Do You Know the 3 Vital Concrete Structure Inspection Types?
Without a second doubt, anyone would readily agree that concrete is an incredibly durable material. Whether said by a civil engineer or not, concrete is arguably the most sustainable material for construction and it is not without a reason. Concrete has stood the test of durability time and again after being exposed to a specific set of conditions. However, several factors like the presence and positioning of reinforcement, concrete mixture proportions in tandem with placing, detailing, curing, finishing and the received protection determine concrete’s power of durability.
In addition, conditions related to temperature and moisture cycles, freezing and thawing, corrosion, abrasion and effects of chemicals are also vital factors responsible for impacting concrete’s potential, resulting in deterioration. For this reason, any civil design company conduct concrete structure inspection to assess significant structural changes, identify deterioration and defects and determine the kind of maintenance and repair required. The question is, who performs these inspections? Why certified civil engineers of course! Engineers who possess sufficient experience and expertise in this field are much sought-after for this task if not, buildings can breakdown and cause loss of lives and property.
But concrete structure audit is not limited to one type only. Wondering what are types? This blog shall tell you all!
Kinds of Concrete Structure Audits:
1. Inventory Inspection: Inventory inspection is done when the construction work of a concrete structure is completed and is in an available state. In addition, if the structure experiences renovation before being ready for use again or a change in applied to the layout of the structure, conducting inventory inspection is deemed necessary. In other words, inventory inspection is performed to avert accidents after the concrete is exposed to pressure, force and tension for the first time. Not to forget, inventory inspection lays the foundation for other kinds of inspections.
2. Routine inspection: As the name suggests, routine inspection refers to conducting quick and periodic inspection where the prevailing conditions of the concrete structure are assessed. The engineer begins by carrying out a visual inspection and may apply effective tools to define the concrete structure’s condition. The primary purpose of routine inspection is to identify all the signs of damage and deterioration like exudation, delamination, spalling, rust streaks, texture and colour, salt accumulation and so on.
3. Detailed inspection: What happens when you inspect something in detail? Identifying faults, errors and the areas of flaw and imperfection are brought to light, right? Similar is the case when engineers from a reputable civil design company carry out a detailed inspection of your concrete structure. They adopt a more profound and time-consuming approach to audit your concrete structure in great detail. Your civil design engineer will decide the number of routine inspections required considering the critical condition of the structure. Factors related to mechanical, structural, environmental, electrical and material details are taken into account while performing a detailed inspection. If necessary, the auditor may leverage exclusive tools such as hammer sound testing and other non-damaging tests to accurately determine the structure’s condition. Competent engineers with relevant experience in planning comprehensive repairs are considered ideal for this kind of inspection.
Conclusion: Inspection in conjunction with design, operation and maintenance are crucial components that ensure the safety of a concrete structure. The remarkability of a civil design company doesn’t lie in its ability to build unique concrete structures. It is only when engineers consider the problems that make way for structural failures and address them with methodical inspection promptly, is their exceptionality proven. To know more about our civil design services, get in touch with us @ +91 9619795213