Can Post-Tension Cables Kill You? (Video)

“Greg Batista here, your friendly neighborhood engineer to answer your questions.

jujukillswithch asks: I heard post-tension cables are dangerous — is that true?

Absolutely. Post-tension cables are bundles of steel tendons stretched under extreme force inside a slab. They allow us to build longer spans with less concrete. But the danger is the stored energy. A single cable can hold tens of thousands of pounds of tension. If accidentally cut, that energy is released in an instant, and the cable can whip through concrete or steel. OSHA has documented serious injuries and fatalities from improper handling of these systems. That’s why slabs containing post-tension cables carry big warning labels, and why building owners must be careful when contractors want to drill or core through a slab. Only trained professionals with the right equipment should ever touch these systems. In Florida condos, where post-tension is common, ignoring the warnings can literally be deadly.

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Authoritative references: Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI); OSHA construction safety guidelines.

The author, Greg Batista, PE, CGC, SI is owner of G. Batista Engineering & Construction and is a nationally-recognized engineer and contractor with more than 35 years of experience and offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.