Frequently Asked Questions

We are currently adding content to this section, so feel free to contact us by email should you have any questions that are not yet addressed in this FAQ.

Q. Is your process "green"?

A. While we are still in the process of applying for green "certification", that does not mean we are not environmentally friendly.   

Our scanning process is Clean, Green, and Lean:

• No harsh chemicals, no noise pollution, no waste. We even file our reports electronically, to save paper.
• Prevents unnecessary replacement of good pipe, resulting in less material dumped in landfills and less environmental impact from pipe manufacturing.
• Helps prevent the pollution that would have been generated from system failure, including lost or wasted water, damaged equipment, fire damage, toxins released into the atmosphere or water supply, etc.

Q. Will my company get a discount on its property insurance after Sonic performs its NDT testing?

A. Maybe. We can't speak for your insurance company specifically, but some companies have been eligible for substantial discounts after submitting Sonic's report.

Q. I already have a contractor servicing my fire or cooling system pipe. Why would I want to have Sonic scan my system?

A. Many large companies contract this sort of service out to specialized companies, however none of those "specialty" contractors have the ability to provide the level of accurate detailed information that Sonic can deliver quietly, cleanly, and cost effectively.

Additionally, Sonic Pipe Inspection does not install or repair these systems, so there is no bias in our reporting.

Q. My system is only a few years old, so why have it inspected for corrosion?

A. MIC and other forms of corrosion can develop very quickly, especially with "today's" pipe. The alloys used within the last 15 years or so can be much more susceptible to corrosion than that used many many years ago.

We have witnessed significant corrosion in pipe as little as 3 years old.

Q. Does the scanning process have any harmful side effects to people, animals, food, etc.?

A. No, the technology is perfectly safe. As a matter of fact, the principles of this technology are similar to that of sonograms that are given to pregnant women.

Q. Is your equipment safe to use around sensitive electronics? (servers, clean rooms, medical equipment, etc.)

A. Yes it is safe. It bears no danger to electronics, and the equipment has even been used in Class 1 clean rooms. The physics that make this technology work, reply upon the very characteristic that ultrasonic sound waves do not travel well through the air.

Q. Can Sonic Pipe Inspection safely perform scans around combustible materials?

A. Yes, the electronics are all solid state and produce no source for ignition. Additionally, the transducers in the scan head are protected by a non-conductive material, acting as an insulator for static electricity.

Q. Do I need to shut down my fire or cooling system when you perform your scans?

A. No, Sonic Pipe Inspection's scanning technology is 100% non-destructive. We lightly touch our scan head to the pipe and generate a reading in a few seconds. No cutting pipe, no draining the system, no need for a fire marshal, no manufacturing shut downs, no trouble at all.

Q. What other options do I have to inspect/maintain my system?

A. Here are a few of the most common methods used to address these systems. The important factor to realize is that there is no single "magic bullet" that will address ALL the needs of the system.

• Traditional NFPA required flow testing: This is a great "first line of defense", but many companies stop at this point, doing the bare minimum required by law. The intention of these inspections is to look for general indicators of a problem, and then investigate further to define the location and severity of potential issues.
   
• The "wait and see" approach: The problem here is that you never know when or how badly a failure can affect you, and often times the pipe repair costs will be dwarfed by the ancillary costs associated with the failure (lost equipment, lost data, production down time, injury or death to employees). A good predictive maintenance program can go a long way to proactively and economically addressing these preventable problems.
   
• Water testing and/or chemical treatment: This can be a good way to slow the corrosion process, but it is not permanent, it will not completely stop corrosion, and most importantly, it will not reverse corrosion issues already present in the system. The only way to do that is to map and replace corroded pipe.
   
• Conventional Ultrasonic Thickness Testing: This is a valuable tool and something we use to help substantiate our findings, but there are a few key limitations with conventional ultrasound thickness technology. Most notably, conventional ultrasound can only detect wall loss in a very small area so you must place the probe directly over localized corrosion to detect degradation, and it does not detect corrosion build up at all, giving false "good" readings for corroded pipe.
   
• Borescpoe: A technology best employed where first-hand visual confirmation in a localized area is required; however it provides limited information over a large area and it is a destructive testing method that requires cutting the system open in multiple locations to insert the camera. Opening the system is noisy, expensive, generates additional points of failure, and requires shutting down the fire or cooling system (along with all of the logistical difficulties associated with doing so).

Q. Can Sonic scan pipe located behind drywall or under insulation?

A. No, the scan head must physically touch the pipe so about a 4" wide strip of insulation or drywall would have to be temporarily removed in the immediate areas where scans are performed.

Q. How long does it take to scan my system?

A. There are many variables, but typically a team of 2 technicians can quietly and accurately scan a 50k to 100k square foot area in one day.

Q. How long will it take to get my final report?

A. In most cases, we can deliver the final report within 5 to 10 business days after the on-site scanning is complete.

Please click here to contact us directly with any additional questions you may have.