in the 1970’s and 80’s it was was very common for buildings to be built with post tension cables. Post-tensioning involves reinforcing concrete using high-strength steel strands. The steel strands are commonly called ‘tendons’. It is used in a wide range of concrete structures including:
- Apartment buildings
- Office buildings
- Parkades
- Bridges
It allows construction of structures that would otherwise be impossible.
Contractors need to locate post-tension cables when repairing structures. It is important to avoid hitting the cables when cutting or drilling for renovation. These cables have very high tension and cutting them can also compromise the structure’s integrity.
These need to be tested on a regular basis. There are multiple ways to have them tested both destructive and non destructive