The technology involved in concrete scanning has come a long way! Did you know that you can actually find out what is embedded in an existing concrete slab without disturbing it at all? In other words, there's no need to guess where it would be safe to cut or drill into concrete to avoid hitting things like rebar, post-tension cables, or embedded utility lines.
Someone's first instinct might be to use some type of metal detector to locate rebar and other embedded metallic items, since metal detectors are relatively inexpensive and readily available. They are also easy to use—requiring little training or know-how. However, metal detectors are not the most effective type of equipment for scanning concrete. Metal detectors may not be able to “see” things that are too deeply embedded, and can have trouble giving an accurate reading when multiple embedded items are close together.
GPR Concrete Scanning—The Better Choice
To get a more accurate reading of what's embedded in a concrete slab, the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) is recommended. GPR concrete scanning is typically completed by professionals who specialize in this type of activity. It requires expensive equipment and someone to operate it who has been trained in how to interpret the data the equipment puts out.
Although GPR equipment is fairly expensive, hiring someone to come out and scan your concrete doesn't have to be. A GPR professional can come to your location and complete a scan in a short amount of time and provide you with results on the spot. They can mark directly on your concrete where it is safe to cut or drill or may even provide you with a CAD overlay that will show you where all embedded hazards are located.
When performed by professionals, GPR concrete scanning is very accurate and the information they provide you with will allow you to move forward safely with your project.
Is GPR Concrete Scanning Better than Concrete X-Ray?
There are rare occasions when GPR concrete scanning is not enough. If concrete is not fully cured, GPR may struggle to provide an accurate reading. Or, if you have a very congested slab—with a lot of embedded hazards in close proximity—concrete X-ray may be the best option. The downside of concrete X-ray is that it is a more time-consuming process and it also emits harmful radiation, requiring the building to be evacuated prior to its use.
The concrete scanning experts at Enhanced Scanning in Southern California had this to say: ” In most situations, GPR scanning is more than adequate to provide the information our clients are looking for in a concrete scan, and therefore, it is the technology we use more than 90% of the time. It is safe, cost-effective, requires little to no setup prior to its use, and produces fast and accurate results.”
