scope:

Objective and scope

Visual condition surveys involve visual examination of a concrete element for the purpose of identifying surface and geometrical features and documenting their physical extent. It is limited to the visible surfaces of the concrete.

This guide is intended to assist the person conducting the visual condition survey to plan and execute the survey, to understand common features that may be visible during a survey, and to document the results of the survey. Chapter 3 presents methodologies to conduct the survey. Chapter 4 defines common features that may be encountered in a condition survey and provides photographs to illustrate some of these features to aid in their identification. Chapters 5 to 7 summarize the factors that can lead to the manifestation of various features related to construction, in-service conditions, and durability. The summaries are intended to assist the reader in better understanding and interpreting observations of a condition survey. References are provided to other published information to further aid the reader.