NACE SP0169-2024 PDF

Full title and description

NACE SP0169-2024 — Control of External Corrosion on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems. This AMPP (formerly NACE) standard provides methods, criteria, and recommended practices to prevent and control external corrosion for buried and submerged metallic piping (including steel, stainless steel, cast iron, ductile iron, copper and aluminum) through coatings, cathodic protection, monitoring, and related practices.

Abstract

This standard presents accepted methods and practices for assessing the need for external corrosion control, designing and installing corrosion-control measures (coatings and cathodic protection), mitigating stray currents, and establishing operation, maintenance, and recordkeeping programs for underground and submerged metallic piping systems. It is a revised edition intended to reflect current industry practice and to be used as a primary reference for pipeline operators, designers, inspectors, and corrosion control specialists.

General information

• Status: Active (Revised edition, 2024).
• Publication date: May 8, 2024.
• Publisher: Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), published under the NACE designation.
• ICS / categories: 77.060 — Corrosion of metals (corrosion control for piping systems).
• Edition / version: 2024 edition (revises the 2013 edition/SP0169-2013).
• Number of pages: 69 pages.

These bibliographic details and the revised-status note are drawn from the AMPP publication record and standards catalogs.

Scope

The standard covers methods and practices for achieving effective control of external corrosion on buried or submerged metallic piping systems. It addresses determination of need for corrosion control, design and selection of external coatings, cathodic protection criteria and system design, installation practices, stray-current mitigation, operation and maintenance of corrosion-control systems, and recordkeeping. It is intended for new and existing piping systems where external corrosion control is required or recommended.

Key topics and requirements

• Criteria for determining when external corrosion control (coating and/or cathodic protection) is required.
• Design considerations for piping to facilitate corrosion control and inline inspection.
• Selection, application, and inspection of external coatings (including field joints and repair methods).
• Cathodic protection (CP) design principles, current and potential criteria, anode selection, and system sizing.
• Installation practices for CP systems and bonding/monitoring points.
• Guidance for stray-current identification and mitigation.
• Measurement and monitoring techniques, including potentials, current output, and test station practice.
• Operation, maintenance, periodic testing, and recordkeeping requirements for long-term corrosion control effectiveness.

These topics reflect the standard’s table of contents and core technical requirements.

Typical use and users

Typical users include pipeline and utility owners and operators, corrosion engineers and specialists, coatings engineers, contract installers, inspection and maintenance teams, design engineers, regulatory compliance personnel, and consultants involved with buried or submerged metallic piping systems. The document is used to set specifications, establish CP and coating programs, guide inspections, and support regulatory or company practices for external corrosion control.

Related standards

Commonly referenced companion documents include AMPP/NACE standards and test methods for cathodic protection measurement and monitoring (e.g., TM 0497), coatings application and qualification standards, and other pipeline integrity and corrosion standards. The 2013 and prior editions and related NACE/AMPP practices (listed in the historical references) are useful for context and transitional guidance.

Keywords

external corrosion; cathodic protection (CP); underground piping; submerged piping; coatings; stray current; corrosion control; pipeline integrity; monitoring; inspection; AMPP; NACE; SP0169-2024.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: NACE SP0169-2024 is an AMPP standard titled "Control of External Corrosion on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems" that provides recommended practices and criteria for preventing and controlling external corrosion on buried and submerged metallic piping.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers assessment of corrosion-control needs, coating selection and practices, cathodic protection design and criteria, installation and commissioning of CP systems, stray-current mitigation, measurement and monitoring techniques, and operation, maintenance, and recordkeeping for external corrosion control.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Pipeline operators, utilities, corrosion and coatings engineers, inspection and maintenance teams, contractors, consultants, and regulators who work with buried or submerged metallic piping systems.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2024 edition is the current (revised) edition published in 2024; it supersedes the SP0169-2013 edition. Historical records show the 2013 edition has been superseded by the 2024 revision.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. SP0169 is part of AMPP/NACE’s suite of corrosion-control standards and is commonly used alongside related AMPP/NACE standards and test methods (for example, measurement techniques for CP and other pipeline/coatings standards). The standard references and cross-links several other NACE/AMPP documents for complementary guidance.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: External corrosion, cathodic protection, underground piping, submerged piping, coatings, stray currents, corrosion monitoring, pipeline integrity.