Scanning for Rebar With GPR

The area beneath a commercial or industrial building can be a mess of wires and pipes. These carry anything from fiber optics to refrigerant. This makes cutting into a concrete slab hazardous if you don’t know where they are located. Even if you have a perfect map to where all of the utilities and pipes are in your building, however, there is one hazard those maps likely wouldn’t show: the metal used to strengthen the concrete. That is where scanning for rebar with GPR, or ground penetrating radar, comes in.

GPR Arkansas specializes in commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects and will map out where the rebar and other obstructions are in your concrete before you begin to saw.

What Is Rebar?

Rebar, or reinforcing bars, are bars or mesh — usually made from steel. They are employed, often in a grid-like pattern, to give greater strength to concrete.

Workers create the grid before pouring the concrete.

Why scanning for rebar is important

Cutting into concrete without accounting for rebar can result in:

• Tool Damage: Drills or saws not designed to handle metal can break, flying debris can pose safety risks, and downtime for equipment repairs adds to delays.
• Safety Hazards: Unexpected contact with rebar can create dangerous conditions, especially if tools malfunction or if workers are exposed to sharp metal fragments.
• Structural Issues: Damaging rebar can compromise the integrity of the concrete, leading to costly repairs or the need to reinforce the structure.
• Increased Costs and Delays: Broken tools, replacement equipment, and adjusting project plans due to unforeseen rebar locations can all lead to budget overruns and extended timelines.

By scanning for rebar with GPR before cutting, you can avoid these risks, ensuring safer, faster, and more cost-effective operations.

Choose GPR Arkansas For Your Concrete Scanning Needs

GPR Arkansas uses a state-of-the-art ground penetrating radar system. It has been proven more effective than x-rays or other techniques. Contact us today to set up a free estimate.