SERVICES
Concrete Condition Surveys
Concrete Surveys
If you have noticed the early signs of deterioration to your concrete or masonry structure, it is important to undertake further investigations to assess the root causes and full extent of defects before considering your options.
Corrosion of Reinforcing Steel
Steel reinforcement is commonly incorporated into concrete to enhance its tensile and flexural strength, allowing us to form shapes such as columns, beams, lintels, and arches to frame and support other building elements. Yet the largest single cause of deterioration in reinforced-concrete structures is corrosion of the reinforcing steel itself. This could be due to several different causes, such as the inclusion or penetration of inappropriate chemicals within the concrete mix itself, or due to external physical factors such as freeze-thaw action.
The key to resolving these defects is to employ a proven repair system that covers all aspects, from the correct diagnose of the underlying causes, all the way through to choosing the appropriate materials and repair methods.
To achieve this, Frescrete undertakes concrete repairs in accordance with the industry standard BS EN 1504, Products and Systems for the Protection and Repair of Concrete Structures.
Visual and Physical Assessment
Small cracks on the surface of reinforced concrete can be the tell-tale signs of moisture penetration, carbonation of the concrete, or chloride attack, which, if left untreated, can lead to corrosion of the steel reinforcement.
Once this sets in, the rusting steel can expand to up to six times its normal diameter, causing hazardous spalling of concrete and potentially leading to loss of structural integrity.
Frescrete has the skills and experience to undertake a combination of visual and physical assessments of concrete and masonry.
Using a cover meter to establish the reinforcement depth, a combination of hammer testing for soundness, incremental depth testing with phenolphthalein solution (“phenol”) and drilled sampling for chlorides via independent test laboratories can quickly reveal how best to approach the repair methods.
Frescrete also undertakes brick cavity and wall tie inspections, and performs pull out or tensile testing on substrates using calibrated instruments.
Concrete Condition Surveys Gallery
Phenol testing to establish depth of carbonation in a concrete column
Helifix wall tie tensile testing
Masonry anchor bolt tensile or pull out testing
Assessing steel reinforcement degradation with a Vernier calliper
Brick wall tie cavity survey
Wall tie inspection and survey
Fire resistant coating survey to car park
Taking core samples of the platforms of a railway station as part of a condition survey
A core sample extracted before being sent away for analysis
Concrete core sample taken as part of a condition survey
