Cutting, drilling, or coring concrete is not only difficult, but it can also be a dangerous endeavor. With post tension cables, re-bar, and conduits, there are many obstacles you need to avoid or you will have a very expensive mistake on your hands. You will be glad to know that South Florida boasts a number of companies that offer concrete imaging concrete scanning.
Many homeowners and businesses in South Florida think that it is a hassle to x-ray concrete and it is not worth the time or money. The people who believe this are very wrong. In fact, there are a number of reasons that justify spending the money to x-ray concrete slabs before beginning any demolition work. Through this process, you are able to find out the thickness of the slab, check for spots that have been compromised, as well as find the exact location of both structural and non-structural items embedded in the concrete. Some concrete imaging concrete scanning businesses also offer condition assessments on constructions such as bridge decks that may corrode overtime.
While some businesses have their own way of doing things, most x-ray concrete by following the same procedures. The first thing the workers will do is complete a thorough walkthrough of the location to gather the necessary data, such as how many shots they will need to take. Once they know where the film should be placed, they evacuate the area and put up radiation barriers for protection. After the x-rays are taken, many companies have a mobile darkroom to develop the film on-site. The time this entire production will take varies with each job, but you can expect to pay for at least half a day’s work.
Before setting up an appointment with a company that specializes in concrete imaging concrete scanning, there are a few things that every home or business owner should do. You need to make sure you have the area you want to cut, drill, or core marked off. This will keep you from paying for x-raying areas that will not be affected by the demolition. You also need to clear the area so the workers can set up and have room to move around. If they will be working on a suspended concrete slab, they will need to access to both the top and bottom. You also need to check to see that gamma radiography is allowed at your location. Because of the risk of radiation poisoning, some areas in South Florida do not allow x-raying.
Most concrete imaging concrete scanning companies offer their services on slabs up to 16” thick, although it really depends on the density of the concrete. You can use the x-ray process on a variety of structures from concrete walls to CMUs. If you are in the market for a business to x-ray concrete slabs, many South Florida companies would be interested in working with you. Some may even offer free estimates, so call to set up an appointment today.
