9. Guidance for Connector and Fastener Corrosion Control

In corrosive environments, most construction materials deteriorate with time and eventually need to be repaired or replaced. In the United States, the service life of a wood-frame building could be approximately 70 years or more. With continued maintenance and periodic upgrades, buildings can remain serviceable well beyond that time. However, lack of maintenance and repairs can cause buildings to deteriorate much sooner than the average service life. Buildings located in coastal environments where steel components can corrode at a high rate are particularly susceptible to deterioration if not maintained regularly. Continued use of a building over its service life requires that:

• The original materials are durable enough to last the expected lifetime
• Periodic maintenance is conducted to extend the life of original materials
• Materials that have deteriorated are replaced