Subsurface Interface Radar (SIR) Services

Technician Performing Subsurface Interface Radar on a Pillar in a Parking Deck

International Inspection performs subsurface interface radar (SIR) services for construction, commercial property, and geophysical clients who need to detect any features beneath the surface of an area of concrete. We provide SIR services to help ensure the safety of personnel working on concrete specifically; by locating subsurface elements like rebar and PT cables, our technicians can map them out so that workers don’t hit them while drilling, sawcutting, or coring. Unexpected encounters with subsurface elements can lead to damaged equipment, lost productivity, cut utility lines, and worker injury.

Also referred to as ground penetrating radar (GPR), SIR uses electromagnetic signals to determine the location and existence of embedded objects in concrete and soil.  Using 500 MHz, 900 MHz, and 1 GHz transducers, International Inspection can perform SIR inspections of concrete up to 24-inch in thickness and soil depths of up to 20 feet.
For More Information Refer to our Radar Surveys page.
Concrete Surveys
Concrete radar surveys are available for areas not accessible to x-ray, slabs on grade, retaining walls or concrete too thick to effectively inspect using x-ray techniques.  Reinforcing steel can be precisely located even with spacing as little as 3 inches apart.

Since no radiation is required to perform a radar survey, this is an excellent alternative to x-raying in highly occupied facilities such as hotels, hospitals, airports, etc.

Note:  International Inspection, Inc. highly recommends x-ray inspections over concrete radar inspections whenever possible.  This is due to the fact that concrete radar techniques cannot differentiate between post-tensioned cables and rebar, whereas x-ray allows for the exact determination of concrete contents.
Utility Locating

SIR can be utilized to locate buried objects such as pipes, tanks, and utility lines.