The Importance of Materials Testing
With so many different materials used in the construction of most structures, whether warehouses or residences, there is a need for developers and architects to have a solid understanding of the properties of these materials. This includes the behaviour of materials in general, and how each one interacts with another. Another consideration is the impact of factors such as weather might affect the performance of a material. With this in mind, the importance of materials testing becomes clear.
When undergoing steel testing in Hong Kong, one is not only looking at durability, but also strength, hardness and weld quality, as well as thickness and how tensile it is. At the end of the day, testing is needed to ensure not only safety but also compliance to industry standards and regulations to avoid potential liabilities.
Steel testing can be mechanical, chemical and electromagnetic, using x-ray devices for example. Ultrasounds can also be used as well as magnetic particle testing, which magnetises a surface and by doing so effectively identifies any discontinuities either on the surface or the subsurface of the steel.
Hong Kong has a history that goes back decades in the use of structural steel in construction, with many iconic buildings incorporating steel within their structure. Steel is also used to reinforce foundations where weaknesses are detected. There are many reasons why steel may be a preference over reinforced concrete. Certainly, structural steel has strong tensile properties, so it can take a lot of stress. Structural steel offers developers the opportunity to build quicker and also use a material that is easier to maintain, too.
Steel testing needs to be carried out by experienced professionals using the best equipment possible.
