If you are involved in an industry where new construction or renovation is a fact of life, there will come a day when you need concrete scanning.
If you are involved in an industry where new construction or renovation is a fact of life, there will come a day when you need concrete scanning. Concrete scanning is a process that allows you to “see” what is within or beneath or behind a concrete slab or wall without risking damage to your equipment or injury to your workers. It is a safe and effective way to gather data before you dive into a project, but it helps to know exactly what the process is and why it is important before you go out in source of a contractor or vendor to complete the work.
What Is Concrete Scanning?
Concrete scanning is a process that uses ground penetrating radar to “look” at what is inside or behind concrete. The process is noninvasive, meaning that it will not damage the concrete or cause any lasting impact. The ground penetrating radar uses radio waves, which are sent out from a device and eventually reflect and return to the device. These waves can pass through some materials while they bounce off others. The amount of time it takes for the waves to return is used to calculate the distance of the objects in the concrete.
What Can Concrete Scanning Detect?
Concrete scanning can be used to check many different aspects of construction, from beams to balconies and floors to walls. It can help to establish the depth of the concrete, the location of things that may cause an issue (like air pockets or voids) and the location and depth of many things that are often purposefully embedded (like cables, conduits, utilities, and rebar to name a few).
Why Is Concrete Scanning Important?
If you need to do any cutting, drilling, coring, or other activities within a concrete slab, you need concrete scanning. It is vital to know where the embedded utilities, support structures, and voids are. Cutting into a concrete slab without this information could lead to injury of workers and damage to equipment, which can cost much more than the cost of having the scanning done. Cutting into concrete without knowing where utilities are is especially dangerous, not just to your resources, but also because you may be liable for the damage you do to the utilities and surrounding businesses. Finally, it helps to simplify the process of cutting or drilling and ensures greater structural integrity when the job is done.
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.