How Concrete Testing Ensures Safe Building Re-Use
During the re-purposing of a building in the greater Geelong region for the YPARC program, RCW’s technicians were called upon to carry out some insitu testing of the existing concrete footings to determine if they were suitable for the additional loads that would be applied and to determine if the concrete (now some 60 years old) had not suffered any degradation due to carbonisation.
Photo showing the mapping of reinforcement via concrete scanner.
RCW exposed the existing footings, scanned the concrete for reinforcing steel and then took core samples. These core samples were then sprayed with a clear 1% phenolphthalein solution which will turn pink in colour in the presence of an alkaline substrate.
Photo showing concrete core sampling for testing.
These cores are logged and then compared to an indicator strip. This work was required to be carried out midway during the design and construct process and RCW’s ability to mobilise and complete the testing over a holiday period contributed to the timely building delivery.
Photo showing core samples after the application of the phenolphthalein solution.
A footnote from RCW’s Technical division
If your team requires any input from RCW, please contact us at info@rcw.com.au or 1800 729 729.
