Civil Structures

KEMA has many years experience in the inspection and condition monitoring of civil structures such as the inspection and maintenance of chimneys

Safeguarding of civil structures
Concrete is used everywhere. The quality of a concrete structure is of vital importance. For one thing, the renovation or replacement of civil structures can be very costly. What is more, concrete structures have to meet exact safety requirements. KEMA has many years’ experience specialized in the inspection, condition monitoring and certification of civil structures. KEMA’s unique knowledge of concrete, aggregates and recycling has been built up working with power plants, transmission networks and substations. Our expertise covers:
- systematic maintenance
- economic viability
- environmental impact
- durability of materials
- application of residues in construction materials.

Inspection and maintenance of chimneys
Operational changes at a plant – switching from ‘dry-stack’ to ‘wet-stack’ operation, for example – can mean that the structural materials used in a chimney are subjected to stresses unforeseen by the designers. The result can be accelerated degradation and a range of associated problems. Maintenance of chimneys is often seen as an end-of-the-pipe activity. In fact, prompt maintenance has considerable operational benefits, as well as enhancing the safety of the working environment. For chimneys, cooling towers and channels, and other civil structures, KEMA offers the following range of services:
- condition assessment and monitoring
- destructive and non-destructive testing
- inspections and inspection intervals
- repair specifications and procedures
- cost estimates
- maintenance plans
- on-site quality control
- expert opinions and mediation.