Frequently Asked Questions
About Medicrete
What does Medicrete do?
Medicrete is a specialist engineering consultancy focused on the investigation, assessment and management of reinforced concrete infrastructure. We combine engineering assessment, diagnostic testing and material investigations to determine the condition of structures, identify deterioration mechanisms and develop practical repair, rehabilitation and maintenance strategies.
What does Medicrete specialise in?
We specialise in concrete condition assessments, structural investigations, concrete diagnostics, non-destructive testing (NDT), durability assessments, failure investigations, remaining service-life assessments and repair and rehabilitation engineering.
What types of structures and industries does Medicrete work with?
Medicrete works across mining, industrial plants, power generation, renewable energy, water and wastewater infrastructure, marine and coastal structures, bridges and road infrastructure, and commercial developments.
We assess structures such as foundations, silos, tanks, reservoirs, process structures, bridges, retaining structures, slabs, buildings and other reinforced concrete assets.
Where does Medicrete operate?
Medicrete undertakes projects throughout South Africa from our Cape Town and Johannesburg operations and can support projects elsewhere in Southern Africa where required.
Concrete Condition Assessments
What is a concrete condition assessment?
A concrete condition assessment is a systematic engineering investigation used to establish the current condition of a structure, identify defects and deterioration mechanisms, determine their extent and severity, and establish what actions may be required to maintain or restore the performance of the asset.
Why does Medicrete investigate a structure before recommending repairs?
Visible defects such as cracking, spalling, delamination or staining are often symptoms of an underlying problem.
These may be associated with reinforcement corrosion, carbonation, chloride ingress, water ingress, chemical exposure, thermal effects, structural movement, overloading or construction-related defects.
Medicrete investigates the deterioration mechanism and extent of damage before developing a repair strategy. This helps ensure that repairs address the cause of the problem rather than simply treating the visible symptoms.
These may be associated with reinforcement corrosion, carbonation, chloride ingress, water ingress, chemical exposure, thermal effects, structural movement, overloading or construction-related defects.
Medicrete investigates the deterioration mechanism and extent of damage before developing a repair strategy. This helps ensure that repairs address the cause of the problem rather than simply treating the visible symptoms.
When should a concrete structure be professionally assessed?
An assessment should be considered when cracking, spalling, corrosion, water ingress or other deterioration becomes visible; following fire, impact or abnormal loading; before major alterations or rehabilitation; where previous repairs are failing; or as part of a planned asset-management programme.
For critical infrastructure, periodic condition assessments can also identify deterioration before it develops into a significant structural or operational problem.
What information does a Medicrete condition assessment provide?
Depending on the scope, an assessment typically identifies and maps defects, investigates likely deterioration mechanisms, evaluates their extent and severity and identifies areas requiring further investigation.
The assessment then provides engineering conclusions and practical recommendations for monitoring, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation or further structural analysis.
Can concrete appear sound while hidden deterioration is developing?
Yes. Significant deterioration can develop below the surface before obvious visual defects appear.
Reinforcement corrosion, internal cracking, delamination, voiding, chloride ingress and other deterioration mechanisms may therefore require diagnostic testing to identify and assess.
Concrete Diagnostics & Testing
Why does Medicrete use multiple testing methods during an investigation?
No single test provides a complete understanding of a reinforced concrete structure. Different investigation methods provide information about different material properties, defects and deterioration mechanisms.
Medicrete therefore selects appropriate testing methods to answer specific engineering questions and interprets the results collectively rather than relying on a single test result.
What concrete testing methods does Medicrete use?
Depending on the investigation, Medicrete can use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV), rebound hammer testing, reinforcement cover surveys, half-cell potential testing, concrete resistivity testing, concrete coring and laboratory testing.
The investigation programme is selected according to the structure, suspected deterioration mechanism and engineering information required.
What is Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)?
Ground Penetrating Radar uses electromagnetic signals to investigate the internal configuration of concrete.
GPR is commonly used for reinforcement mapping, determining reinforcement spacing and cover, locating post-tensioning and identifying embedded services before drilling, cutting or structural modification.
Why should concrete be scanned before drilling, cutting or coring?
Concrete scanning allows reinforcement, post-tensioning and embedded services to be mapped before intrusive work begins.
This reduces the risk of damaging structural reinforcement, electrical services, conduits or post-tensioning systems and allows drilling or cutting locations to be planned more safely.
Can GPR detect voids within concrete?
GPR can identify subsurface anomalies that may be associated with voiding, changes in material or other discontinuities.
Interpretation depends on the depth, geometry, surrounding materials and site conditions. Where necessary, suspected defects can be verified using complementary investigation methods.
What is Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) testing?
UPV measures the velocity of an ultrasonic pulse through concrete. It is useful for assessing concrete uniformity, comparing different areas of a structure and identifying potential internal anomalies such as cracking, voiding or areas of reduced concrete quality.
UPV results are normally interpreted together with other investigation information and should not generally be considered as a standalone measurement of concrete compressive strength.
Why are concrete cores taken?
Concrete cores provide direct samples of the in-situ material and can be used to determine properties such as compressive strength and internal concrete condition.
Core sampling can also support further laboratory investigations relating to durability, carbonation, chlorides or other material properties where required.
Non-destructive testing is often used first to identify representative or anomalous locations for targeted core sampling.
Concrete Deterioration & Durability
What are the most common causes of reinforced concrete deterioration?
Common deterioration mechanisms include reinforcement corrosion associated with carbonation or chloride ingress, water ingress, chemical attack, thermal effects, abrasion, erosion, inadequate concrete cover, poor compaction or workmanship, cracking and structural overloading.
The dominant deterioration mechanism depends strongly on the structure’s environment, construction and operating conditions.
Why does reinforcement corrosion cause concrete to crack and spall?
As reinforcement corrodes, corrosion products form around the steel and generate expansive forces within the surrounding concrete.
This can initially cause cracking along the reinforcement, followed by delamination and eventually spalling of the concrete cover. Continued corrosion may also result in loss of reinforcement cross-sectional area.
What is carbonation and why is it important?
Carbonation is a chemical process in which atmospheric carbon dioxide reacts with components within hardened concrete, gradually reducing its alkalinity.
If the carbonation front reaches the reinforcement, the natural corrosion protection provided by the alkaline concrete environment can be reduced, increasing the risk of reinforcement corrosion where suitable moisture conditions are present.
Can Medicrete investigate reinforcement corrosion and chloride contamination?
Yes. Depending on the structure and exposure environment, investigations may include half-cell potential measurements, concrete resistivity testing, reinforcement cover measurements, carbonation testing, chloride analysis and direct inspection of reinforcement at selected locations.
These results are considered collectively to understand the deterioration mechanism and assess the likelihood and extent of corrosion activity.
Structural Assessment & Remaining Service Life
Can Medicrete determine why concrete is cracking?
Yes. Cracking is assessed by considering the crack pattern, width, location, structural configuration, environmental exposure and operating conditions.
Where necessary, this is supplemented by testing or monitoring to determine whether cracking is associated with shrinkage, thermal movement, settlement, reinforcement corrosion, structural loading or another mechanism.
Can Medicrete determine whether a structure can be repaired instead of replaced?
Yes. One of the objectives of an engineering assessment is to establish whether repair, strengthening or rehabilitation represents a technically and commercially viable alternative to partial or complete replacement.
The decision should consider the actual condition of the structure, extent of deterioration, structural requirements, intended remaining service life and lifecycle cost.
How does Medicrete assess the remaining service life of a concrete structure?
Remaining service-life assessments consider the current condition of the structure, identified deterioration mechanisms, concrete durability, reinforcement condition, environmental exposure and expected future operating conditions.
The objective is to understand how deterioration is likely to progress and what interventions can be implemented to extend the useful life of the asset.
Repair & Rehabilitation Engineering
How does Medicrete develop concrete repair recommendations?
Repair recommendations are developed from the findings of the engineering investigation.
We consider the cause and extent of deterioration, substrate condition, environmental exposure, structural requirements, operational constraints and intended service life before recommending an appropriate repair or rehabilitation strategy.
Does Medicrete prepare repair specifications and recommend repair materials?
Yes. Where required, Medicrete develops repair methodologies, performance requirements and technical specifications and assists with selecting repair systems compatible with the existing concrete, environmental exposure and required service performance.
Repair materials are selected as part of the overall repair strategy rather than independently from the deterioration mechanism.
Why do some concrete repairs fail prematurely?
Premature repair failures often occur when only the visible damaged concrete is repaired without addressing the underlying deterioration mechanism.
Other causes can include inadequate removal of unsound concrete, insufficient surface preparation, untreated reinforcement corrosion, incompatible repair materials, poor curing, continuing moisture ingress or failure to account for the structural and environmental conditions affecting the repair.
Can damaged concrete structures be repaired instead of demolished?
In many cases, yes. Reinforced concrete structures can often be repaired, protected, strengthened or rehabilitated rather than replaced.
The appropriate solution depends on the deterioration mechanism, extent of damage, remaining structural capacity and required future service life.
Does Medicrete provide carbon-fibre or FRP strengthening solutions?
Yes. Where additional structural capacity is required, strengthening solutions can include externally bonded fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems such as carbon-fibre strips or wrapping.
The requirement for strengthening should first be established through engineering assessment and structural analysis, after which an appropriate strengthening system can be designed for the specific application.
Asset Management & Preventative Maintenance
How can Medicrete help asset owners reduce long-term maintenance costs?
By identifying deterioration early, asset owners can move from reactive repairs towards planned, condition-based maintenance.
This allows maintenance expenditure to be prioritised according to condition and risk and can reduce emergency repairs, unplanned downtime and unnecessary replacement of serviceable infrastructure.
How often should critical concrete infrastructure be inspected?
There is no single inspection interval suitable for every structure.
Inspection frequency should consider structural importance, environmental exposure, operating conditions, age, deterioration history, previous repairs and the consequences of failure.
Medicrete can assist asset owners in developing risk- and condition-based inspection programmes for individual structures or groups of assets.
Working With Medicrete
Does Medicrete work with consulting engineers and contractors?
Yes. Medicrete can operate as a specialist concrete investigation and diagnostics resource supporting consulting engineers, contractors, project managers and asset owners.
We can provide specialised field investigations, testing and concrete-technology input to support broader structural assessments, rehabilitation designs and construction projects.
Does Medicrete provide engineering reports?
Yes. Investigations are documented in technical reports appropriate to the scope of work.
Reports typically include the investigation methodology, observations, test results, interpretation of findings, engineering conclusions and recommended actions.
What can I expect after contacting Medicrete?
We first establish the client’s concerns, the structure involved and the engineering questions that need to be answered.
From this, Medicrete develops an appropriate investigation scope rather than simply prescribing a standard set of tests.
Following the site investigation, testing and analysis, we provide an engineering report documenting the findings, conclusions and recommended actions.
Can Medicrete help extend the service life of existing infrastructure?
Yes. This is a core focus of our work.
By understanding the current condition of an asset, identifying the mechanisms driving deterioration and implementing targeted maintenance, repair or rehabilitation strategies, Medicrete helps asset owners make informed decisions aimed at extending the safe and economical service life of their infrastructure.
How do I request a condition assessment or quotation?
Contact Medicrete with information about the structure, location and the concerns or defects you have identified. Photographs, drawings and previous reports are useful where available.
Our team will review the information and recommend an appropriate investigation, testing or engineering scope for the project.
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