Several cases of ceiling collapses and other failed elements have been reported in indoor swimming pool
halls in the last two decades. The collapses were caused by stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of stainless steel
fastening elements made of grades UNS S30400, S31600, or similar. It was shown that this phenomenon can
occur under specific conditions beneath chloride deposits at temperatures as low as the room temperature. The
aim of this study was to assess the application limits of different austenitic and duplex stainless steel grades
subject to tensile stress and contaminated with chloride deposits in the atmosphere under non-washing conditions
as a function of temperature (20–50 oC), relative humidity (15–70 % RH), and deposit composition. Austenitic
stainless steel grades UNS S30400 and S31603 were susceptible to SCC in the presence of magnesium and
calcium chlorides at temperatures from 30 oC and at low relative humidity.