Critical inspections during construction

Dr Emerson John explains the value of inspection and test plans (ITP) to the successful completion of a storage tank construction project Inspection and test plans (ITP) are used during storage tank erection projects to ensure all construction activities are executed, tested, inspected, and accepted. However, because of the nature of a tank project every task under an activity does not represent a line item on the ITP. Tasks are often grouped. Examples of grouped tasks are soil compaction, foundation construction, and the erection of roof structure. Examples of work to be executed under the grouped heading ‘foundation construction’ are trenching, casting of mud slab, placement of inner formwork, placement of steel bars.  By grouping these items, the improper assembly of critical connections can sometimes be overlooked, in the worst case, or be discovered later in the process at a time when it is costly to rectify. This article presents examples of critical connections related to aboveground storage tank projects. Closed stirrups comprising U-shaped bars EXAMPLE 1 A reinforced concrete ring wall was proposed for a 200’ (61 m) diameter tank. The ring wall was designed...