Concrete condition surveys
We have extensive knowledge of investigating, testing and surveying a wide range of reinforced concrete structures and buildings, including bridges, tunnels, coastal defences historic buildings, multi-storey car parks, high-rise buildings, system built dwellings, swimming pools, industrial facilities and office buildings.
Understanding the design, material characteristics and deterioration processes affecting a particular reinforced concrete building or structure is essential in diagnosing the causation and extent of defects affecting a structure. This enables a durable and cost effective concrete repair to be instigated and decisions made with regard to life-costing. We provide in-depth reports detailing our findings and also provide advice on the most appropriate repair strategies and systems.
Undertaking a sufficient and appropriate concrete survey is a requirement of BS EN 1504, Products and systems for the protection and repair of concrete structures. We are associate members of the .
Some of the testing and survey techniques we can employ in the assessment of existing concrete structures include:
- Measured defect survey which can be used to provide a Bill of quantities for repair in accordance with the CRA Standard Method of Measurement
- Delamination Survey to assess sub-surface cracking due to reinforcement corrosion
- Covermeter survey to assess concrete cover to reinforcement
- Carbonation testing to assess concrete alkalinity and likelihood of de-passivation of reinforcement
- Concrete sampling to determine presence of cast-in chlorides, chloride contamination and to determine chloride profile
- Concrete core sampling for inspection purposes or for compressive strength determination or petrographic examination
- Half-cell potential surveys
- Resistivity measurement
- Corrosion assessments, visual, measured and using surface analysis techniques
- Analysis of hardened concrete for chloride, sulphate and cement content
- Assessment of cement type and High Alumina Cement identification
- Use of Ferroscan and Proceq survey instruments to determine reinforcement provision or large scale assessment of concrete cover to reinforcement
- Assessment of fire and mechanical damage using petrographic examination
- Determination of aggregate type, quality, alkali aggregate reaction (ASR) sulphate attack using petrographic examination