What is the best way to avoid common mishaps and communication lapses on post-tensioned building projects?  While every building project needs good communication between all involved parties, there are best practices which can improve the trajectory of a project, especially in PT design and construction.

In the December 2025 SEU session, Carine Leys, from WSP, presented The Design Arc of Post-Tensioning.  Carine explained how to evaluate during the conceptual phase if post-tensioning is a structural solution that meets the project’s performance requirements.  She reviewed ways to develop comprehensive documentation relevant to each phase of the project and identified best practices during construction to ensure safety and durability.

Carine offered many useful tips for providing comprehensive requirements on the project’s PT specifications.  These PT specs should include specifications for installation, stressing procedures, approval of stressing records, as well as requirements for installer and inspector qualifications.  To hear Carine explain some best practices for PT specs, click on this 5 minute video:

Carine noted the importance of including the PT specifications, at a minimum, by the 50% Construction Document phase to ensure maximum time to coordinate with all disciplines. Including specs early on in the design process allows for collaboration and time to address any issues that may arise.

As Carine noted, the PT industry has changed in the last decade, and less experienced installers are more abundant.  PT specifications can help to ensure your projects hire qualified installers and inspectors which will eliminate potential mishaps due to inexperienced contractors.  PT specs can delineate which shop drawing submittals are required for approval to ensure what is provided on-site matches the intended PT design and layout.  Specs should also include requirements for the installation of tendons and standards to follow and include tolerance for any deviations which may occur.  The more clearly these standards are delineated in the PT specifications, the less conflicts should arise during your PT projects.