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Services Provided:
Structural Investigation, Condition Assessment, Non-Destructive Testing
Sector:
High-Rise & Commercial
Client:
Allied Commercial Pty Ltd
Location:
Brisbane City, Brisbane
Scientific testing of Allied Commercial’s 42-year-old Brisbane CBD property revealed excellent structural condition despite age-related paint deterioration. Chloride testing showed concentrations well below corrosion thresholds, and shallow carbonation depths indicated ongoing concrete protection. TRSC’s recommendation for protective coating renewal instead of expensive structural remediation delivered significant cost savings.
Allied Commercial’s 42-year-old Brisbane CBD property was showing surface-level paint deterioration on the external concrete core wall. The concern was understandable. Concrete structures around this age often show signs of deterioration, and the visible paint issues suggested potential problems underneath. The property manager had been preparing for significant remediation costs based on the building’s age and the exterior condition. Rather than assuming the worst, we proposed systematic testing to understand the actual condition of the concrete and reinforcing steel before committing to any remediation approach.
The assessment centred on scientific testing rather than assumptions. We used electromagnetic scanning to measure concrete cover depths, determining how deeply the reinforcing bars were embedded. This matters because cover depth is the first line of defence against environmental exposure reaching the steel. The chloride testing program provided the critical data. We sampled at various depths throughout the wall, analysing chloride concentration at each level. Chloride ions from atmospheric deposition can penetrate concrete over time, and once they reach sufficient concentration at the reinforcement, they initiate corrosion. We also measured carbonation depth. Concrete is naturally alkaline, which protects embedded steel, but carbon dioxide from the atmosphere gradually reduces this alkalinity. The visual survey complemented the scientific testing, confirming whether the subsurface condition matched what we were seeing on the surface.
The testing revealed excellent structural condition despite the building’s age. Chloride concentrations ranged from 0.008% to 0.036% by weight of cement, well below the 0.06% threshold where corrosion typically initiates. After 42 years of exposure to Brisbane’s urban atmosphere, the concrete was still protecting the reinforcement effectively. Carbonation had penetrated only 2-3mm, indicating dense, low-permeability concrete. Given the measured cover depths, this shallow carbonation posed minimal threat to the reinforcement. The paint deterioration was exactly what you’d expect after decades of service. It was normal coating degradation, not evidence of concrete problems underneath. Our recommendation was straightforward: the structure didn’t need remediation, it needed protective coating renewal.
The testing results changed the project scope entirely. Allied Commercial could avoid expensive structural remediation because the concrete was protecting the reinforcement effectively. What the building actually needed was coating renewal to maintain that protection. Concrete remediation for a building this size typically runs to hundreds of thousands of dollars, while coating renewal is a relatively straightforward maintenance item. Beyond the immediate cost savings, the investigation created a documented baseline. Future assessments can measure against this data to track real changes rather than making assumptions based on the building’s age. It turned out to be a clear example of how testing prevents both unnecessary work and deferred maintenance.
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Connect with us directly by email or phone via the details below.
admin@trsc.au
1300 023 184