Concrete scanning · Trois-Rivières
Concrete and slab scanning in Trois-Rivières
Concrete scanning locates rebar, conduits and other embedded items before you core, drill or cut a slab, wall or column in Trois-Rivières. The status of the opening gets settled before the visit, between declared work and work needing a permit.
Trois-Rivières
Working in Trois-Rivières
In Trois-Rivières, an opening in a slab may fall under a work declaration or a building permit depending on what is being done. Settling that question before the survey avoids tying a drilling date to an unfinished process. For the scan itself, indicate the intended position of each opening, what it has to cross and which face is reachable. An area cleared and marked on a plan shared with the contractor makes the sweep faster and the marking more reliable.
In Trois-Rivières, some light work does not require a building permit, yet a work declaration remains mandatory before starting. It is free of charge and can be filed by whoever carries out the work, with written authorization from the owner. Before coring or opening a slab, check which side your work falls on.
Preparing your project in Trois-Rivières
- Determine whether the opening falls under a work declaration or a building permit
- Obtain the owner’s written authorization if the filing is done by whoever carries out the work
- Mark the intended position of each opening on a plan shared with the contractor
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 the permit question have to be settled before a slab is scanned?
The two processes are independent, but running them out of order costs time. The survey can take place first, and its observations often help describe the intended work precisely. Check with the City which side your project falls on.
Who can file the work declaration?
The owner, or whoever carries out the work with the owner’s written authorization. Settle this before the visit, since it determines who deals with the City.
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