Inspection equipment for masonry Building
Inspection equipment for masonry Building
(OP)
We have been asked to inspect a masonry building with large openings in the walls. The building is 30 years old and starting to show evidence of movement in the walls/lintels.
Is there electronic equipment (lasers) out there that can be used to measure the plumbness of the walls. Any suggestions?
Is there electronic equipment (lasers) out there that can be used to measure the plumbness of the walls. Any suggestions?






RE: Inspection equipment for masonry Building
RE: Inspection equipment for masonry Building
How do you know the original elevations and plumbness of the walls? If it is now 1/8" out of plumb, that means nothing since it may have built that way. The converse is true - it could have been built 1/8" out the other way and moved 1/4" to its present position.
Equipment may impress the client, but a thorough inspection of the wall condition, crack widths and crack patterns is probably the place to start. After that, if you have a decent time frame, you can apply crack measurement/movement devices to correlate any movement with the previous mapping. With this, you can do a good engineering analysis.
what you are seeing may be a seasonally caused appearance.
Dick
RE: Inspection equipment for masonry Building
Signs of structural distress are more critical.
RE: Inspection equipment for masonry Building
If your firm does not have experience in conducting evaluation and condition assessment of existing masonry structures, IMO, you should consider hiring a consultant, so you can shorten the learning curve. There are several heavy-hitters in this field.
RE: Inspection equipment for masonry Building
As a structural engineer I get involved with supporting this group from time to time. But they have the experience to know what to look for as to cause and solution.
Good luck.