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The Inspection of Concrete and Reinforced Concrete The maintenance of support structures is an area for the independent expert specialising in inspection technology. Concrete dominates our lives. We find this still new construction material used in many ways in addition to structural and civil engineering - eg flower boxes, ships' hulls and works of art. Concrete's wide range of uses is thanks to ist great applicability and workability, its outstanding properties under many conditions and its almost unlimited durability. Worldwide the investment in the protection and maintenance of reinforced concrete is increasing. This is against a background of the protection of existing buildings and their continued use, where renovation is often preferable to a new building, not just on the grounds of costs. Provision of Test Specifications Test Specifications based on preliminary examinations in combination with the specification of the test aims form the basis of the test-schedule, the test-methodology and the measuring techniques. It is often sensible to carry out trial measurment during the preliminary examination, in order to ensure the suitability of the examination techniques. Depending on circumstances both non-destructive and destructive testing, as well as a variety of parallel measures, might be necessary in order to achieve a clear, reliable result. On the experience of project leaders rests the choice of examination methods. Project leaders need to ensure that individual examination techniques are simple, unequivocal and authoritative whilst achieving the expressed aim with limited financial expenditure and use of time. Regular Building Inspection Inspection and supervision of concrete, reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete constructions, if necessary, a service contract Specialised technical measurement Material sampling and examination Utilisation of specialist equipment, lifting gear and scaffolding Production of documentation for building records. Investigation of Construction and Labour Input Assessment of testing programmes with cost information Coordination of Construction Inspection Application of practical Testing Technology Examination of support and anchoring systems Mechanical, physical and chemical Laboratory Analysis Evaluation of examination results, damage/defect analysis, basic refurbishment/repairs, renovation, documentation and report production. Quality Assurance/Quality Management Quality Assurance planning for structural repairs and renovation. Carrying-out of quality assurance measures in the planning and implementation phases, material testing on site and in manufacture. Provision of documentation for maintenance, repairs and renovation. Use of Specialised equipment Infra-red thermography measuring techniques Endoscopy Inspection of the anchorage of suspended facings On site testing of new concrete On-site measurement of potentiality to diagnose reinforcement corrosion Others on demand. Electrical Analyse Thermography Office Zuerich Switzerland Corak AG Flurstrasse 93 CH- 8047 Zuerich Tel 0041 43 311 85 25 Fax 0041 43 311 85 29 |
