Ferro Scanning Services
Ferro Scanning & Concrete Testing Services
Drilling, cutting or excavating without knowing what lies inside a structure or beneath the surface puts programmes, budgets and people at risk. Reinforcement, embedded conduits and buried cables are rarely visible, yet they determine how safely and accurately intrusive work can be carried out.
CA Drillers has been a specialist drilling and concrete cutting contractor since 1981. Our Ferro Scanning Services now sit alongside GPR concrete scanning, concrete strength testing, underground service detection and anchor testing, helping contractors, developers, engineers and site managers understand existing concrete structures before work starts.
Our five core services are:
Ferro and GPR concrete scanning
Concrete strength testing using a Schmidt Hammer
CAT scanning for underground service detection
Pull-out and pull-off testing
Technical reports and survey documentation
Professional Concrete Scanning and Structural Investigation Services
A visual inspection cannot show what is inside concrete or below ground. Before drilling, cutting, coring, forming penetrations, excavating or demolishing, a targeted survey can answer the questions that matter to your method statement:
- Where is the concealed reinforcement, and what else is embedded?
- How is the concrete arranged internally?
- Where do underground services run?
- What is the condition and indicative strength of the concrete?
- Are installed anchors and fixings performing as specified?
Reliable findings help teams choose suitable working methods, position openings sensibly and reduce the likelihood of damage and rework. They also give engineers evidence to support their decisions. The value is greatest before work starts, when moving a drilling position costs minutes rather than a programme delay.
Ferro Scanning Services and GPR Concrete Scanning
Different scanning technologies answer different questions, so the right method depends on the structure and on what you need to know.
What Is Ferro Scanning?
Ferro scanning is a non-destructive form of concrete reinforcement scanning. A scanner passes an electromagnetic field over the surface and picks up the response from steel bars beneath it, so reinforcement can be located and marked out. Depending on the equipment, survey method and site conditions, it can also indicate cover depth, bar spacing and estimated bar diameter.
It detects metallic reinforcement only, and results become less certain where reinforcement is congested or deeply buried. Typical uses include locating bars in slabs, beams and columns, and identifying positions for core drilling that avoid reinforcement where the design allows.
What Is GPR Concrete Scanning?
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) sends short radar pulses into the concrete and records the reflections from changes within the material. Those reflections can reveal reinforcement, conduits and other embedded items, including some non-metallic ones. They may also indicate multiple reinforcement layers, indicative slab thickness and possible voids or anomalies.
GPR interpretation depends on operator experience and on conditions such as moisture, reinforcement density and depth. In some cases, combining Ferro scanning and GPR gives the fuller picture.
When Is Concrete Scanning Required?
Scanning is commonly specified before:
• diamond core drilling and stitch drilling
• concrete cutting and sawing, including track sawing for wall and slab openings
• forming openings and penetrations
• installing mechanical and electrical services
• structural alterations and refurbishment
• controlled demolition
Ferro Scanning
Best suited to: Locating and mapping steel reinforcement
Detects: Metallic reinforcement
Typical question: Where are the bars, and how much cover is there?
Key limitation: Metal only; less certain in congested or deep reinforcement
GPR Concrete Scanning
Best suited to: Investigating reinforcement, embedded services and anomalies
Detects: Reinforcement and some non-metallic embedded items
Typical question: What else is in or behind this slab?
Key limitation: Interpretation depends on moisture, density and depth
Tell us about the structure and the work planned, and we will advise which method, or combination, suits it. Our team can then plan drilling positions around the findings, as part of our professional diamond drilling services.
Technical Reports and Survey Documentation
Findings are only useful if the people planning the work can understand them. Across all our concrete surveying services, reports record what was found and what it means.
Depending on the service and agreed scope, documentation may include:
- recorded survey findings and locations
- relevant test results and measurements
- marked-up drawings or survey images, where available
- interpretation of the findings
- observations and limitations
- supporting information for project teams and engineers
Agree reporting requirements before the survey so the documentation suits its purpose.
Applications of Ferro Scanning and Concrete Testing
The right choice depends on the structure, site conditions and information needed before work begins.
1
Commercial Construction
Ferro and GPR scanning before drilling and cutting; pull testing of installed fixings
2
Residential Developments
Ferro scanning before coring; CAT scanning for groundworks
3
Structural Alterations
Ferro and GPR scanning; Schmidt Hammer testing of existing concrete
4
Building Refurbishment
Schmidt Hammer testing; GPR scanning; pull testing of existing fixings and applied finishes
5
Infrastructure Projects
GPR scanning; CAT scanning; Schmidt Hammer testing
6
Groundworks and Excavation
CAT scanning
7
Concrete Drilling and Cutting
Ferro and GPR scanning
8
Demolition and Structural Investigation
Ferro and GPR scanning; Schmidt Hammer testing
Why Choose CA Drillers?
CA Drillers has worked in specialist drilling, sawing, concrete cutting and demolition since 1981. Scanning and testing build on that experience, because the findings feed directly into how drilling and cutting are planned.
- Trading in the UK construction industry since 1981
- Offices in Kent, London and Surrey
- Hands-on knowledge of diamond drilling, concrete cutting and demolition, and of what site teams need
- Multiple concrete scanning services and tests from a single provider
- Company accreditations including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, CHAS Elite and RISQS (see our health and safety policies and accreditations)
- Clear technical reporting and professional project communication, with each project managed by a Contracts Manager
- Support for contractors, developers and construction teams; see our recent projects and client testimonials.
What Our Clients Say
Real Results: Recent Diamond Drilling Projects
Proof of our expertise across diverse applications
A commercial client required multiple service openings through reinforced floors while tenants remained on site. Our team planned the work using diamond core drilling and low-noise equipment.
Erith Contractors, 15 Bishopgate, London – Value £250k
Ardmore Construction, 10 Trinity Square, London – £1.7m
Morris & Spottiswood Ltd – 33 Old Broad Street
FM Conway – The National Art Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ferro Scanning used for?
Ferro scanning locates steel reinforcement in concrete. Depending on the equipment and method, it can also indicate cover depth, bar spacing and estimated bar diameter, helping teams plan drilling, cutting and structural alterations.
What is the difference between Ferro Scanning and GPR Scanning?
Ferro scanning uses an electromagnetic field to detect metallic reinforcement. GPR uses radar pulses and can also pick up some non-metallic embedded items and possible voids or anomalies, although its interpretation depends more heavily on conditions and operator experience.
Why is concrete scanning required before diamond drilling?
Scanning shows where reinforcement and other embedded items sit, so drilling positions can be adjusted before a core meets an obstruction. That protects the structure, the equipment and the programme. Our guide to core drilling for complex construction projects covers planning and access in more detail.
Can GPR detect reinforcement inside concrete slabs?
Yes. GPR can help identify reinforcement and its arrangement within slabs. How clearly it does so depends on slab construction, reinforcement density, depth and moisture.
What does a Schmidt Hammer test measure?
It measures the rebound of a spring-loaded mass from the concrete surface, which reflects surface hardness. Interpreted with an appropriate methodology, it gives an indicative view of strength. It does not replace laboratory testing of cores.
What is CAT Scanning used for in construction?
CAT scanning detects and traces buried conductive services, particularly live electrical cables, before excavation, trenching and groundworks.
Why is underground service detection important before excavation?
Damaging an underground electricity cable can cause serious or fatal injury, and strikes can also halt work and damage other services. Detection, service plans and safe digging practice together help manage that risk.
What is anchor pull testing?
A controlled tensile load is applied to an installed anchor or fixing to see how it performs against the project specification.
Do you provide reports after scanning and testing?
Yes. Reporting is agreed before the survey and, depending on the service and scope, can include recorded findings, measurements, test results, observations and limitations. You can request a sample report.
How much do Ferro Scanning and concrete testing services cost?
Costs depend on the service, survey area, location, access and scope of investigation, so we do not publish fixed prices. Contact our team with your project details for a free quotation.
Service Areas Across London and the South East
Professional coverage wherever your project needs us
CA Drillers operates throughout:
Kent
Canterbury, Maidstone, Dartford, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, and all surrounding areas
Surrey
Guildford, Woking, Reigate, Epsom, Kingston, Croydon, and Greater Surrey
Essex
Chelmsford, Colchester, Basildon, Southend, Harlow, Brentwood, and other towns in Essex
London
All London boroughs, including Central London, North London, South London, East London, and West London
Need Professional Ferro Scanning or Concrete Testing?
Understanding existing structures before work begins helps teams identify obstructions, investigate concrete condition and plan the right working methods. Whether you need Ferro scanning before diamond drilling, GPR investigation, concrete strength testing, underground service detection or anchor pull testing, CA Drillers can help.
To price your survey accurately, please tell us:
• the site location and access arrangements
• the structure type, and the area or number of test points
• the service or services required
• any drawings, specifications or acceptance criteria
• your programme dates
Find Out How Our Expertise Can Help You By Calling
CA DRILLERS ON
08009750891