Contact person
Per Martinell
Utredare
Contact Per
Survey of facades
RISE concrete assessors have extensive experience in inspecting damages in various types of facades, such as facades of concrete elements, plaster or brick.
Causes of damages
Damage to concrete facade elements may occur during installation and later worsen when moisture enters the damage. Moisture may then cause frost damage and reinforcement corrosion, leading to subsequent concrete damage. Frost damage and damage due to reinforcement corrosion may also occur over time in undamaged areas of concrete elements and in cast-in-place concrete.
Corrosion may occur through carbonation, which is a chemical reaction between the carbon dioxide in the air and the alkaline components in the concrete, causing the pH to decrease in the concrete. When carbonation reaches the reinforcing bars, they begin to rust, provided the concrete is sufficiently moist. Reinforcement corrosion may also occur if the concrete contains chlorides above a certain critical level. The corrosion products (rust) have a much larger volume than the original steel, which leads to so-called rust bursting. As a result, the concrete cover layer outside the reinforcement cracks and eventually falls off.
Concrete may freeze and crack if it has insufficient frost resistance.
Damage to facades of plaster and brick may occur due to subsidence, movements, and incorrect applying of plaster or brick including mortar.
Method
RISE's surveys of facades usually include visual inspection, damage mapping, measurements and sampling.
Delivery
RISE's surveys are usually compiled in verified survey reports.
