SERVICES
concrete
scanning
GPR concrete scanning services that allow you to cut and core more safely and efficiently.
We use GPR (ground penetrating radar) to detect hazards in concrete before you commence cutting, coring, or breaking, mitigating the risk of injuries or project delays.
GROUND PENETRATING RADAR
We use ground penetrating radar to locate critical subsurface features before you cut.
New build construction and renovation projects often require cutting, coring, or breaking a concrete slab. This can be dangerous, as the potential to strike rebar, pipes, post tension cables, and electrical conduits is high. It is difficult, dangerous, and in some instances altogether impossible to conduct concrete drilling, sawing, or breaking without knowledge of the features below the concrete surface. Stopping work due to equipment damage, damage to the concrete structure, or worse, crew injury, can limit your ability to complete work on time.
Penhall Company employs the latest, most advanced GPR technology, allowing you to conduct core drilling, saw cutting, and concrete breaking without accidents, injuries, or time delay. Our expert crew can scan and locate subsurface features with exacting precision, mitigating the safety risk to employees, and keeping your construction project on schedule.
safety
GPR ensures the safety of employees, equipment, and the construction site.
At Penhall, safety is our first priority. GPR allows us to locate the position of subsurface features, protecting the integrity and strength of the concrete as you cut, core, and break. Once a subsurface feature is detected, we clearly mark the location. This guides concrete cutters and drillers, allowing them to effectively break concrete without damaging machines or subjecting themselves to a safety hazard. Turning to Penhall’s concrete scanning services is a proactive step towards ensuring an accident-free work zone that meets completion deadlines.
DETECTION
Our GPR services can detect a variety of subsurface features.
Identifying the type and location of subsurface features is a necessary step prior to cutting, coring, and breaking. There are a number of common subsurface features located within concrete. We analyze the data generated using GPR to determine the location and types of features present below the surface, giving you the ability to efficiently drill, saw, or break while preserving the integrity of the structure and reducing the need for patching or other costly repairs.
Rebar detection
Steel rebar is integral to the structural integrity of any concrete slab. Individual slabs of concrete can house hundreds of feet of rebar. With GPR, we can locate subsurface rebar and rebar patterns and precisely mark their locations, making it safe for you to cut, core, or break the concrete.
Post-tension cable detection
Post-tension cables are under extremely high tension. If post-tension cables are cut, they can break the concrete structure and pose an imminent threat to the safety of on-site crew. We can use GPR to locate post-tension cables, mitigating safety hazards and maintaining the integrity of the concrete.
Pipes and conduits detection
Electrical wires encased in conduits are often run through concrete slabs, and pose a shock risk. Not only are they safety hazards, cutting electrical wires can cause a power outage. This is a major inconvenience in terms of time and money. Using GPR, our expert crew can detect the location of pipes and conduits, preventing mistakes when it is time to cut, core, or break concrete.
Voids and deterioration detection
Voids in concrete—air gaps between the subgrade, dirt and the concrete slab-on-grade—occur over time due to erosion, compaction, and pipe ruptures. Voids and general deterioration affect the overall structural integrity of concrete slabs, but such imperfections are undetectable without specialized scanning equipment. We can use GPR to scan for voids and clearly mark their locations, ensuring that construction continues without the threat of collapse.
frequently asked questions
GPR and X-ray imaging are not the same. GPR uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. This generates a graphic called a “radargram,” which features undulations of varying size. A trained GPR technician is needed to interpret the data, identify the features represented by the radargram, and mark where the features are located in the subsurface.
X-ray imaging produces a clearer, more detailed view of the subsurface, meaning there is little or no need for data interpretation. However, X-ray imaging requires access to both sides of a concrete structure, making it impossible to use in many instances.
GPR is a great choice for concrete scanning due to its flexibility, accuracy, and cost effectiveness
GPR detects subsurface features, but does not identify the type of subsurface feature. However, our crews are trained and have a wealth of experience using GPR and interpreting data. For example, there are specific markers—shape, size, and location—that tell us what the feature is, even if it is not immediately clear to the untrained eye.