This service answers
“Can this building be made safe without demolishing it?”
You receive: Retrofit design, drawings, method statement, supervised works and completion report
What structural retrofitting means
Structural retrofitting is the engineered strengthening of a building or bridge that is already standing. It is how an owner keeps a valuable structure in use when it no longer meets the loads placed on it, the requirements of the current code, or the expectations of buyers, lenders and authorities.
In Bangladesh the need is widespread. Many buildings were built before the Bangladesh National Building Code was updated in 2020, many have gained floors or changed use, and many were built with concrete weaker than the drawings say. Retrofitting answers all three problems without the cost, delay and disruption of rebuilding.
When owners call us
- A buyer, the RSC or another auditor has asked for a Detailed Engineering Assessment or a corrective action plan.
- Extra floors are planned, or have already been added.
- Heavier machinery, storage racks, generators or water tanks are going onto upper floors.
- Cracks, corrosion stains, spalling concrete or sagging slabs have appeared.
- A bank, insurer or RAJUK approval needs evidence that the structure is safe.
How we retrofit
Every retrofit starts with evidence. We first establish what the structure really is, through a Detailed Engineering Assessment that combines an as-built survey, concrete cores and non-destructive testing. A 3D analysis then shows exactly which columns, beams, slabs and foundations fall short, and by how much.
Only then do we choose a strengthening method, comparing options on cost, disruption, floor space and long-term performance:
| Technique | Best suited to |
|---|---|
| RC jacketing | Columns and beams that need a large increase in capacity |
| CFRP wrapping and laminates (ACI 440.2R) | Occupied buildings where space and downtime matter; shear and ductility upgrades |
| Steel jacketing and plate bonding | Fast strengthening with little increase in member size |
| New shear walls or steel bracing | Buildings that lack lateral (earthquake and wind) resistance |
| Micro-piles and footing enlargement | Foundations that must carry new or higher loads |
Works are phased with temporary propping so production or occupancy can continue, and every stage is checked against the design with documented quality control. See the related service pages for seismic retrofitting and building strengthening.
Codes we design to
BNBC 2020 for loads, seismic zoning and materials; ACI 318 and ACI 562 for concrete assessment and repair; ACI 440.2R for FRP strengthening; AISC 360 for steelwork; and ASCE 41 for seismic evaluation methods where a performance-based approach is required.
Questions owners ask
How long does a structural retrofit take?
It depends on the building and the scheme. Assessment and design usually take a few weeks; works are planned in phases around your operations. We give a programme with the design, before any work starts.
Can a factory keep running during retrofitting?
In most cases, yes. We divide the building into work zones, use temporary propping and choose low-disruption techniques such as CFRP where downtime is costly.
Is retrofitting cheaper than rebuilding?
Usually by a wide margin, because the foundations, frame and services are kept. The assessment tells you whether retrofitting is the economical option for your building; occasionally it is not, and we will say so.
Do you provide a certificate after retrofitting?
We provide a completion report with test records and as-built documentation, and we support closure with your buyer, the RSC or the approving authority.