The Worrisome Woes that Can Hit Steel
Contractors in Their Wallets
High-cost concerns aren't reserved for concrete contractors. When steel contractors begin to set steel on the project, they own any issues passed down from
the concrete contractors and also face costly consequences when the layout is inaccurate or incomplete. Steel provides many benefits over other structural
materials, but if there are mistakes in fabrication or placement, it won't perform as expected. Here are some of the risks steel contractors encounter:
Missing embeds, anchor bolt
issues, and elevation errors
Before concrete is poured, anchor bolts and
steel embeds must be placed in the correct
location, requiring you to inspect, lay out, and
perform QA/QC on these components before
the erection process begins. If any of these
elements are missed or incorrectly positioned,
you could be looking at expensive back charges
and rework. Elevation is critical as well. The
elevation of the top of bolts must allow for
proper grout beds, base plates, washers, and
double nuts to lock in the columns. Embeds
that are just 1" too low can mean the top of the
beam is not properly welded or bolted into place,
requiring a complete tear out or re-engineering.
Lack of information and
improper fabrication
Factory-produced steel components require
accurate measurements. You must be able to
gather dimensions for basic installation, and
oftentimes for complex shapes and curves as
well, so you can provide it to the fabrication
shop. But when dimensions have to be tracked
down, you waste time and hurt your productivity.
And if those measurements are off and the
critical structural components are improperly
fabricated, you'll be looking at expensive
rework. In addition to the hefty costs involved in
refabricating the steel components themselves,
you'll also have to invest additional equipment,
resources, and energy to correct the issue.
Incorrect rebar placement
The integrity of the entire project is dependent
on accurately positioning structural rebar in
their correct locations, such as around door
openings, block outs, sleeves, and corners,
to ensure a lasting structure and less rework
in the field. If there are errors at this phase of
construction, though, it can impact the way
concrete covers the rebar. Cover is the single
most important factor in protecting reinforcing
steel from corrosion. It's also necessary to
assure that the steel bonds to the concrete
well enough to develop its strength. Incorrect
placement of these core infrastructural
components can lead to unpredicted corrosion
and concrete structural failures.
