Building Pathology Flashcards
What are common defects of concrete frame buildings?
- Carbonation
- Sulphate attach
- High Chloride Content
- Freeze thaw
- Alkali - Aggregate Reactivity
What are common defects of steel frame buildings?
- Corrosion
- Cut edge corrosion
- Steel rivet corrosion
- Fatigue cracking
- Distortion
What different methods for identifying defects are there?
- Leak investigations
- Protimeter
- Phenaphaline solution
- ## Core sampling
What are the common defects of timber frame buildings?
Engineered timber
- delamination
- infestation
- rot
Traditional timber
- rot
- infestation
What is RAAC stand for?
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete?
What is RAAC and why was it used?
It is made by mixing the concrete mixture with an aerating agent to create a lightweight aero like composition and curing it in an autoclave.
- used due to its lightweight
- good insulation properties
- fire resistance
- relatviely cheap
When was RAAC widely used?
1950s - 1990s
What are the risks or RAAC?
- Mainly old RAAC
- Usually due to pooor installation - such as cutting or pnetrating
- Performance Defects - inc. corrosion of reinfacoement, cracking and spalling, overloading
- Manufacturing defects - insufficient anchorage or poor rebar cover
- Construction defects - short bearing lengths, post manufacture cutting of panels
What are the remediation options for RAAC?
- Leave and monitor
- Prop
- Increase or improve end bearing support
- Full span support
- Replace
- Demolish building
How do you identify RAAC?
- typically 600mm width panels
- V-shaped grooves at regular spaced intervals
- Light grey in colour
- Note of any of the following suppliers: Siporex, Durox, Celcon, Hebel and Ytong
What is the form of construction of a the residential mews property in south kensington?
- Load bearing solid brickwork walls
- Suspended timber flooring
- mansard roof with slate tiles
- brick footing foundations
What is asphalt?
Asphalt is a semi solid petroleum. Formed through a mixture of aggregates and bitumen.
What is the timber moisture content to be prone to rot?
Wet rot is 50% and above
Dry rot from 20%
How to identify dry rot?
- Deep cracks in timber grain
- brittle/ crumbly timber
- orange/brown spores
-grey strands - fruiting bodies
How to identify wet rot?
- softened or spongy timber
- black brown fungal growths
What is the latin name for dry rot?
Serpula Lacrymans
What is the latin name for wet rot?
Coniophora Puteana
What is Nickel Sulphide Inclusions?
NiS is a small crystal like impurities in glass. During the glass tempering process where the temperatures are raised it activities the NIS crystal. During its life it can then subsequently cause the glass to shatter due to changes in temperature in the surrounding atmosphere.
How to reduce presence of NiS in manufacture?
Heat soaking can be done to tempered glass (c.287’C) which should cause NiS to expand and shatter glass before it has a chance to be installed.
This is an expensive process however.
How to identify/ analyse for presence of NiS?
Post shatter, the glass break point can be reviewed under an electron microsope for the small inclusion.
Why is NiS a problem?
- H&S concern
- Costly to replace
- Often can’t get a warranty against NiS failure
What is a standing seam roof/cladding panel?
Each metal pan has a fastening that means it can be attached to another panel without the need for exposed fixings
What is cut-edge corrosion?
The steel sheets are protected in a anti corrosion coating, however where they are cut to size. this area can often be exposed to the elements and lead to corrosion.
How do you remedy cut edge corrosion?
Depending on severity:
- Replace panel
- Remove corrosion, apply an anti-corrosion primer, apply a reinforced tape over the cut edge and coat over that with a waterproof coating.
What budget cost dis you allocate for the remedials of the cut edge corrosion at the office in monument?
- £30 per linear metre. = circa £2800
- Prof fees on top
What is concrete carbonation?
Concrete carbonation is when CO2 in the atmosphere reacts with teh concrete, reducing its alkalinity. Once alkalinity reaches 11ph the passivating layer around the reinforcement can be breached, allowing corrosion of the steels.
What is concretes natural pH?
12.6
What factors determine rate of carbonation?
- High cement to water ratio slows the rate of carbonation.
What is the recommended concrete cover around reinfocement?
It depends on a number of different factors like use/location and exposure factors. This is all set out in BS8110.
Why is carbonation prone in buildings built in 1950s-60s?
As carbonaton has had chance to set in, and concrete cover over reinforcements wasnt as regulated and has been found to be as low as 10mm.
How do you measure concrete cover?
A Cover meter, which is a non intrusive device that sends electromagnetic pulses through the concrete.
How do you measure the depth of carbonation?
- using a phenophalein solution.
- apply to a core sample
- Purple stain means no carbonation
- clear means carbonation
- need to leave for 24 hrs
What carbonation preventative methods are there?
Anti-carbonation coatings to concrete, which prevent the ingress of CO2. This solution should be applied every 10 years.
What remedial solution is there for carbonated concrete?
- Remove loose and damaged concrete, expose corroded steel.
- Descalea corrosion and apply ani corrosion coating to steel
- Replace concrete, aim for a higher cement to water ratio.
- Apply anti-carbonation coating.
What is a high chloride content?
High Chloride content can cause coorosion of reinforcments. It can be caused by external factors such as icing salts/seawater, or can be found in some concrete admixtures used for accelorating curing.
Whats the testing procedure for high cloride content?
Crush a small sample and extract chrloride with a chamical solution.
What is the acceptable levels of chlorides?
less than 0.4% is low risk
between 0.4 and 1% is medium risk
above 1% high risk
What is Sulphate Attack?
Sulphate ions attacks componene of concrete paste and causing the concrete to crack and detiorate. Sulpahte can be found from external sources like: groundwater, seawater or wastewater, or, internally through some gypsum agregates or some admixtures.
How do you identify sulphate attack?
The surface of the concrete will have sodium sulphate deposits.
What is Alkali Aggregate Reactivity?
Two types Alkali Silica reactivity ASR, and, Alkal-carbon reacitivtiy (ACR). ASR is more common and causes an expansive reaction by forming a gel that absorbs moisture.
How do you identify ASR?
Produces a mapped or crazed cracking style.
How to reduce liklihood of ASR?
- Use low alkali portland cements
- Use certain pozzolins that reduce alkalinity.