Drilling into Precast Concrete Box Culvert 2

[structeng24]

Hello,
A contractor wants to drill into a new precast box culvert for forming the cast in place headwalls. He would fill them with grout after. Is this generally acceptable practice?
Thanks

 

[FlashSet]

Did the contractor promise you that he would not hit any rebar while drilling?

I have seen small holes drilled into boxes and RCP many times. It should be fine, depending on the hole size, spacing, and edge distance. Call your pipe supplier for better details, they run into this all the time. Make sure they follow the directions for the grouting, especially cleaning if they don't get around to grouting right away.

 

[TomDOT]

The promise not to hit/cut rebar works great until the guy with the drill hits the rebar. He won't be the same guy who made the promise.

 

[cvg]

I don't think it is a big problem, but did you ask if he had an option for not drilling?

 

[structeng24]

Thanks everyone. They made all of the standard promises. I'll see if he has an alternative method, although I assume he asked because he did not have a good alternative.

 

[Duwe6]

If you allow the drilling [and I would], then have someone there 100% of the time [and I would] to make certain that if he hits bar, he doesn't get out the diamond-tip bit and cut that bar.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

You might be able to "scan" it and show rebar placement??

 

[MichSt]

Next time require inserts cast in the box for the contractor's forming and platform needs. Grout holes after work is complete. This is standard practice for precast beam construction.