Porcelain Toilet Tank Failure Analysis

A failure analysis was performed on a toilet tank that had caused water damage to a residence. This failure initiated at a hold down bolt hole. This tank was 14 years old. Originally it was proposed that thus porcelain failure was the result of a manufacturing defect. The root cause failure analysis shows that the tank was subjected to forces that were transfered to the porcelain through the hold down bolts. This toilet tank failed as a result of undue forces. It is not the result of a product defect.

Plumbing Failure Analysis

Northern California failure analysis expert often performs plumbing failure analysis. In this case, the corrosion expert examines plumbing in numerous houses that was plugged due to brass dezincification of yellwo brass. In this case the zinc in the copper zinc alloy corrodes selectively and this leaves a white deposit on the interior of the pipe. The white material is a combination of zinc oxide and zinc carbonate. Above is an example of significant dezincification; however this pipe is still fairly open. One can see that the flow of the water is from the brass to the copper and the corrosion product is being dragged into the copper pipe from the corroding brass fitting that is soldered to it. As the brass contioues to corrode, the fitting can become clogged and its strength will significantly decline.