Information needed before a concrete opening is assessed

Explain why the opening is needed and provide the relevant design information. A doorway, pipe route and isolated slab section have different interfaces. Identify the building element, its location and what must remain around it.

Use available drawings to describe known construction, but disclose uncertainty about thickness, reinforcement and previous alterations. The responsible professional should determine what further investigation is required. Do not infer that concrete is non-structural because it is thin or at ground level.

The project team should resolve structural approval, service identification and any required specialist investigation. State who will authorise the final location and dimensions. A contractor’s access assessment does not replace the design decision, and a proposed opening should not drift from the reviewed plan.

Concrete work can generate silica-containing dust, which requires task-specific controls. Also disclose occupied spaces, sensitive equipment and any constraints on water or debris management. These conditions inform assessment; they are not a basis for the customer to select a cutting method.

Identify who handles removal of the separated material, supports or temporary works if required, and the installation that follows. Making good, waterproofing and structural modifications need explicit scope owners. When contacting YAK, ask whether the proposed work can be reviewed and what specialist involvement is needed. This guide does not establish that a particular cutting technique or structural service is offered.