Tricky Slab on Metal Deck with Embedded Conduits

We were recently brought into a prominent Boston hotel that was transforming an existing lobby into a new restaurant.  The contractor had already begun chipping certain areas, and unfortunately severed an embedded conduit for the emergency lighting. We came in and performed a GPR survey on the remaining locations that were to be cored or chipped to give the contractor more information. The picture above shows the area where they had chipped and damaged the conduit and our findings. This was an atypical slab with some very different characteristics. The overall depth of the slab on corrugated steel deck was 9″ which was further reinforced with #5 rebar.  A 2″ thick mud slab with 2″ x 2″ wire mesh was then poured over the slab to allow for the installation of 1″ granite tiles.

Pro-Scanning in Boston

We are Boston’s  full service concrete GPR scanning, utility GPR scanning, and video pipe inspection/tracing leader for over 10 years. Experienced technicians coupled with cutting edge technology generate accurate, real-time results to keep your project on schedule and hassle free. Scanning is the fast, safe, and effective way to locate buried obstructions in concrete or below ground.

GPR in a Dairy Cooler at a Supermarket

Renovations are constantly happening at your local supermarkets,  and with each renovation,  you can guarantee that new trenches will be cut in the slab. The above picture shows electrical conduits and refrigerant lines that were embedded in the slab running through the dairy cooler.  GPR scanning is imperative in supermarkets and retail stores, because more times then not,  utilities vital to store operation are buried in or just below the concrete slab.

HVAC Openings in Slab on Corrugated Steel Decking

When upgrading HVAC systems most likely new and larger duct-work will have to be installed. Any time the scope calls for cutting a concrete slab it is best to GPR scan the floor to ensure worker safety and avoidance of conduits and obstructions. The picture above details a slab on corrugated steel decking. The high and low sections of the decking are marked in yellow, the 6″x6″ wire mesh marked in black, and a conduit marked in red.

Conduit Location in a Medical Facility

Hospitals and other medical facilities provide an  invaluable service to our communities. They rely on utilities such as electricity, water, communications and waste drainage as much as we rely on them to get us healthy. We were recently brought out to a Boston area hospital to locate  in-slab electrical conduits before they removed a stairwell. GPR and utility tracing accurately identified electrical conduits (marked in red) in the stairwell. Properly identifying these conduits allowed the contractor to make arrangements to reroute vital electrical service to an emergency room.

Identifying Radiant Heating In A Concrete Slab

Radiant heating installed in concrete floors is a great way to warm up a building, but to a contractor, it could turn into quite a headache. Drilling or cutting through this thin tubing or wire could cause work stoppages, costly repairs, and possible injury. Scanning the slab using GPR is an effective way to locate the radiant heat tubing and other anomalies, allowing you to locate  slab penetrations in cleared areas.  The picture above is what we see on our screen when encountering radiant heat tubing in a concrete slab.

Roof Opening

Pro-Scanning was recently contracted to perform GPR on the roof of a building at a local university. When updating or up-sizing rooftop HVAC equipment, GPR is a beneficial tool in identifying both structural reinforcement, and possible electrical conduits in the concrete roof. After the contractor cleared away the waterproofing membrane and foam, we were able to conduct GPR analysis.  We identified electrical feeds that were crossing through the projected opening eliminating any potential hazards to the contractor and facility.

Pro-Scanning at Boston Sports Arena

Pro-Scanning was recently awarded the opportunity to do some GPR work at one of Boston’s top sports arena’s.  The work consisted of scanning a 10″ to 12″ structural slab on deck prior to core drilling.  Due to the thickness and how it was being loaded the slab was designed with a significant amount of heavy gauged rebar, making avoiding damage to the rebar extremely crucial.  At the end of the day we were able to provide both top and bottom layers of rebar, thickness of the slab, the peaks and valleys of the corrugated metal deck, as well as any conduit detected within the slab, all while seeing a few professional athletes here and there getting ready for the upcoming season!

Locating Underground Storage Tanks

 

Ground Penetrating Radar is a great way to locate underground storage tanks and other buried objects. Here at Pro-Scanning we utilize both a 270 MHz and 400 MHz antennas providing the ability to penetrate up to 15 feet. As seen in the picture above, this UST was rectangular in shape and located at a 4 foot depth. Our technician provided the contractor with an approximate location prior to excavation.

Newport Mansion hires Pro-Scanning

Recently, Pro-Scanning had the opportunity to  GPR scan and mark the rebar pattern prior to a contractor confirming the integrity of the reinforcement. This deck sits right over the water and therefore withstands all four New England seasons exposing steel reinforcement to extreme temperatures, precipitation, and salty sea air.