Quality management

The essence of reinforced concrete lies in a symbiosis between concrete and steel. Concrete resists compression well but has a weak resistance to traction: steel rods placed inside a concrete member bolster its resistance to traction, enabling it to resist flexions. Although steel, left exposed to air and water, would rapidly deteriorate, the surrounding concrete protects it with its alkalinity, allowing the member to resist through time.

Reinforced concrete must, therefore, have two fundamental factors of resistance: resistance to stresses and resistance through time or, in other words, durability.

When reinforced concrete structures are built, the final product’s quality depends on a wide number of participants possessing very distinct degrees of responsibility and expertise. That’s why concrete structures are extremely susceptible to human errors.

Through quality control, construction supervisors ensure that previously determined specifications for a specific structure are met.

Such control is carried out through inspections and tests, preferably through methods that are non-destructive or minimally invasive.