Structural assessment · Saguenay
Structural assessment in Saguenay
Structural assessment evaluates the condition of a concrete structure with non-destructive test methods, before a repair, an alteration or a regulatory verification in Saguenay. A structural survey is framed on a precise question, not on a general worry.
Saguenay
Working in Saguenay
In Saguenay, an assessment often accompanies a project whose municipal process goes through the commercial counter. The survey itself is framed on what the engineer is trying to establish: the condition of an area, the layout of reinforcement, the presence of anomalies in part of a structure. Describe how the building is used, the levels involved and the access constraints. Areas that will stay out of reach should be named, since they will appear as such in the report.
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
- Name the levels and the portions of the structure actually involved
- Identify in advance the areas that will remain out of reach
- State how the building is used and what that imposes on the survey
Non-destructive test methods
The American Concrete Institute report ACI 228.2R-13 reviews non-destructive test methods for in-place concrete, including visual inspection, stress-wave, magnetic and electrical methods, infrared thermography and ground-penetrating radar.
Parking garages in Quebec
In Quebec, the Building chapter of the Safety Code requires parking garage owners to carry out a visual verification every year and, every five years, to obtain an in-depth verification report from an engineer. Non-destructive surveys can document the condition of the concrete in support of these verifications.
- Before repairing or strengthening a slab
- Before a change of use or an alteration
- When monitoring a parking garage
- After cracks or spalling appear
Complementary methods
An engineer may specify acoustic, electrochemical or ultrasonic tests, or targeted samples. GPR does not answer every condition-assessment question.
Methods described in technical references are not automatically included in a ScanAxis assignment. Scope and availability must be specified in the quote.
Survey and report
Agree on objectives, critical zones, available drawings and access. The measurement grid should match the decision being considered.
Define the methodology, maps, observations, limitations, delivery format and schedule required before work begins.
What the assessment does not replace
Estimated thickness and rebar locations alone do not establish load-bearing capacity. A survey does not replace structural calculations or an engineer’s conclusions.
Provide results to the professionals responsible for any change in loading, strengthening or repair.
Frequently asked questions
Does a structural assessment replace an engineer’s opinion?
No. Non-destructive tests provide data on the condition of the concrete; structural interpretation and recommendations are an engineer’s responsibility, as the Safety Code provides for parking garages, for example.
Which structures can be assessed?
Usually reinforced concrete slabs, walls, columns, beams and parking garages, in commercial, industrial, institutional or residential buildings.
What happens to an area that is out of reach on the day?
It is recorded as not covered. A useful report separates what was examined from what was not, rather than suggesting complete coverage.
Can a building in operation be surveyed?
Yes, allowing for occupancy. The working area has to be clear for the duration of the survey, and the available windows are agreed before the visit.
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