DPA has been involved in assessing contaminate related defects to this and other cooling towers and high-rise structures at a Synthetic Fuels Plant since 1998. 

 

The last investigation into the contaminate condition of these structures was undertaken in May 2001.  Since then, repairs have been undertaken to these cooling towers on a regular basis.  It became apparent that these repairs have not been ultimately successful in that repairs undertaken as recently as 3 - 4 years ago, were showing evidence of significant failure in their vicinity.  

 

Following a review of work undertaken to date, it became apparent that not all of the procedures complied with internationally recognised methodologies for dealing with structural and durability issues in the most efficient and economic long term manner.  Our Client therefore decided that it would be appropriate to remove some core samples to review the adequacy of current remedial works, and to obtain a general understanding of the contaminate and corrosion condition of the structure to allay concerns or to reinforce these, dependent on the findings from such a basic survey. 

 

DPA Specialist Consulting Engineers were appointed to remove  cores and to analyse these for Sulphate and Chloride contaminants and to provide our Client with an opinion following a review of these results.