In an ideal world, once a concrete slab containing post-tension cables has been poured, it would never be disturbed. But unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world, and sometimes, plans change or renovations need to be made to structures containing post-tension concrete (sometimes called PT concrete). The problem is that there are not always an accurate record of where all of the post-tension cables are located within the cured concrete, and just blindly drilling, cutting, or coring into the slab could result in disaster. If a post-tension cable is hit, it could snap. This could cause serious injury—or even death—to anyone nearby, in addition to compromising the integrity of the concrete slab.
So, does that mean that anyone with a PT concrete slab is out of luck if they ever want to disturb the slab for any reason? No!
Fortunately, there are companies that offer GPR concrete scanning services for just this type of situation. A concrete scanning company can scan an entire slab to map out where every post-tension is located, or they can just scan the area of the slab where the contractor plans to drill or cut to see if that location is safe.
GPR concrete scanning makes use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology. Ground penetrating radar is an amazing technology that allows operators to locate anything that is embedded within the concrete—including post-tensioned cables, rebar, and utility lines. Electromagnetic waves are sent into the concrete and based on how quickly the waves bounce back, the operator can make determinations about what is located below the surface of the concrete, and where it is located.
Accurate GPR concrete scanning results necessitate not only using the right equipment, but also having it operated by a trained technician who knows how to interpret the results. When it comes to scanning PT concrete, accuracy is paramount, since cutting—or even nicking—a post-tension cable can have such disastrous results.
Going with an experienced GPR scanning company, such as Enhanced Scanning in Southern California, is definitely the way to go when you’re dealing with a PT concrete slab. A legitimate company with quality equipment and highly trained operators may cost a bit more than bringing in someone who just does GPR scanning on the side, but it will be well worth the cost when you get the clear, accurate results you need.
At Enhanced Scanning, they know the importance of the work they do, and how their clients depend on them to keep everyone safe and their concrete slabs from being compromised. As a company, they invest in the best GPR scanning equipment and also make sure that only highly trained and experienced technicians are on every job.
