By André Feiferis, Mechanical and Chemical Engineer, and Amir Rubin, Service Line Principal.
When a fire, sprinkler discharge, or significant water intrusion occurs, attention naturally turns to the visible damage. Debris cleanup begins, inventories are taken, and stakeholders work to understand the scope of the loss. What is often overlooked is the damage that starts almost immediately beneath the surface. Long after the flames are extinguished or the standing water is removed, corrosive contaminants can remain on metal surfaces, electrical components, and critical equipment. These contaminants initiate electrochemical reactions that continue accelerating damage day after day. For property owners and insurers alike, this creates a significant challenge: the condition of equipment can deteriorate rapidly while claims decisions, recovery planning, and repair strategies are still being discussed.
Why Time Matters
Many organizations assume that once visible water is removed, the immediate threat has passed. In reality, elevated humidity, soot residues, and chloride contamination can continue fueling corrosion even when equipment appears dry. What begins as microscopic damage can quickly evolve into severe localized corrosion, compromising mechanical systems, electrical equipment, and precision components. The result is often an avoidable increase in loss severity.
A Shift from Reaction to Mitigation
One of the most important lessons from forensic investigations is that corrosion does not pause while stakeholders evaluate options. The corrosion process continues whether recovery decisions have been finalized or not. That is why proactive mitigation measures such as environmental controls, dehumidification, corrosion inhibitors, and contamination removal should be considered as early as possible. These actions can slow or arrest ongoing deterioration while long-term recovery plans are being developed.
The Value of Early Technical Assessment
Determining whether corrosion is newly loss-related or pre-existing requires scientific evaluation, not assumptions. Advanced forensic techniques allow engineers and materials specialists to identify the source, severity, and progression of corrosion while providing objective evidence to support recovery decisions. By understanding the mechanisms driving corrosion and acting quickly, stakeholders can often preserve critical assets, reduce downtime, and avoid unnecessary equipment replacement.
The Bottom Line
In post-loss environments, the greatest threat is often the damage that cannot yet be seen. Corrosion is a time-sensitive process. The sooner contamination is identified and mitigation measures are implemented, the greater the opportunity to protect equipment, control costs, and support a successful recovery.
Read the full paper here: https://www.efiglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Anatomy-of-Accelerated-Corrosion-_-Full-Paper.pdf.
Tags: corrosion, damage, Property damage