The Elcometer P100 Imp Concrete Rebar Locator is a handheld gauge for quickly determining the location and orientation of reinforcement bars within concrete. Cutting, drilling or coring into a slab or wall without knowing where the steel sits risks severing reinforcement and weakening the structure, as well as striking buried services. The P100 identifies reinforcement bars, metal gas pipes and metal water pipes before any work begins, giving a fast read of where the metal lies.

The gauge gives a loud audible signal when the exact location of the rebar has been found, and a directional search field distinguishes between horizontal and vertical bars. For single reinforcement bars the detection depth increases with bar diameter: an 8mm bar is detected to 90mm, a 16mm bar to 100mm and a 32mm bar to 110mm. With an optional search coil, mild steel and stainless steel galvanised wall ties can also be found.

The unit needs no re-zeroing and is unaffected by moisture, temperature changes and electrical interference, which keeps readings consistent on site. It is supplied in an ABS plastic carrying case with a 100mm directional search coil and batteries, with optional 200mm hi-depth search coils in short-handled (250mm) and long-handled (650mm) versions for deeper or harder-to-reach work. Used in construction and structural surveying, note that this model has been discontinued; contact BAMR, South Africa's authorised distributor, for a current replacement recommendation.