Before a single core is drilled, the most valuable work on a project is often invisible: finding out exactly what is inside the concrete.
The risk you cannot see
Slabs and walls hide reinforcement, post-tensioned tendons, conduits and pipes. Cutting through the wrong one can mean structural damage, live electrical hazards or a flooded floor, followed by delays and difficult conversations.
How ground-penetrating radar helps
GPR sends pulses of radio energy into the concrete and reads the reflections. Steel, voids and services each produce a distinct signature, which a trained operator turns into marked positions and depths on the surface.
It is fast, non-destructive and works without access to the other side of the slab.
Ten minutes of scanning is cheaper than ten days of investigating a tendon strike.
What a good scan delivers
Scanning is only useful if the information reaches the people making decisions. Every scan should leave behind:
- Clear markings on the slab, with an agreed colour code
- A drawing or photo record of every location
- Flagged clashes, with suggested alternative positions
- A sign-off before cutting begins
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Scan before every penetration in an existing structure.
- Post-tensioned slabs need special care. Never cut them blind.
- Share scan results with the design team early, while moving a core is still easy.
