Cathodic Protection Design for Steel in Concrete Structures

Module D4 - Methods of Providing Cathodic Protection Energy

Welcome to Module D4 of the Fundamentals of Design for Cathodic Protection of Steel in Concrete Structures. 

To halt the lifecycle of rust permanently, engineering professionals must deliver a continuous, unwavering supply of protective current through the concrete matrix to the embedded steel reinforcement.

Whether you utilise self-powered galvanic or externally powered impressed-current cathodic protection networks, the fundamental objective remains the same: altering electrochemical properties to ensure that the embedded steel consumes energy rather than yields it. This section strips away the complexity of electrochemical design to give you clear, actionable, field-ready insights.

What You Will Learn

  • The Principles of Electron Flow: Trace the baseline mechanics of current distribution from external protection anodes directly to the steel reinforcement bars.


  • Component Compliance Frameworks: Align asset configurations and material placement steps with the design parameters specified in global BS EN ISO 12696 standards.


  • Galvanic Protection Design: Evaluate the capabilities, operational restrictions, and deployment life variables of sacrificial zinc, aluminium, and magnesium components.


  • Impressed Current (ICCP) Systems: Formulate design concepts using durable noble materials, including MMO titanium anode assemblies, built for extensive, multi-decade lifespans.


  • System Performance Modelling: Learn to interpret complex Zinc/Iron and Iron/Titanium Evans diagram corrosion models to chart protective current changes and evaluate thermodynamic behaviour.


  • Power Distribution Hardware: Categorise the field components needed to manage and monitor system outputs, comparing industrial transformer rectifier CP units and advanced switch-mode units.

Who This Course Is For

This cathodic protection course is structured to accommodate learners at every tier of industry experience. The curriculum scales fluidly to meet you at your current level of professional practice, providing foundational breakthroughs for newcomers and deep-dive technical refreshers for seasoned veterans.

  • Entry-Level Engineers & Techs: Professionals taking their first steps in asset integrity who need to grasp the core mechanics of electrochemical electron flow and basic physical field hardware components.


  • Intermediate Designers & Project Leads: Managers and consultants moving beyond standard concrete patching repair strategies who want to systematically plan, specify, and oversee long-life mitigation projects.


  • Senior Specialists & Technical Directors: Experienced practitioners aiming to validate their advanced design configurations, audit compliance frameworks against global benchmarks, and align with BS EN ISO 15257 standards.


  • Asset Owners & Infrastructure Managers: Stakeholders responsible for civil infrastructure, bridges, or marine assets who need a transparent understanding of system viability to maximise structural lifespans.

Course Delivery & Requirements

To maintain strict compliance and ensure professional-level mastery, this course utilises an integrated learning framework:

  • On-Demand Video Lessons: Step-by-step video lectures explaining galvanic vs impressed current systems, electrochemical series, and transformer rectifier operations.


  • Comprehensive Downloads: Complete access to downloadable slides (PDF) and the module overview (PDF) for offline reference.


  • Direct Expert Q&A: Submit technical questions directly through the online learning platform to John Paul Segers (MSc, CEng, FICorr, FIMMM, BS EN ISO 15257 Level 5 CP Expert).


  • Progression Gate: Learners must complete all video lessons, review all documentation, and pass the integrated assessment before unlocking subsequent modules.


  • 100% Mastery Criteria: Achieving a perfect score of 100% on the final 8-question module quiz is required to proceed.


  • Members have access to the On-Demand Video Lessons and Quiz for 1 year from the date of registration, and complete access to downloadable slides (PDF) and the module overview (PDF) for offline reference.

Course Structure and Content

This element of the course has been extracted from the complete Fundamentals of Design for Cathodic Protection of Steel in Concrete Structures course as follows:

    1. Welcome and Course Overview - Video

    2. Purchasing Cathodic Protection Standards - Video

    1. Module D4 - Methods of Providing Cathodic Protection Energy - Overview

    2. Module D4 - Methods of Providing Cathodic Protection Energy - Video

    3. Module D4 - Methods of Providing Cathodic Protection Energy - Slides

    4. Module D4 - Methods of Providing Cathodic Protection Energy - Quiz

About this course

  • £95.00
  • 6 lessons
  • 0.5 hours of video content

Module D4 - Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, you will have developed an understanding of the:

  • Description & terminology - cathodic protection of steel in concrete.
  • Effects of cathodic protection energy flow using electrons.
  • BS EN ISO 12696 Cathodic Protection of Steel in Concrete – galvanic and impressed current.
  • Methods of providing cathodic protection energy.
  • Providing energy with galvanic anodes.
  • Electrochemical series, galvanic anode cathodic protection.   
  • Galvanic zinc/iron Evans diagram.
  • Providing energy with impressed current cathodic protection. 
  • Electrochemical series, impressed current cathodic protection anode material.    
  • Galvanic iron/titanium Evans diagram.
  • Impressed current cathodic protection iron/titanium Evans diagram.
  • Power source and power supplies for impressed current cathodic protection. 


Module Quiz

At the end of this module, there is a quiz consisting of 8 questions that are aimed at reinforcing the learning and knowledge you have gained from attending this module. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is the main difference between galvanic and impressed current cathodic protection?

    Galvanic cathodic protection uses the natural potential difference between steel and sacrificial anode configurations (like zinc) to generate a self-powered, limited driving voltage. Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) relies on an external power supply to drive electrical current through highly stable noble anodes (like MMO titanium anode systems), providing adjustable outputs for high-resistivity concrete.

  • How does concrete moisture or exposure affect galvanic anode systems?

    Concrete pore water acts as the primary electrolyte needed for current to pass. Shifting environmental exposures (atmospheric, buried, or immersed) change the resistivity of this concrete electrolyte, which directly alters the driving voltage and total current output of the galvanic system.

  • Why is an external DC power source required for titanium-based anodes?

    According to the standard electrochemical series, iron is naturally more negative (anodic) than titanium. Without an external DC power supply to force the titanium positive, the steel reinforcement will actually sacrifice itself to protect the titanium, accelerating structural failure.

  • What power supply components are covered in the training?

    The curriculum covers traditional transformer rectifier CP systems using diode bridges and modern switch-mode units that utilise high-frequency pulse filtration. Both system overviews explore data logging assemblies required for remote structural monitoring and ongoing control.

Module D4 - Methods of Providing Cathodic Protection Energy

Module D4 is the fourth of ten modules which form the complete Fundamentals of Design for Cathodic Protection of Steel in Concrete Structures course.

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Continue with your Learning and Personal Development

Individual modules do NOT provide CPD hours. To unlock your 50-Hour Certified CPD Certificate, you must complete all 10 modules.

Module D4 is the fourth of ten modules which form the complete Fundamentals of Design for Cathodic Protection of Steel in Concrete Structures course.

Completion of all modules of the full Fundamentals of Design for Cathodic Protection of Steel in Concrete Structures course provides you with a Continued Professional Development (CPD) completion certificate worth 50 hours.

I encourage you to continue with your learning and personal development to help identify that corrosion management can be used as an effective tool to support sustainable and low-carbon development now and in the future.