Concrete monitoring is undergoing a quiet revolution with the use of data generated by specialised sensors that are embedded within concrete structure
Concrete monitoring is undergoing a quiet revolution with the use of data generated by specialised sensors that are embedded within concrete structures where they can continue to generate curing information for up to four months.
Supply Five in Cape Town is the sole authorised distributor of Giatec’s SmartRock concrete sensors which are increasingly being used by local contractors, engineers and precast manufacturers, providing them with a smarter way to build. The sensors form part of the company’s specialised product range that includes other construction essentials such as shutter ply, plywood, fibre cement products, concrete repair, waterproofing materials and formwork components. Supply Five’s experience in supplying critical components to the formwork and concrete sectors is what led the company to this smart technology and is the reason for its rapid uptake, especially for critical and complex concrete pours.
According to Supply Five general manager, Marlene Bradnick, SmartRock is a compact, wireless concrete sensor developed by Canadian firm, Giatec, a global leader in digital concrete technology platforms. These sensors are embedded directly into concrete and use the ASTM C1074 maturity method to measure internal temperature and calculate concrete strength development in real time.
Unlike traditional methods, which rely on time-consuming cube testing and lab results, SmartRock gives contractors instant access to strength and temperature data on their smartphones or tablets without the need for external wires or expensive data loggers. The device is small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, yet powerful enough to track both core and surface temperatures for accurate differential measurements.
In the real world, this allows site managers and engineers to strip formwork earlier and more confidently while eliminating the cost and delays of lab testing. This allows the optimisation of construction schedules and the use of manpower and in the long-term, it reduces the risk in structural elements such as piers, bridge decks and mass foundations among others.
From high-rise commercial developments in Johannesburg to mining shotcrete applications in the Northern Cape and wind turbine foundation on the coast the SmartRock sensors are already being widely used in Southern Africa. Other applications include mass concrete pours such as dam walls and bridge piers, precast manufacturing of high-strength elements like vaults and battery enclosures, high-performance infrastructure like data centres where early strength verification is essential.
“SmartRock’s biggest value proposition lies in its ability to replace traditional early-age cube testing. By providing real-time strength data from within the concrete pour contractors can avoid unnecessary delays, optimise curing processes and make decisions faster all while cutting costs on cube moulds, break tests, lab fees and transport. The return on investment is typically realised within the first few uses. It pays for itself by enabling smarter, faster construction,” says Marlene.
She continues that Giatec’s SmartRock sensors, combined with advanced software solutions, allows users in South Africa to benefit from free mobile apps (iOS and Android) for setup, monitoring and analysis, as well as online product training and documentation with regular software updates and cloud integration for project teams.
This enables contractors and engineers to have access to the tools they need to implement SmartRock effectively without requiring specialised skills or additional hardware. Its usefulness has also encouraged Supply Five to expand the reach of SmartRock across Southern Africa and work with engineers and regulators to advocate for the inclusion of maturity-based concrete monitoring in standard specifications. This would bring South Africa in line with global best practices and improve the quality and efficiency of concrete construction across the region.
“These sensors have been successfully used in over 13,500 projects in 85+ countries and is within easy and affordable reach of Southern Africa’s construction professionals,” Marlene concludes.
