Concrete scanning is a vital factor in ensuring the safety of those looking to drill concrete.
Concrete scanning is vital because you want all your workers to be safe when working with concrete or around demolished concrete. It uses ground penetrating radar (GPR) and other equipment to detect materials, voids (cavities or tiny holes), or any obstructions within a concrete slab before drilling. GPR creates a 3D image within or beneath your concrete surface to identify various issues. Here is a guide on what you can anticipate finding when you scan the concrete.
Concrete Scanning Can Detect Steel Beams
GPR is as essential as personal protective equipment (PPE) regarding safety. You can find many items while concrete scanning that will make it hard and unsafe to complete a job. Steel beams make concrete more robust. However, these reinforcement mechanisms can ruin tools that drill or cut through concrete, such as jackhammers and saws. Additionally, watch out for rebar (reinforcement steel) and tension cables.
Concrete Scanning Can Detect Electrical Cables
You will also find electrical and plumbing setups during a concrete scan. GPR is an advanced scanning technique allowing your team to locate pipes and cables before an accident happens. You want to avoid a worksite emergency at all costs. Saws, drills, and power saws are powerful tools, and hitting the wrong pipe or cable could lead to a flood if you damage the water main. Prevent this with concrete scanning technology.
Concrete Stability
Investigating if the concrete you’re working with is steady is crucial to avoiding cave-ins and sinkholes. Doing so ensures that on-site workers, supervisors, or equipment stay safe from harm.
Hidden Voids
A void under a concrete slab can lead to structural damage, with the slab no longer able to support any weight. If the slab doesn’t collapse under itself, it could be anyone around it in danger. You might find hidden voids formed by previous sinkholes or unfilled gaps in the ground and various other causes such as excess moisture and soil erosion.
It’s best never to drill blindly. We have the latest concrete scanning technology to ensure your next project goes smoothly! Contact Concrete Vision today if you envision a safe and efficient work site.
Concrete Visions Will Get The Job Done Right
Concrete Visions has been working with clients for over 25 years. Our G&M Services installers are certified with the industry’s major firestop product manufacturers. As part of our firestop service, we can assess abnormal field conditions and, with the manufacturer’s technical support assistance, provide engineering judgments in a timely fashion to comply with contract specifications. Our Field Mechanics undergo ongoing training, including mandatory monthly safety meetings, weekly Toolbox Talks where safety and equipment information is shred, and trainings on safe work standards and safety best practices.