Structural assessment · Sherbrooke
Structural assessment in Sherbrooke
Structural assessment evaluates the condition of a concrete structure with non-destructive test methods, before a repair, an alteration or a regulatory verification in Sherbrooke. Assessing an altered structure starts with describing its successive modifications.
Sherbrooke
Working in Sherbrooke
For an assessment in Sherbrooke, the successive alterations of a structure should be described as fully as possible. A strengthened slab, a change of use and an institutional structure do not involve the same data needs. Provide available drawings and observations so critical areas can be identified. Detecting an anomaly must be distinguished from explaining it. The engineer may request additional tests before concluding on the element’s condition or capacity.
In Sherbrooke, the City provides a “Dois-je demander un permis ou non?” page to check whether construction or renovation work requires a permit or certificate. Check it before coring or opening a load-bearing wall.
Preparing your project in Sherbrooke
- Describe successive alterations and strengthening
- Provide available drawings and observations
- Allow for additional tests the engineer may request
From the Magog River mills to today’s plants, Sherbrooke’s building stock
Sherbrooke industrialized along the Magog River, which runs through its downtown. The Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec recalls that Andrew Paton opened a woollen mill there in 1866. The complex has five buildings of two to four storeys, erected between 1866 and 1938, in red brick on a stone foundation; the original mill followed the model of New England mills, with high ceilings and massive wooden beams. After the 1977 closure, some buildings were converted from 1983 onward into condominiums, low-rent housing, offices and restaurants. Nearby, the Frontenac power station, built in 1888, harnesses the river in its gorge.
The Musée d’histoire de Sherbrooke links the city’s architectural reputation to the houses of the Vieux-Nord, its institutional buildings and the commercial facades of Wellington Street. Between 2017 and 2020, the City assessed 7,000 buildings in its urban area, and nearly 200 were classified as having high heritage value.
Today’s industrial fabric is of a different kind. According to Sherbrooke Innovante, the city has 360 manufacturing companies employing more than 10,500 people, with key sectors in metal products, plastic and rubber products, equipment manufacturers, furniture and wood products, and transportation equipment. Training is provided by institutions including the Université de Sherbrooke, Bishop’s University and the Cégep de Sherbrooke.
Sherbrooke Innovante highlights the role of automation and robotics in its manufacturing companies. Adding a robot, a conveyor or a press on a slab designed for another use raises a question the engineer must be able to answer: can the slab take these loads? An assessment can document the thickness, reinforcement and concrete condition at the planned locations. Provide the equipment data sheet and the layout plan.
For one of the roughly 200 buildings rated as having high heritage value, mention this status in the request, as it may limit the destructive tests that can be considered.
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
Assessment methods, process and limitations
Complementary methods, how the survey runs, what the report contains and what an assessment does not replace are covered on our structural assessment in Quebec page. This page only covers what is specific to Sherbrooke.
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.
Does a detected anomaly explain a problem?
No. Detecting an anomaly is not enough to establish its cause. The engineer may request additional tests before concluding on the element’s condition or capacity.
What should be provided for a building whose use has changed?
Available drawings, a description of alterations and strengthening, and recent observations. These help identify critical areas before the survey.
Sources
- American Concrete Institute, ACI 228.2R-13, Report on Nondestructive Test Methods for Evaluation of Concrete in Structures
- Régie du bâtiment du Québec: Parking garages, maintenance and inspection
- Ville de Sherbrooke: Dois-je demander un permis ou non? (in French)
- Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec: Usine Paton Manufacturing Company (in French)
- Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec: Centrale Frontenac (in French)
- Musée d’histoire de Sherbrooke: Notre riche patrimoine immobilier (in French)
- Sherbrooke Innovante: Manufacturier innovant (in French)
- City of Sherbrooke: Winter maintenance
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