Standards Development

Scope

This document gives recommendations on and describes the principles of operation of electromagnetic devices that may be used for estimating the position, depth and size of reinforcement buried in concrete. It also describes their methods of use and applications,the accuracy to be expected and the factors which may influence the results.

Electromagnetic covermeters can be used for:

a) quality control, to ensure correct location and cover to reinforcing bars after concrete placement;

b) investigation of concrete members for which records are not available or need to be checked;

c) location of reinforcement as a preliminary to someother formoftestinginwhichreinforcement should be avoided or its nature considered, e.g. extraction of cores, ultrasonic pulse velocity measurement or “near-to-surface” methods;

d) location of buried ferromagnetic objects other than reinforcement, e.g. water pipes, steel joists, lighting conduits.

NOTE Some devices may also detect non-ferromagnetic metal objects. Such use is outside the scope of this Standard and reference should be made to manufacturers’ publications. 

Purpose

Electromagnetic covermeters have now been in use long enough for experience to have accumulated of applications for a variety of types of structure and under different conditions. 

A range of suitable devices is commercially available. Since the capabilities of these vary, the choice of instrument may be governed by the particular test conditions and information required.

However, there is no reference method for the determination of concrete cover. This standard intends to set the requirements for carrying out the test and the recording of the measurements taken.

Note: in case the WI is based on documents from other organizations than ISO/IEC, please specify it here