Despite industrial facilities implementing maintenance strategies to keep cooling towers functioning in tip-top condition, the environment where the towers operate often causes fast degradation. For industrial facility renovation contractors, therefore, renovating cooling towers is a substantial project mainly because of the vital role that cooling towers play. Since cooling tower renovations are costly, contractors are always looking for ways to keep these costs low on behalf of their clients.

If you are a renovation contractor, glass-fibre reinforced polyester (GRP) is an excellent place to start. The reinforcement that GRP offers as a composite construction material helps to keep renovation and maintenance costs down. If you have questions and concerns about your cooling towers, read on.

It's Waterproof 

Since traditional cooling towers are built with concrete, the constant presence of water vapour on the inner walls leads to fast deterioration of the facility. Over time, the concrete disintegrates thereby affecting the optimal functioning of the towers. Therefore, since cooling towers are perennially exposed to moisture, wall damage can only be prevented by waterproof composite construction material. It is precisely what glass-reinforced polyester offers. Since the chemical structure makes GRP impermeable, the moisture inside the cooling tower will only settle on the surface as opposed to penetrating the insides. Ultimately, your clients will spend very little money on the maintenance of the cooling towers.  

It Offers Easy Machining 

Renovating concrete cooling towers often requires preparation of concrete aggregate. If the damage is substantial, then contractors will spend a considerable amount of time carrying out the renovation work. Moreover, once the renovations are complete, the cooling towers will still need time to cure before they can be used again. The process takes time and can put undue pressure on the remaining functioning cooling towers. You can eliminate renovation wait times by using GRP composite materials because they are easy to machine and assemble on site. Moreover, GRP composite materials are light; therefore, contractors do not need to hire costly heavy construction equipment to lift the materials. It helps to keep renovation costs low for industrial facilities.

It's Non-Corrosive

One drawback of concrete use in cooling towers is that it is not resistant to UV rays or chemicals that are used in keeping slime and algae at bay. Therefore, constant exposure to sunlight and chemicals will only lead to deterioration even for a newly renovated cooling tower. Substituting concrete with UV and chemical resistant glass-reinforced polyester planks will ensure that the cooling tower remains intact for several years. It is particularly important if you consider that the large opening at the top exposes the insides of the cooling tower to constant UV rays.