BS EN 12501-1 is a European standard and a part of the BS EN 12501 series that discusses the general corrosion likelihood in soil for the protection of metallic materials against corrosion. Corrosion-resistant metals, particularly stainless steel, form a very thin chromium oxide layer that protects the inner metal from oxygen.
BS EN 12501-1 provides a basis for assessing the corrosion likelihood in the soil of buried metallic structures such as pipelines, sheathed metallic cables, storage tanks, sheet pilings, support anchors, culverts and earth reinforcement. BS EN 12501-1 defines the general concepts for the assessment method and lists the main factors influencing the corrosion of buried structures.
BS EN 12501-1 on the protection of metallic materials against corrosion applies to:
Corrosion-resistant metals, particularly stainless steel, form a very thin chromium oxide layer that protects the inner metal from oxygen. That is important because oxygen is needed with iron to create rust/iron oxide. In general, no oxygen, no rust.
BS EN 12501-1 provides you with the probability of the appearance of corrosion damage in the soil in which the probability of corrosion damage is estimated from the class of corrosion load in the soil in combination with the requirements concerning the function of the structure, its design (material, thickness, …), its serviceability and its durability. This will help you in the protection of metallic materials against corrosion.
As a user, BS EN 12501-1 deals with the protective systems of specific buried metallic structures which are to be used in the combination with the corrosion load in soil.
EN 12501-1:2003