Our Services
Carbon Fiber Reinforcement and Strengthening
Reinforcing concrete with carbon fiber enhances the structural strength and durability of all kinds of concrete structures. Concrete carbon fiber reinforcement improves its tensile strength, which is particularly beneficial in countering the low tensile strength inherent in most types of traditional concrete. Our process involves embedding premium carbon fiber sheets or fabrics into the concrete matrix, creating a composite material that combines the compressive strength of concrete with the exceptional tensile strength of carbon fiber. This reinforcement method dramatically improves concrete structure’s resistance to cracking, bending, and other forms of distress. Best of all, carbon fiber reinforcement is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making it an efficient and durable solution for most concrete buildings in Colorado.
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When carbon fiber is the right answer
Carbon fiber earns its place when a structure needs more capacity than it was built with and there is no room, no weight budget, or no appetite for adding steel. It goes on thin, it adds almost no dead load, and it does not corrode, which matters in exactly the wet environments where the original steel is the thing that failed. Where the concrete around that steel has already broken down, it is a structural repair first and a strengthening job second. It is also fast, and on an occupied building schedule that is often the deciding factor.
Replacing or augmenting steel
Carbon fiber can also be used to replace or augment steel elements, to control unwanted movement, or to add capacity where a use has changed and the structure now carries more than it was designed for. Where an engineer has specified the system we install to the specification. Where there is no specification yet, we will tell you what we are seeing and what it would take.
Questions we get asked
When is carbon fiber the right answer instead of adding steel?
That is a question for the engineer, and it takes calculations. What carbon fiber has going for it is that it is lightweight and far less invasive, which is probably its greatest advantage. It is there to supplement or augment a structural element. You cannot simply replace steel with carbon fiber, but with a qualified engineer running the numbers it is often the least intrusive way to get a structure where it needs to be.
Can carbon fiber add capacity for new rooftop equipment?
Yes, and it is one of the more common reasons we install it. If a building is being modernized and bigger rooftop units are going onto a structure that was designed back in the sixties or seventies for something lighter, an engineer can use carbon fiber to increase the capacity of that roof or that structure rather than rebuilding it.
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Concrete Structural Repairs
ORC specializes in lasting concrete structural repairs for multi-level parking structures, stadiums, office buildings, tilt ups, and residential properties.
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Our repair technicians are trained, educated, and certified in post tension repair and replacement specifically. ORC specializes in repairs of unbonded monostrand as well as antiquated button head cables. We also repair and replace barrier cables.
Learn MoreEpoxy and Grout Injection
Cracks in concrete structures are common. Whether the concern is structural, moisture intrusion, or bonding, injection is a preferred repair method. ORC has the experience, professional grade equipment and the means and methods to make the repair.
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