Spotlight on Steel Testing
Whether dealing with a high-rise building or low-rise structure, intrinsic to any construction and development, expansion and refurbishment, as well as maintenance, is the necessity to ensure steel stability is intact. HOKLAS steel testing in Hong Kong involves specialists with a comprehensive understanding of building regulations being able to inspect steel to the highest degree.
Without adequate inspection, safety is put at risk and on top of this, there is the danger that a building will require greater repairs and maintenance, with obvious cost implications. The longevity of a property could be compromised. It goes without saying that steel used in construction needs to be strong and durable yet also flexible as opposed to brittle.
Bend tests create stress on steel which in turn reveals how pliable or ductile it is. This also covers the strength of welding. Another important test that can be carried out with regards to steel is how strong fasteners are that connect steel structures. These bolts create tension with force required to tighten them. Therefore, knowing about load-carrying capabilities is vital.
Non-destructive techniques focused on the welding process not only ensure that the integrity of the steel and welding is intact, but also provide a real-time evaluation that can save time, energy and money in the short-term and long-term. With welding requiring such incredible skill and precision, it makes sense that how this is implemented needs to be monitored, and this refers to pre-construction and once a building is developed, too. Welding tests are an integral part of steel testing.
Radiography provides an image of the outside and inside of materials to better detect issues and flaws, with several images used to compare against. Another method to identity where there are breaks within the surface is a liquid penetrant test. Another method is magnetic particle testing, which spots any discontinuities in the surface and sub-surface of steel. Meanwhile, ultrasonic testing utilises soundwaves, checking for any disturbances within the sound-wave pattern that could be a sign of an irregularity on the surface or internally. This method is also used to detect thickness and this in turn is an indicator of corrosion issues.
Steel is the skeleton of a building and needs to perform to withstand the pressure from other materials and the structure of the entire property itself. Getting advice on what steel testing to employ is paramount.