IPC’s patented
inspection services can x-ray a steel or concrete structures, identify
early and advance stages of deterioration and recommend repairs
before the deterioration spreads and compromises the structure's ability to
carry its designed loads.
Repairing early stage deterioration
prolongs service life expectancy of concrete and steel structures. DOTs do
not have the funds to replace aging infrastructure and are looking
for ways to prolong their service life should look to www.infrastructurepc.com.
Nondestructive testing (NDT)
is the process of inspecting, testing, or evaluating materials, components or
assemblies for discontinuities, or differences in characteristics without
destroying the serviceability of the part or system. In other words, when the
inspection or test is completed the part can still be used.
IPC is focused on
providing quantitative inspections solutions that not only save time and money
but do away with current “subjective” testing methods using lane closures and
dangling an inspector from a boom truck with a helmet and a flashlight or a
hammer or chain to listen for differences in sound by an inspector to determine
deterioration. Conventionally used in manufacturing and fabrication, NDT has
matured to where Federal and state bids are requiring that NDT be used in the
inspection of our nations assets. This makes IPC’s technology and equipment not
only appealing to federal and state governments but to the engineering firms
vying to win these bids
IPC's unique service can x-ray a bridge, identify
earlier stage deterioration and recommend
repairs before the deterioration spreads and compromises the structure’s
ability to carry its designed loads. Repairing early stage deterioration
prolongs the service life expectancy of a bridge. DOTs do not have the funds to
replace 180,300 aging bridges and are therefore looking for ways to prolong
their service life. The only method to detect early stage deterioration
is through NDT. IPC's testing procedures and equipment are unmatched
in exposing and reporting early stage deterioration in bridge
structures. See Exhibit “E” for comparison of IPC’s inspection report to a
traditional inspection report.
IPC provides the following geophysical
engineering services:
1.
Bridge Deck Deterioration Assessment identifies 12 levels of deck deterioration
and delamination. This is used to identify high levels of deterioration for
repair as well as early stage deterioration.
2.
Remaining Life Assessment is used to project the remaining life of a
bridge based upon a CBI inspection report (a visual inspection report from
a Certified Bridge Inspector) and a full structure NDT inspection.
3.
Bridge Roadway Approach Assessment is used to identify levels of void
formations, water intrusion and loss of base and sub-base density under roadway
approaches to bridges.
4.
Bridge Approach Slab Condition Assessment identifies the slab’s ability to maintain
traffic flow by measuring slab deterioration, void formations and loss of
density within base and sub-base under slab.
5.
Bridge Abutment Backwall Assessment is used to identify water intrusion through
the backwall of the abutment, void formations and scour conditions within
base and sub-base behind the backwall.
6.
Bridge Rebar Pattern and Size Assessment identifies primary and secondary rebar
patterns, bar sizing and cover depth.
7.
Void Detection involves locating, classifying and estimating the size of voids
and potential sinkholes within roadways, around bridges, embankments, around
concrete and steel structures and new construction areas.
8.
Steel Bridge Section Loss Assessment identifies section loss and stress within
load members and adjoining elements.
9.
Concrete and Steel Condition Assessment of structures including residential
and commercial buildings, columns, culverts, parking garages, docks, balconies
and many other reinforced concrete structures.
10. Damage Assessments involves determining structural integrity
after a structure has been damaged through impact or fire.
11. Bridge Tendon
Assessment identifies
voids, water and corrosion within external bridge tendons.
12. Cable
stay Assessments identifies
voids, water and corrosion within bridge cable stays.
13. High
Mast Light Pole Inspections: (Patent Pending) IPC provides
high definition video of high mast light poles. These poles are required to be
inspected every 5 years. There is
currently no other technology other than visual inspections currently being
performed.
The
bridge tendon inspection services were developed by IPC in response to an
October 2011 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) memo (see Exhibit
"B"), which warned all states' Department of Transportation offices
of the high-potential for early stage corrosion and failure within
post-tensioned tendons (which hold
large bridges together). IPC developed TendonScan™, an
NDT inspection system that can identify early stage corrosion
within post-tensioned tendons of these identified bridges. TendonScan™
identifies corrosion within tendons down to .05% and provides a
"Recommendation of Corrective Action Plan" providing a level of
detailed analysis that no other service is able to match.
