This HCAI project consisted of the construction of a new freestanding, 64,440 S.F. acute care rehab hospital Type II-A, 3 story steel brace framed building. The overall construction schedule was approximately fourteen (14) months from the start of foundations through TCO. Within that fourteen (14) month schedule, all structural elements were completed within the first six (6) months.
Twining provided over 1,700 hours of inspection time throughout this seven (7) month duration. In addition, we assumed the role of Geotechnical Engineer of Record (GEOR) during the construction stage.
Our materials testing and inspection services included:
- Reinforcing Bars: Provide tagging and sampling of rebar; obtain and perform tensile and bending testing per the CBC Section 1913.2.6
- Batch Plant Inspections: Concrete and grout batch plant inspections per HCAI requirements
- Reinforced and Cast in Place Concrete: Provide special inspection and testing services including sampling during concrete placement. Perform slump tests, unit weight testing and air entrapment testing prepare compressive strength specimens per ASTM C39, ACI 318, CBC Section 1905.6, and the project specification manual.
- Reinforce Masonry: Observe placement of rebar reinforcement, and placement of blocks and mortar. Observe the grout placement operations. Perform all testing per ASTM C1093, ASTM E548 and ASTM C90 as determined by the strength unit method or the prism method as indicated in the project specifications. Provide coring of CMU walls for split tensile testing services.
- Shop Welding Inspection: Shop fabrication inspections per HCA requirements. This included: verification of incoming mill shipments with mill test reports, verification of transfer of heat numbers to cut pieces. Review and verification of correct, applicable, and approved weld procedure specifications (wps’s); verification of welder certifications; maintenance of record drawings (structural drawings with approved RFI’s, etc.); verification that welding equipment variables are set in accordance with wps’s; verification of joint preparation in accordance with wps’s; verification of fit up; verification of preheat compliance with wps’s; inspection of weld compliance with applicable visual acceptance criteria (typically AWS D1.1 Table 6.1); verification of post weld cool down where applicable; nondestructive testing where applicable; inspections of repairs where welding quality requirements of plans, specifications and applicable codes are not met; marking of members; reporting of material identification., weld inspection, and completed members; communication of status with IOR, Engineer of Record, and on-site structural steel inspector in accordance with pre-determined project protocols.
- Field Welding of Structural Elements and Cold Formed Steel: Review steel mill certificates, welder certifications and weld procedures specifications (WPS’s) for compliance in accordance with the governing jurisdiction requirements, CBC, and project specifications. Periodically monitor amperage and voltage of welding equipment and verify that welders are following the prescribed weld procedures and sequence.
- Non Destructive Welding Inspection – MP, UT: Provide non-destructive examination and welder qualifications, per project specifications. Visually inspect all welds and test all full penetration welded connections and splices by ultrasonic method, or magnetic particle.
- High Strength Bolts, Nuts and Washers: Perform field testing of high strength bolts, nuts and washers using the Skidmore device in the field. Provide hardness testing, tensile testing laboratory testing.
- Metal Decking: A Registered Deputy Inspector will provide field observations during decking placement, welding and bolting.
- Fireproofing: Provide special inspection and testing services in accordance with the project specifications. Monitor fireproofing during installation. Monitor spray applied, monokote fireproofing, adhesion and cohesion tests on a periodic basis. Obtain fireproofing samples for laboratory density testing in accordance with the frequency established by the 2013 CBC.
- Pull Testing: As required by the 2013 California Building Code, Chapter 24 our personnel will provide pull testing of veneer, expansion and epoxy drilled, shot in anchors and ceiling wires
In order to assume the role of Geotechnical Engineer of Record (GEOR), registered geotechnical engineer first reviewed accepted the geotechnical reports and the project plans and project specifications for conformance with the Building Code. Following this, our team provided:
- Field Density Testing of Soil: Field density testing during the fill placement of the site utilities installation, and miscellaneous grading. Testing will utilize the nuclear gauge method and the sand cone method, as required.
- Geotechnical Observations: Our geotechnical engineer performed observations of the excavations for the proposed footings. The purpose of the observations is to check for conformance with the project geotechnical recommendations. Observations during backfill and fill placement were performed by our soil technician.
- Laboratory Testing: On representative samples of the excavated soil. Testing included expansion index, maximum dry density-optimum moisture content, and corrosivity testing.
Compaction and Observation Report: Upon completion of the backfill, we prepared a compacted fill report summarizing our observations and test results.