total direct cost of corrosion in the United States is approximately $276 billion per year, which is 3.1 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP). The 1998 CC Technologies cost of corrosion study for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) focused on infrastructure, utilities, transportation, production and manufacturing, and government. It was more detailed and specified corrosion costs using two methods: (1) cost of corrosion control methods and services and (2) corrosion costs in individual industrial sectors. It is estimated that the indirect cost to the end user can double the economic impact, making the cost of corrosion, including indirect costs, $551.4 billion or more.