ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER – October 2011
BUILDING INSPECTION AND CONCRETE
For the production of a good and quality building, project, production, and control are the most important elements. A perfect project will only come to life when implemented under good supervision. Our country has paid the price for project and production errors and deficiencies in supervision after every destructive earthquake. It would be accurate to say that many of the shortcomings and errors in the project and production stem from a lack of proper inspection.
Since 2011, the building inspection system implemented nationwide has played an important role in ensuring that our buildings are safely constructed against earthquakes. Of course, there are still shortcomings, but it was necessary to start somewhere. While shortcomings should be pointed out, we should avoid pretending that the building inspection system is completely flawed or not functioning.
It would be appropriate to remind some issues that may be overlooked in building inspection. These shortcomings are the result of a study conducted with experts in the field. The 8th National Concrete Congress was held between October 5-7, 2011, at the Dokuz Eylül University Continuing Education Center in Izmir.
The congress was hosted by the Chamber of Civil Engineers İzmir Branch. There were excellent presentations on concrete, special concretes, durability, and building inspection. One of the key topics discussed was the durability of concrete, which has gained importance in recent years, especially its resistance to environmental conditions and chemical effects. Given the extensive research on durability, it is necessary to openly address its practical implications.
Today, just as the strength (resistance) of concrete is crucial, its durability against environmental conditions is equally important. If concrete begins to crack uncontrollably within the first few hours after it hardens or if it deteriorates and loses strength under short-term freezing-thawing effects, this indicates that there are many aspects of its durability that need to be reviewed.
In addition to producing high-strength concrete, producing durable concrete is one of the main goals of the construction industry. Simply producing concrete with appropriate properties is not enough. Sufficient cover must be provided to ensure the concrete fits easily into the mold. Afterward, the concrete must be compacted according to the rules, and once it sets, it must be cured (watered).
In reinforced concrete elements, if there is no or insufficient cover, it is impossible to protect the reinforcing steel (rebar) inside the concrete from external environmental conditions and chemical effects. If the reinforcement inside the concrete deteriorates, this would be like all your soldiers being wiped out without a fight in a war. Although the cover might seem like a minor detail, it should be closely monitored by building inspection firms with great care. This was the shared opinion of all the researchers attending the 8th National Concrete Congress.
Reinforcement corrosion protection in concrete holds additional importance. Therefore, building inspection firms should work with more precision and documentation when it comes to cover, compaction, and curing of concrete. The shared consensus on this matter emerged through their collaborative work.
Another significant conclusion from the congress was the need to raise awareness among construction workers such as foremen and craftsmen. Especially seminars organized in cooperation between chambers and universities can help both our colleagues and workers become more aware of their roles. The goal of in-service training should be to ensure that every worker, from engineers to laborers, continuously questions the construction process, just like an inspector would.
The responsibility of technical staff working in inspections is quite heavy. They are legally responsible for the buildings they inspect for 15 years and morally for a lifetime. Every solidly built structure is a brick laid in the future of our country.
Let’s all build our country’s future on a solid foundation…