Ground Radar on Reinforced
Concrete With Metal Pan Decking

W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractors is the main mechanical contractor on the Baptist Medical Center Project in downtown Jacksonville, FL.  The general contractor on the project is Batson-Cook.  The first two floors of the new tower are reinforced concrete and floors 3-7 are concrete supported by metal pan decking.  W.W. Gay Mechanical needed to make several penetrations through the concrete on both types of slabs.  They contacted Ground Penetrating Radar Systems to determine if it was possible to use ground penetrating radar on both regularly reinforced concrete as well as concrete reinforced with metal pan decking.  W.W. Gay was informed that while metal decking can be difficult to scan, ground penetrating radar is still useful.  GPRS, Inc. was then contracted to mobilize to the site in Jacksonville and survey 20 core drilling locations.

Once on site GPRS mapped all reinforcing steel on the top of the slab with marker.  They were able to indicate what depth the reinforcing steel was found at and also if there were any potential strike hazards for the core driller.  Additionally, on the concrete reinforced with metal decking, GPRS was able to mark the high points of the decking to make the core drilling process as simple as possible.  By the time GPRS had finished their survey the project managers were impressed with the output and data results and were confident they could make decisions, in conjunction with the project engineer, on where they should drill.

You will see pictures below depicting Chris Moore, of GPRS, Inc, surveying and collecting data with the radar.  The data was processed in the field and the rebar findings were marked with marker.  If you have questions or comments in reference to deterioration mapping for your project please visit our website.  Also, if you would like to receive a proposal for similar work please visit the “Contact-Us” page at gp-radar.com.