Companies that are due to have a concrete condition survey might be wondering what they can expect from the inspection, and whether they need to prepare themselves for repairs.
For more information about what is involved in this type of check, read on.
Defects survey
Professional surveyors will visually inspect the structure, whether it is a tunnel, car park or building, to ascertain its condition.
They will be keeping an eye out for defects and whether anything stands out by simply looking closely at it.
Concrete is susceptible to degradation over time, thanks to environmental factors, as well as poor maintenance, overloading, and not being looked after well enough.
It is also prone to shrinkage, and if it has suffered from mechanical damage or a chemical attack, this can impact its integrity.
Coring for strength testing
A lot of this damage can not be detected by visual inspection alone, which is why other procedures take place during the concrete condition survey. This includes coring to determine its strength.
Chemical analysis
In addition to this, dust samples might be taken from the site and sent to the lab for chemical analysis. This will ascertain whether there has been a change in the chemical nature of the structure, which could jeopardise its strength.
Leak cause analysis
For masonry structures or any building made out of brick, other forms of testing may also take place. This includes leak cause analysis, which will check if, and why, there are leaks.
Knowing the cause of a problem will enable engineers to repair it, so the structure can operate more efficiently, safely and productively in the future. Without these inspections and subsequent repairs, it is likely to deteriorate at a much faster rate.