The Salient points Discussed during Online Discussion on Topic Structural Auditing

5/10/2014 are as under in Question Answer Formats:

Q.1) What is Structural Auditing (SA)?

A- Structural Audit is an overall health and performance checkup of a building

like a doctor examines a patient. It ensures that the building and its premises are
safe and have no risk. It analyses and suggests appropriate repairs and
retrofitting measures required for the buildings to perform better in its service life.

Q.2) Is there any guideline procedure for Structural Auditing?

A- The Procedure is mentioned in a Checklist added in Annexure

Q.3) Eligibility to carry out SA?

A-Any experienced Structural Engineer (SE) (not Architect) can perform SA in

collaboration with NDT expert. It’s beneficial if the SE holds license to practice in
that respective (n relevant) jurisdiction. BMC has made it mandatory but the rules
r conflicting

Q.4) The Frequency of carrying out SA?

A- Earlier usually people used to do SA after the bldg is very old or beforedemolishing it
to build a new. Now a days SA after 25yrs first n thereafter every 5yr is
recommended.

( As per clause No.77 of revised Bye-Laws of Cooperative Housing Societies:

“The Society shall cause the ‘Structural Audit’ of the building as follows:

 For building aging between 15 to 30 years once in 5 years

 For building aging above 30 years Once in 3 years )

Q.5) The Fees of carrying out SA ?

A- It depends whether audit is supported with NDT or how. What's a purpose of audit,
size of building etc. Normally people charge Rs. 5000 to 15000 for one bldg.
And about time SA takes about 20 to 30 mins per flat n about 1hr to observe Bldg
from outside, terrace, tanks etc.
To write a good report another one or two days

Q.6)Mumbai has many residential buildings which are over 30 yrs. As per new bmc rules
it is clear that builders will redevelop the buildings in good locality where they will get
handsome rates...so what abt the buildings which r deteriorated? Ndt is allowed only in
the parking area n generally results r devasting i.e If m15 n ph around 8 n velocity very
poor then how to actually repair the buildung?
  Epoxy mortar/grouting/jacketing or
 steel plate strengthening (very Costly)

Q.7) Problems faced during carrying out SA?

A- One hindrance often faced at the beginning of SA is availability of structural design
calculations and design drawings due to lack of awareness in learned society about
civil / construction engineering.

Q.8) Do we carry out re analysis based on current Ast (if steel is corroded)?
A-IIT Kanpur (nicee and sefi) people keep suggesting for analysis based SA n R.
Software like SAP etabs are facilities to do so. But large test based inputs are
needed from sites which may incurr additional costs and in some cases restrict the
same/.

Q-9) Whether Additional Steel is Needed or Concrete needss Grouting?

A- in Concrete structures two ingredients - Steel n Concrete are present . . .engineer
should investigate which one is more crucially dilapidated .
Concrete strength depends on weaker of aggregate, Cement phase n bond
zone . . .but in Design never full strength is utilised . . .hence really increasing
concrete strength (20/25yr old) is undue. . .but certainly to make it compatible with
reinf. steel we can confine it

Q-10) What is Fibre Wrapping & How effective is it?

Q-11) One another issue fased while Auditing old Bldgs (which were not designed for
EQ) where n how the repair will b done. . .or is just repair adequate or retrofitting needed
?

Q-12) How to Rectify Wall Failures?

A- Rectification of damaged walls is yet another area which needs special attention &
Detailing.
Wall of three types
1) load bearing brick masonry
2) infill masonry walls
3) RCC Structural walls (3.a shear wall n 3.b box system)

In case of type. 2) walls (cracked or dilapidated) replacement thought is good option

but not practical one. People use wire mesh.
for type 1 and 3 use of staples was tried in killari n bhuj . . but performance is not
known. Stitching cracks in walls using reinforcement staples is an option
Q-13) Structural Audit and repair / retrofitting building foundations ?

A- M/s. Afcons had done the work of placing new foundations below existing columns,
and increased one basement below existing. That was for Piramal at Tardeo
They used micropiles to relieve load temporarily from existing columns, did new
foundations, then transferred the load from micropiles to new foundations.

Q-14) Structural Audit and repair / retrofitting Jetties ?

A- Increasing the load capacity of secondary beams at Porbandar Saurashtra Cement
jetty to enable use of Tata 320 crane. This was a design retro-fitting to allow loads for
which the jetty was not designed.
(Tata 320 Crane loads are more critical than heavier cranes.It can exert 40 T/sqm
load.)

Q-15) what is the limit to which Fibre wrapping can increase Strength?

Q-16) What is the cost for Fibre Wrapping of Columns & Beams?

Q-17) Is there any Break even analysis so as to decide after investing in the usable

Q-18) What is the upper bound limit & minimum adhesive strenght of Adhesives used
for wrapping Fibers?

Q-19) How about External Prestressing as a retrofit method? (commom in Bridges)

Q-20) What is the method by which The Old Arch Bridges on Mumbai Pune Expressway
Retroffited by Steel Sections Placed below Arch & Anchored in Overlay Slab ?

Q-21) what is the Liability of Structural stability certificate to Fire & other man made
Hazards like Fire?
References:

1) Masonry structure - Dr. A. S Arya

2) Earth resistant design - S. K Ghosh
3) Earthquake tips -NICEE
4) Forensic Investigation - Peter Emenos

5) J. J. Shah (2008), Article in The Indian Concrete Journal, pp. 1726

 ISSE has conducted a couple of short n long seminars on Strucural Audit; they
have also published a (can be purchased from Dadar office)

 IRC SP 70-

 accommodationtimes.com/structural-audit-of-society-buildings/

 Manuals could be available online at www.bre.co.uk.

Relevant Codes:

1) Indian Standard: 13311:1992 (Part 1) NDT methods of Test- Ultrasonic

Pulse

Velocity.

2) Indian Standard: 13311:1992 (Part 2) NDT methods of Test- Rebound Hammer.

3) ACI 546R-04 – Concrete repair guide.

4) ACI 562-12 - Code Requirements for Evaluation, Repair, and

Rehabilitation of

Concrete Buildings.

5) Indian Standard: 456: 2000- Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of

Practice

(Fourth Revision).

6) Indian Standard: 516: 1959- Method of test for strength of concrete.

ANNEXURE

A. Points to watchout while Inspection of the Bldg are as follows :

1. Any settlements in the foundations.

2. Visual cracks in columns, beams and slabs

3. Concrete disintegration and exposed steel reinforcements – photographs can

be helpful.

4. Slight tapping with hammer can reveal deterioration in concrete.

5. Extent of corrosion in reinforcement.

6. Status of Balconies – sagging, deflection, cracks?

7. Status of Architectural features viz. chhajjas, fins, canopies etc.

8. Cracks in walls indicating swelling in R.C.C. members or distress or

deflection or corrosion.

9. Leakages from terrace & Toilet blocks.

10. Leakages & dampness in walls resulting into cracks and corrosion.

11. Changes carried out affecting structure.

Toilet blocks - Added or changes made?

Change of user – from Residential to Commercial to Industrial?

Change of Partition Walls?

12. Status of lift and lift machine room – Type of Maintenance Contract, renewal

of license.

13. Status of electrical wiring from meter room to all the flats. Substation status.

Any explosion in the meter room, substation?

14. Status of overhead & underground water tanks - capacity. Leakages, cracks

& frequency of cleaning, status of pumps.

15. Plinth protection in the compound including status of drainage, water pipes

& pumps. How much the Ground was flooded during recent monsoons?
16. External paint – When last painted and type of paint.

17. Status of repairs & last repaired.

What was repaired?

Who was the Agency?

How much was spent for repairs?

18. Bldg. plans available? When approved?

Occupation Certificate available?

Structural Plans available? Structural Stability Certificate available?

Structural Calculations available?

19. Last Structural Audit prepared?

B. Non Destructive Tests:

The following NDT tests are required to be carried out on structural elements.
However,

it is important that the testing scheme is prepared based on preliminary survey

of the

building/structure :

1. Core tests to determine the estimated equivalent in situ compressive strength &
to

establish correlation between Rebound hammer test & in situ strength of concrete.

2. Rebound Hammer test to estimate the in situ compressive strength of

cover

concrete.

3. USPV test to assess the integrity of concrete.

4. Carbonation test to assess the depth of carbonated concrete.

5. Half cell potentiometer test to determine the probability of active corrosion.

6. Cover test to assess the cover provided to RCC structural members.

C. SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR STRUCTURAL AUDIT REPORT

Name of the Building:

_____________________________________________________

Description:
_______________________________________________________________

Address:
__________________________________________________________________

Society Name:
_____________________________________________________________

Age of the Building: _________

Contact Person:- ________________________ Tel. No:

Inspection Report Date: / /

INSPECTED BY: _________________

OBSERVATIONS

1. FOUNDATION STRATA

· VISUAL INSPECTION

· SETTLEMENT OF COLMNS

· SETTLEMENT OF WALLS

· CRACKS IN COL., WALLS, JOINT AT

PLINTH

2. SUPER STRUCTURE INSPECTION

· CRACKS IN COLUMNS/ RUSTING OF

STEEL , / EXPOSED STEEL

· CRACKS IN BEAMS / RUSTING OF

STEEL , / EXPOSED STEEL

· CRACKS IN SLABS / RUSTING OF STEEL

, / EXPOSED STEEL

· CRACKS IN EXTERNAL WALLS

· CRACKS IN INTERNAL WALLS

3. LEAKAGES & DAMPNESS IN EXTERNAL WALLS

4. TOILET LEAKAGES,CRACKS,

5. TERRACE WATER PROOFING

INSPECTION

6. LEAKAGE & DAMPNESS ON THE TOP

FLOOR SLAB

7. INSPECTION OF WATER TANK ABOVE

TERRACE

8. INSPECTION OF UNDERGROUND

WATER TANK

9. LEAKAGES & DAMAGES:-PLUMBING

LINES/WATERLINES, DRAINAGE LINES

10. ELECTRICAL LINE

11. BUILDING LAST REPARIED DETAILS

· DATE

· COST OF REPAIR WORK

· WHAT WAS REPAIRED ?

12. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING

13. R.C.C./ LOAD BEARING STRUCTURE

14. IDEA ABOUT FOUNDATION STRATA

FROM SURROUNDING AREAS &

ENQUIRY

15. HIGH FLOOD LEVEL

· HFL DURING THIS MONSOON

· HFL DURING LAST FIVE YEARS

16. ANY CRACKS OBSERVED DURING

EARTHQUAKE

17. ARCHITECTURAL PLANS AVAILABLE

18. STRUCTURAL PLANS AVAILABLE

19. BUILDING PLAN APPROVAL DATE

20. OCCUPATION CERTIFICATE DATE

21. BUILDING IS DESIGNED FOR EARTHQUAKE CODE -1893-1984

· BUILDING IS DESIGNED FOR EARTHQUAKE CODE -1893- 2002

22. TESTS RECOMMENDED

· REBOUND HAMMER TEST

· CONCRETE CORE CUTTUNG &

COMPRESSION TESTING

· HALF CELL POTENTIAL TEST FOR DETERMINING THE

PROBABILITY OF CORROSSION IN EMBEDDED STEEL

· CARBONATION TEST FOR CARBONATION DEPTH MEASUREMENT

FOR STEEL

· ULTRASONIC PULSE VELOSITY TEST

(UPV) FOR STRENGTH ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE

· INTEGRITY TEST FOR PILE FOUNDATIONS

23. REPAIRS / RETROFIT SUGGESTED

24. CONCLUSION:

25. REVIEW OF REPAIRS CARRIED OUT: