How to Drill Through Reinforced Concrete Safely
Drilling through reinforced concrete is one of the most common operations in construction — but it carries real risks if not approached correctly. Rebar, post-tension cables and embedded services sit invisibly inside every structural element. Hitting any of them can destroy equipment, damage the structure and put lives at risk.
Step 1: Establish the Concrete Type
Determine whether the slab is standard reinforced, post-tensioned or pre-stressed. Post-tensioned tendons are under loads up to 200kN — cutting one causes immediate, catastrophic structural failure. Treat every commercial slab from the 1970s onwards as potentially post-tensioned until proven otherwise.
Step 2: Check Structural Drawings
Drawings show design intent, not as-built condition. Rebar gets relocated on site, services are added after the structural pour. On buildings more than a few years old, treat drawings as a starting point and always scan to verify.
Step 3: Carry Out Pre-Works Scanning
This is non-negotiable. Ferro scanning locates rebar and measures cover depth — fast, precise, the standard method for pre-drilling rebar avoidance. GPR scanning detects post-tension cables, plastic pipes, conduits and voids — mandatory on any post-tensioned structure and any slab where embedded services may be present. A scan costs a fraction of a single destroyed core bit.
Step 4: Mark Safe Positions and Use the Right Method
The scanning operative marks rebar positions and identifies safe drill zones. Confirm hole position within a safe zone before drilling. Use diamond core drilling — it produces no vibration shock, leaves a clean hole, and works in any orientation. Never use percussive drilling in structural reinforced concrete.
BritCut carries out pre-works scanning and core drilling in a single mobilisation across the UK. Call us on 01322 221533 or request a free site survey.
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