Structural Reinforcement of a Five-Story Reinforced Concrete Building

Objective: increase load-bearing capacity in line with current seismic requirements and codes. Application of modern materials and techniques with minimal interventions, maintaining building operation and minimizing disruption to occupants and neighbors.

Project Facts

• Building: Five-storey reinforced-concrete structure (existing)
• Scope: Structural strengthening of primary RC members while the property remained in use
• Our role: Structural Adequacy Assessment, intervention design, site supervision & coordination

Objectives & Constraints

Increase load-bearing capacity in line with KANEPE/EC8 while minimising disruption to occupants and neighbours, keeping the building operational, and meeting programme/budget.

Investigation & Testing

• Survey of defects/cracks and reinforcement mapping (pacometry).
• Local openings and bond checks; concrete testing (e.g., rebound/cores where required).
  
• Carbonation/corrosion assessment and loading/use documentation.

Strengthening Strategy

• RC jacketing to columns/shear walls with new stirrups and anchors (dowels, shear connectors), substrate preparation and cast-in-place/shotcrete overlays.
• Local beam/joint upgrades to improve shear capacity and ductility.
• Repair works to deteriorated areas with repair mortars and rebar protection.

Construction Method & Phasing

1. Selective removals/exposures; surface roughening and cleaning.
2. Drilling and anchoring of dowels; placement of new reinforcement cages.
3. Formwork and jacketing concretes (or shotcrete as applicable); curing.
4. Finishes reinstatement, cleaning and final checks.

Quality Assurance & Reporting

• Pre-pour rebar inspections, cube tests, and as-built documentation.
• Frequent progress reports to the owner with photographic records.

Outcome

Substantial increase in capacity and ductility, full compliance with KANEPE/EC8, and minimal disturbance while keeping the building fully operational.

Need strengthening for an occupied building? We deliver SAA, intervention design and site coordination with a focus on safety and speed.