Condominium Column Strengthening Case Study

CONDOMINIUM COLUMN STRENGTHENING JOB DETAILS: MARKET: Architectural/Commercial PRODUCT: CarboComp Textile 600 Carbon Fibre Laminates

INSTALLATION

INSTALLATION

COMPLETED COLUMN

WITH FIREPROOFING

AREA: Support Columns DATE: November 2023 LOCATION: Ottawa, Ontario

Carbon Fibre is lightweight, incredibly strong, and durable making it an ideal solution for structural strengthening. This case study showcases how these attributes were used to good effect on a project in Ottawa.

THE CHALLENGE During the QA/QC review process, the Site Manager of a New Build Condominium project in Ottawa received news no one ever wants to hear. 28-day test data showed the compressive strength of the concrete used in two supporting columns had only achieved 75% of the required design strength.

Clearly, this could not be left unresolved. Local Structural Strengthening experts, Aries Contracting, were already on site fire-stopping and installing spray-foam, and were approached to provide an “Engineered Solution” to reinforce these columns, ensuring they would meet or in fact exceed their original design capacity.

www.stonhard.ca | 800.263.3112

CONDOMINIUM COLUMN STRENGTHENING THE SOLUTION Stonhard’s Carbon Fibre Reinforced Laminates and CarboComp Textile reinforcing fabric were used to provide the necessary strength enhancement.

Given the critical nature of this strengthening work, the design engineer calculated that each of the columns would require 5 layers of CarboComp Textile 600, which was supplemented with four additional 100mm wide strips of carbon fibre laminates applied in pairs in the longitudinal direction onto the widest faces of the square columns.

Per the requirements of CAN CSA 806-12 ‘Canadian design code for the design and construction of building structures with fibre reinforced polymers’, Aries started by rounding off the corners of the columns, followed by full preparation of the concrete prior to the application of the carbon fibre strengthening.

CarboComp Laminates were applied first, then the wrapping fabric. Once the carbon fibre laminates had cured, “straps” of CarboComp Textile 600 Fabric were cut to the required length and applied around the columns. These were designed to overlap 300mm end to end, and were applied to the full height of each column. The overlap joints in the 5 layers were staggered to ensure that the columns did not lose their original shape.

Once the carbon fibre had fully cured, Aries Contracting applied a code required Thermal Protection Layer designed to protect the structural strengthening in the unlikely event of a “thermal incident” occurring in their vicinity.

Better than new, the Site Manager could concentrate on building the condominium without further concern for these particular columns.

For further information on Stonhard and our Construction Solutions including Carbon Fibre Strengthening, please visit our website.

www.stonhard.ca | 800.263.3112

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