Subtronic regularly scans concrete to locate rebar, electrical conduits and post tension cables. Advantages of scanning cocrete with GPR is that it is a low energy non-destructive detection method that does not require local evacuation. The GPR puts out about as much electromagnetic radiation as a cell phone (nothing to do with x-ray radiation).

 

Rebar is routinely used in concrete or masonry work as steel reinforcments. Many of our clients are advised by the structural engineer to avoid cutting rebar in structural walls or elevated floors. Post tension cables are being used more often in home floor slabs and commonly in suspended concrete floors. As contractors are modifying buildings for new tenants (i.e.installing plumbing and electrical runs), they are scanning the concrete to avoid hitting rebar or more importantly, post tension cables.

 

 

X-RAY vs. Radar

 

Core locations could be x-rayed, however that would require evacuating a 50-foot radius around the core location. If the building you are working in is a hospital or an apartment you may not be able to clear all the occupants. This is where Radar is a good substitute for x-ray. There are some sites where radar may not have access. The Radar cart needs to be able to roll at least a foot in order to scan. If there is no place for the cart to roll there ism not a place to collect data. Some sites there are too many pipes on the wall, not allowing the cart to roll and produce a scan. X-ray is a good plan B in these cases. X-ray produces a visible image of the cables and conduits in the concrete. Radar produces a hyperbolic image of the pipe.

 

We are often called to scan proposed concrete core locations for electrical conduits in the slabs. We approach these jobs with both by scanning the area with radar and a line locator. By performing a 3-D scan over the core hole locations with radar we are able to locate the conduits that do not match the rebar pattern. Subsequently, we also scan the hole with a line locator. By using a line locator in conjunction with radar, we are using two different types of technology to help confirm the absence or presence of buried electrical conduit. Subtronic approaches the conduit in the slab problem with 20 years of experience in the utility location business. We have plenty of utility locating tricks that will find utilities in concrete floors. Together with the radar concrete scan we can offer a solid scanning service.