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The Main Reasons Why Concrete Scanning Is Necessary
If you have a construction project coming up, there is a good chance that you plan on using concrete. Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials because it is rigid and durable. At the same time, because it is so strong and sturdy, it can also make it very difficult to repair or replace. If you need to alter concrete in any way, it can be risky. Furthermore, you may not know what lies underneath the concrete, making it even more dangerous. That is where concrete scanning can be helpful.
Concrete scanning is like taking an x-ray, only you are taking an x-ray of concrete. When you use concrete scanning, you will use radar to get an inside look at what is happening underneath the surface. Even if the slab of concrete is particularly large, you can use concrete scanning to determine what might be embedded in the concrete itself. That way, you can identify potential hazards before they pose a risk to your health and safety. If you spot something unusual in the concrete, you may want to conduct a larger investigation to figure out what it might be. That way, you do not unnecessarily put your health at risk.
Related article: What Are the Advantages to Concrete Scanning?
The Top Reasons Why Concrete Scanning Is Necessary
There are several key reasons why concrete scanning is necessary. Some of the biggest reasons include:
Spot Electrical Conduits
One of the biggest reasons why you need to use concrete scanning is that you need to identify potential electrical conduits. You need to identify electrical services underneath concrete slabs, particularly if you are operating in a commercial or industrial area. If you happen to drill through an electrical conduit, you can create a significant safety hazard for everyone in the area. There is also a chance that you could unintentionally create a power outage or lead to widespread damage. You must identify all electrical conduits before you start cutting into concrete. Concrete scanning can help you identify electrical conduits, avoiding a hazardous situation.
Identify Reinforced Steel
You can use ground-penetrating radar to identify areas of reinforced steel. For example, you might spot some post-tension cables, or you may detect some rebar. After you identify reinforcing steel, you should mark it on the concrete. That way, other people know to stay away from it. You do not want to harm the integrity of the slab, so you need to minimize the number of cores you need to make. The fewer times you have to drill into the concrete slab, the fewer repairs you have to make.
Spot Voids and Air Pockets
If you use concrete scanning, you can also pick up air pockets located in the concrete. There might be some void located between the concrete slab and the dirt underneath the concrete. These voids form as the dirt erodes underneath the concrete, but you might not be able to detect them from the surface. If you detect a void, it could cause the concrete slab to collapse, which can create a significant structural issue. Therefore, you have to locate them as early as possible and repair them before moving forward.
Analyze the Structural Makeup of the Concrete
You can also use concrete scanning to get a closer look at the structure of the concrete itself. You need to measure the thickness of the concrete, gauge the spacing between various portions of concrete, and measure the elevation of the concrete slab itself. All of this information will be necessary for your engineers, who need to develop a plan. With access to GPR, you can complete this process quickly and efficiently, figuring out how you want to approach the job.
You need to take advantage of concrete scanning because it can ensure you have the right drilling location. You need to figure out the most efficient location for drilling into the concrete while also navigating potential safety hazards, such as utility lines. You need to find the right GPR for the job.
Always Scan Concrete Before Starting the Construction Job
Ultimately, these are just a few of the biggest reasons why concrete scanning is so important. Even though you are probably eager to get started, you need to minimize the chances of causing larger problems or having to drill multiple times. If you can identify issues before you start drilling, you can save time and money. Therefore, if you ever consider drilling into a concrete slab, always perform a concrete scan first. Then, map out exactly how you want to approach your project to maximize your chances of success.
