FAQ

WHAT DOES SURVEYING OF A STRUCTURE INVOLVE?

The process of building structure surveying includes the establishment of the bearing elements, the quantity and quality of the materials used in the bearing structures, and assessment of the reliability of the structure and its adaptability to future purposes.

The surveying process includes the following stages:

  • 1. Review of the available design documentation, delivery and acceptance reports for the building, and others, if available.
  •  2. Making records of the bearing elements and establishing the structural and building systems.
  • 3. Calculation of the dimensions of bearing elements.
  • 4. Determination of the properties of the materials used, such as strength, density, ductility, elasticity module and other characteristics of the structural materials, diameter of the embedded reinforcement, and other factors with major contribution to the bearing capacity of the elements of the structure.
  • 5. Detection of defects and damages, assessment of quality of construction and installation works, calculation of concrete nominal cover, corrosion of steel and concrete, and other factors that may impact the bearing capacity and durability of the structure.
  • 6. Creation of a model of the structure and calculations proving its bearing capacity in the context of various types of impact, including vulnerability to earthquakes.
  • 7. Analysis of problematic parts of the structure, assessment of defects and damages
  • 8. Conclusions about the bearing capacity, exploitation fitness, anti-seismic properties of the structure, etc
  • 9. Recommendations to the owners, including any need for reinforcement projects, required work modes, limitation of access, restrictions on loads.

The report on the structural surveying is a required document for the project documentation of buildings and facilities. It may serve as a source of initial data for structural statements in positive assessments or as a required basis for projects involving reinforcement of the structure or creation of a technical passport of the building.

WHEN IS A STRUCTURAL SURVEY NECESSARY?
  • In the cases where the building will be repurposed and there are expectations of changes of the load bearing characteristics.
  • In the cases where the building will be restored, or some new elements of the building/facility will be constructed or old ones demolished.
  • In the cases of detected defects or damages jeopardizing the health and lives of the occupants.
  • In the cases where existing buildings are retrofitted and a technical passport is required.
  • In the cases where control is necessary during construction due to suspected poor quality of the construction and installation works.