Evaluation of

Ibrahim Jamil Abd Almahdi

Al Karajeh Building
Hebron - Palestine
 Date: Aug. 26th, 2020 No. 534/2020

Mr. Ibrahim Jamil Abd Almahdi Al Karajeh

Hebron – Palestine

SUBJECT: Evaluation of Ibrahim Jamil Abd Almahdi Al Karajeh

Existing Building Located in Hebron

Dear Sir:

You can find with this letter the evaluation of the above said residential
building as per your request.

In the evaluation of the building, the loads were calculated using the known unit
weight of each material as per the applied codes and specifications.
The evaluation included surveying of the condition of the following components of
the structure. This includes foundations, columns and slabs.
The work done was according to the verbal request of Mr. Ibrahim Al Karajeh.

Several visits were made to the site. Soil Investigation was made for the purpose of
evaluation of the foundations as the evaluation purpose is to add additional floors

In the event that additional information or clarifications are needed, please don't
hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience.

I would like to thank you for your confidence and look forward to further
cooperation in the near future.

Respectfully Submitted,

Eng. Abdulla Aqel

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Background:
The said project is considered as recent project constructed less than 20 years ago. It can tell that it is in
very good condition. The building composed of a total of seven floors of an area of about 338m2. Drawings
were made available by the client and they were relatively sufficient to give enough information about the
building horizontal and vertical dimensions. The drawings were made available by the client. Shallow
foundations were employed and soil investigation report was carried out at time of preparation of this report.
The evaluation made here is for the superstructure and foundations as well.
Lately, the owner wanted to add two floors on the top of the existing building, so structure evaluation was
required to ensure the ability of the building to carry the proposed loads.

Methodology:
The following steps were followed in the evaluation process:
1. Data collection: A copy of the building drawings was obtained to give as much information as
possible about the building and its structural elements.
2. Visual inspection was made to the building through several visits.
3. Regarding foundation evaluation soil investigation was conducted through the drilling of 3 borehole.
4. Concrete strength was checked by Schmidt hammer.
5. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations are stated.

Data Collection:

1- Visual inspection:
Thru visual inspection the following notes were recorded:
- No serious cracks were detected through the walls.
- It is clear that work shape is of good level.
- No water penetration effect through walls was clear.
- No water penetration through slabs was clear.

2- Slabs
- The slab thickness is 27 cms which is sufficient to avoid excessive deflection.
- Concrete strength was checked by Schmidt hammer, The results are summarized in the
following table:
Floor Name Mean Strength N/mm2
Ground Floor Slab 33.5
First Floor Slab 39.8
Second Floor Slab 49.6
Third Floor Slab 47.6
Fourth Floor Slab 43.5
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 Fifth Floor Slab 44.4
Sixth Floor Slab 42.4

- The following table shows the detailed load estimate per square meter considering the usage of
ribbed slab of 27 cms thickness, for the existing slab.

Load Calculations
Ribbed Slab
  width Depth density weight  
  m m KN/m3 KN/m  
Self weight/ Flange 0.52 0.07 25 0.910  
Self weight/ Rib 0.12 0.2 25 0.600  
Blocks 0.4 0.2 10 0.800  
Plaster 0.52 0.02 22 0.229  
Sand 0.52 0.07 17 0.619  
Tiles+mortar 0.52 0.06 23 0.718  
Partitions 0.52 1 1.5 0.780  
    Dead Load 4.66 KN/m
    Slab Dead Load 8.95 KN/m2
    Live Load 1.30 KN/m
    Slab Live Load 2.5 KN/m2
Slab Load 5.96 KN/m
Slab Load 11.45 KN/m2

3- Columns
- Concrete strength was checked by Schmidt hammer, The results are summarized in the
following table:
Floor Name Mean Strength N/mm2
Ground Floor Columns 33.5
First Floor Columns 48.3
Second Floor Columns 42.4
Third Floor Columns 44.4
Fourth Floor Columns 44.8
Fifth Floor Columns 46.3
Sixth Floor Columns 39.6

- the building have three types of rectangular columns have deferent sizes, reinforcement
and load capacity, as summarized in the following table:
Dim.(mm) Rft. Max.
Column Column
ID. # of Bars Capacity
A B
Bars Type (KN)
C1 500 300 10 16 2401
C2 500 250 10 16 2070

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 C3 500 250 10 14 1973

- Complete model was prepared by ETABS to calculate the columns reaction on the ground floor
and the result as follow. ‫ألي عدد من الطوابق؟؟؟؟‬

These loads are conservative and some of the existing columns need strengthening for the
additional 2 floors. Jacketing must be done in the first tow floors by adding 10cm of concrete around
the columns with the following numbers(#1,#4,#6,#7,#8,#10,#13,#14,#15,#18,#19 and #20).
Other option is to use carbofibers by rapping the columns and fixing the carbofiber with special
epoxy.

‫تحويل هذه النتائج على شكل جدول‬

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 4- Foundation
- Concrete strength was checked by Schmidt hammer, The results are summarized in the
following table:
Foundation Mean Strength N/mm2
middle Foundation 33.5
West Foundation 48.3
East Foundation 42.4

‫تحويل هذه النتائج على شكل جدول‬

- The soil bearing capacity at the foundation level is 500 KN/m2

- Visual inspection was done for 3 foundation and we found then as in the drawing.
- According to the ETAB load reaction, the strip foundation with 1.0 meter width under the
boundary column from #1 to #13 need no strengthening, foundation under columns #14 and #15
(1.9*1.6 meter) must be strengthening by adding 15cm around and above the foundation,
foundation under columns #18,#19 and #20 (2.2*1.8 meter) must be strengthening by adding
10cm around and above the foundation, the rest of the foundation need no strengthening.

Conclusions and Recommendations:

- The subject building has partially insufficient foundations and columns as mentioned before.

These columns and foundations can be upgraded in order

to carry the proposed 2 additional floors. ‫هل يمكن الغاء األعمدة‬
‫ وكذلك هي يمكننا‬،‫الضعيفة ونقل األحمال الى األعمدة األخرى ان كانت تتحمل‬
‫أو األساسات؟؟‬/‫استخدام مواد خفيفة من أجل تجنب تقوية األعمدة و‬
- ‫لذلك تفريغ النتائج في جداول يمكننا من التوجه السليم ألخذ القرار المناسب‬.
- The slabs are OK in terms of structure and deflection requirements.

Sincerely yours,
Eng. Abdalla Aqel

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 APPENDIX A
Lab Test Results

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APPENDIX B
Drawing

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APPENDIX C
Soil Test Report

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