Project Description:
Cote d’Azur Condominium on Singer Island in West Palm Beach, Florida, was constructed in the early seventies and consists of two 18 story towers separated by a large plaza deck with parking underneath. There are 206 units with a total of 340 balconies, all of which received Corrpro’s impressed current cathodic protection (CP) system for corrosion control of the reinforcing steel. CP was also installed on the roof overhangs and will later be added to the plaza support columns.

Problem:
The condominium Board began an intensive investigation into various techniques for concrete restoration in 1998 and as a result two engineering surveys were completed over a two year period. In March of 2000, the membership approved a special assessment to pay for concrete restoration and a CP system. Having made that step, the Board then needed to decide on the best corrosion control solution for their buildings. One of the major problems they faced was the magnitude of balcony repair and the associated noise and dust that would accompany a restoration contract of this size.

Solution:
The Board, with considerable input from their engineers, elected to install ELGARD’s™ titanium anode mesh CP system, which is encased in a thin-set mortar under new ceramic tiles. The roof overhangs were also protected by installing the ELGARD™ ribbon mesh in slots cut into the underside.

The plaza deck support columns (see photo "Cote d’Azur Condominium") will be protected by the same slotted ribbon, only installed vertically (Phase II).

Performance:
The entire system is powered and monitored by Corrpro’s rectifier and CORD-COM™ remote monitoring system. The system is operating at optimum voltage and current levels to control further corrosion of the reinforcing steel in the concrete balconies, walkways, roof slabs and entrance canopy. Corrpro will continue to monitor the CP system remotely from its head office in Medina, Ohio.

Value:
The benefits to the Owners can be summed-up in a quote from the Board President Dr. Murray Low: “The process of a project like this is very disruptive; it is costly, noisy and difficult to live through. The long-term reality, however, is you won’t have to deal with corrosion on your balconies for 20 years”. When properly maintained, the CP system will provide a minimum 25-year life expectancy against corrosion of the concrete embedded reinforcing steel.

Project Data:

Structure:	Cote d’Azur Condominium 4200 North Ocean Drive Singer Island, FL 33404
Owner:	Cote d’Azur Condominium Association
Owner Contact:	Dr. Murray Low, Board President Tel: (914) 328 6966
Building Manager:	Ms. Lin Sommers Tel: (561) 844 6259
Engineer:	Southern Cathodic Protection
Engineer Contact:	Mr. John Piazza, PE Tel: (800) 869 3901
Anode Type & Size:	ELGARD™ 150 Anode Mesh and 100 Anode Ribbon (62,000 ft2)
Contractors:	Southern Cathodic Protection and Orion Contracting
Installation Date:	2002

Leading governmental and independent trade organizations have monitored, tested, and reported on corrosion control strategies over the past three decades. These groups include the American Concrete Institute, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, and the Federal Highway Administration. They advocate CP as the only rehabilitation technique that effectively stops corrosion in salt-contaminated structures, regardless of the chloride content in the concrete.

Corrpro Companies, Inc., (AMEX: CO), is the leading provider of corrosion engineering services, materials and systems for the infrastructure, environmental and energy markets throughout the world. For reinforced concrete structures, our involvement has been in many areas including CP system design, installation, testing, coatings evaluation, research and development. Corrpro is the worldwide licensee of the ELGARD™ system for CP of reinforced concrete structures.

ELGARD™ is a trademark of Eltech Systems Corporation.