Concrete scanning · Saguenay
Concrete and slab scanning in Saguenay
Concrete scanning locates rebar, conduits and other embedded items before you core, drill or cut a slab, wall or column in Saguenay. The application is prepared at the right counter, depending on whether the building is residential or commercial.
Saguenay
Working in Saguenay
Saguenay separates permit requests between a residential counter and a commercial one. For an opening in a commercial or institutional building, preparation therefore goes through the second, which is worth identifying before setting a date. On the survey side, describe how the premises are used, the hours when the area can be cleared and the nature of the floor covering. A floor under a membrane or tile changes antenna contact, and that is better flagged than discovered.
Saguenay directs permit requests to two separate counters, Info-permis résidentiel and Info-permis commercial. A survey that supports work in a commercial or institutional building is therefore not prepared in the same place as a residential project. Identifying the right counter before planning avoids a round trip when the application is filed.
Preparing your project in Saguenay
- Identify the permit counter that matches the type of building
- Agree on the hours when the working area can be cleared of its occupancy
- Flag the nature of the floor covering before the visit
How ground-penetrating radar works
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) emits high-frequency electromagnetic waves and records their reflections at boundaries between materials with different properties, such as concrete and steel. The ASTM D6432 guide describes this investigation method.
GPR is also one of the non-destructive test methods for in-place concrete reviewed by the American Concrete Institute (report ACI 228.2R-13).
When to request a scan
Describe the planned work to define the survey area.
- Before coring for plumbing, ventilation, electrical work or sampling
- Before cutting an opening (door, window, hatch, stairway)
- Before anchoring heavy equipment, racking or guardrails
- Before drilling post-tensioned slabs
- Before partial demolition of a structure
- To locate radiant floor heating or a pipe before repairs
Preparing the survey and using the findings
Provide the location, drawings, planned openings and access conditions. Agree on the required marking, photographs, sketches and report in the scope of work.
Post-tensioned slabs require particular care. A scan alone does not authorize drilling; the work must be reviewed by the parties responsible for the site and structure. Prestressing, strands and ducts are set out on the post-tension, prestressing strands and ducts page.
GPR limitations
Dense reinforcement, metal surfaces and wet concrete may reduce readability. Depths are estimates, and no detected indication does not prove an area is clear.
Read all findings together with their assumptions and limitations. Antenna selection and complementary tests depend on the investigation objective.
Frequently asked questions
Does concrete scanning damage the structure?
No. GPR is a non-destructive test method: the device moves over the concrete surface without drilling or coring it.
What can ground-penetrating radar detect?
Usually rebar, conduits and other embedded items whose electromagnetic properties differ from those of concrete. Readability depends in particular on depth and on the condition of the concrete.
Does a floor covering prevent the survey?
Not necessarily. Depending on the material and its bond, readings stay possible or become uncertain. Flagging it in the request allows partial clearing to be planned if the method calls for it.
Can the survey take place outside occupancy hours?
That is agreed when the scope is set, based on access and site constraints. State the possible windows in your request rather than after planning.
Contact
Your project starts here.
Tell us about your needs. Our team supports you with rigour and precision, wherever you are in Quebec.