With Bulletin 5, there is greater focus on quality control of cast-together concrete elements. Non-destructive testing, known as NDT, is a suitable method for quality assurance.
Bulletin 5 recommends NDT or endoscopy for quality control
Interest in correct cast-together concrete elements is increasing. Especially after The Danish Precast Concrete Federation's Bulletin 5 was published in March 2019, there has been greater focus on quality assuring the casting together of concrete elements.
We recommend using NDT examinations, as unfortunately we have seen too many examples where endoscopy examinations alone do not give a true picture of the quality of the joint. The best solution is achieved by combining the two methods.
Do spot checks with an endoscope give a true picture of quality?
The endoscope makes it possible to visually inspect the condition inside the joint by first drilling a hole and then examining the inside of the joint. Since only a very limited spot-check is carried out in the 10-20 mm occupied by the drill hole, there is a high risk that errors are overlooked when the contractor treats it as representative of the quality of the entire joint.
With NDT as the primary examination method, we assess which NDT method is best suited to the joint type in question. With NDT equipment, we can see whether there is, for example, insufficient grouting in a joint or in a corrugated duct. After the NDT examination, endoscopy can be used to verify the results and provide further documentation of the extent of the defect.
Reduce the risk of errors with independent experts
When you need your construction project checked, it is a major advantage to use independent specialists to carry out the task.
During construction, it is well worth having a preventive check of the joint details carried out early in the process, rather than only when the entire building is finished. With the preventive check, it is easier to identify and remedy potential defects. At the same time, this helps avoid the same error being repeated throughout the building.
You may risk facing very costly remediation and delays if errors are only discovered at the very end.
There may be many causes of errors in your building project. These may include:
- Errors or impracticalities in the design.
- Incorrect mortar or casting process has been used.
- The joint details have not been emptied of water before casting.
- Difficult casting conditions, for example if the concrete elements are positioned too close together.
- Lack of care by the contractor who cast the joint.
We are with you from the design phase to remediation of any defects
You can get help in all phases of the building project from independent experts.
We can help you with:
- The design, construction and operation phases.
- Carrying out quality control and condition assessment.
- Documentation for your QA file.
- Preparing damage/cause analyses.
- Advice on remediation of any defects and damage.
In the design phase, you need a test strategy to assess how much of your building project must be tested, and where testing must be carried out. The examinations can be carried out both with NDT and with destructive tests, where the extracted samples are examined in the laboratory.
When we have carried out the quality control, you can receive visual results from the NDT examinations. This gives you evidence that inspection has been carried out, and what the result of the inspection was, for your QA file.
Has the damage occurred?
If damage has occurred, you are most likely interested in knowing why it went wrong. Was it due to an impractical design, was the wrong mortar or mixing ratio used, or was the casting together simply not carried out correctly and adequately?
We can advise on what you should do to prevent it from happening again and provide various remediation proposals that may be useful to you.
You are guaranteed an independent quality control and any necessary damage investigation when you contact us. You will always meet a specialist from FORCE Technology who is familiar with the requirements for the construction project and knows what consequences it may have for both the building and any residents/users if it is not carried out correctly.
