Structural auditing of RCC buildings

Abstract

Structural Auditing is overall health and performance check up of the building like a doctor examines a patient. This process to create awareness amongst the residents and owners of building towards the health examination of existing concrete buildings called as Structural Audit. The need of structural audit is for maintenance and repairs of existing structures whose life has exceeded the age of 30 years to avoid any mishaps and save valuable human life. The concrete is widely used as construction material being inexpensive, easy for construction, applications and because of it high strength-cost ratio. More than ever, the construction industry is concerned with improving the social, economic and environmental parameters of sustainability. In India, from 1980 onwards the infrastructure industry witnessed stepping up of public investment and growth in infrastructure industry which resulted in construction of new multi-storey concrete apartments which are now in the age of thirty plus years. There are many buildings during this period and earlier that have reduced in strength in due course of time because of structural deficiency, material deterioration, unexpected over loadings or physical damage. lf further use of such deteriorated structure is continued it may endanger the lives of occupants and surrounding habitation. There is demand of appropriate actions and measures for all such building structures to improve its performance and restore the desired functions of structures which may leads to increase its functional life. The periodical structural auditing and diagnosis for health of existing buildings i s thus utmost important for finding the present serviceability and structural viability of structures. The structural audit must be carried out following auditing norms, methods of non-destructive testing and code provisions. The structural auditing will help to implement maintenance and repair work timely which leads to prolonged life of the building and safety of the occupants.