What are these metal discs embedded in concrete in my garage?

[fadetoblack]

Hi all, We just a bought a house and are looking at converting the garage into a studio, which would involve laying down some floating laminate flooring. However, I noticed two metal discs embedded into the concrete and would like to know what they are for and if it's ok to cover them up with floorboards?

Thanks, 

[MitchellMc · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @fadetoblack. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about identifying metal discs.

It’s quite possible that these metal discs are inspection ports, though they are not often made of brass. Inspection ports are often embedded in concrete floors to provide access to plumbing, drainage, or other utilities underneath. They allow maintenance or inspection without the need to break up the surrounding concrete. The only identical cover I can find through searching your images is that of a grease trap inspection port. However, the need for that in a residential building makes it not seem like a viable answer. You might need a handyperson to open them, likely with a custom-made tool and by turning anti-clockwise, to see what's inside.

If they are inspection ports, it’s important to consider accessibility before covering them with your floating laminate flooring. If these ports give access to drainage or utility systems, it might be wise to either leave a removable section of flooring above them or mark their location for future reference. This way, if any plumbing or drainage work is needed down the line, you won’t have to lift the entire floor to reach them.

The only other thought I have is that since it's in a garage and one is at least right at the door, it might contain a steel pole that extends up and blocks cars in as a security device.

Let me tag @Noyade, @TedBear, @Nailbag, and @Dave-1 to see if they'd like to help solve the mystery. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @fadetoblack 

My first thought is the same as @MitchellMc's right down to replicating the access to them with a removable section of flooring in your new floor.

Id be half tempted to undo the lid and see what is underneath I suspect it will be a water pipe or something similar.

You could always draw an imaginary straight line between the two caps and then extrapolate it outside your garage and see if it crosses any other services?

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @fadetoblack 

If they were on a wall I might have had a possible explanation but not for a floor other than what both @MitchellMc and @Dave-1 have suggested sorry. If they could be removed either lifting straight off or possibly unscrewing them might expose if they are simply caps or something deeper. 

I do like the suggestion that let are caps for security bollards, but the ones I have seen are usually bigger and coloured not brass looking. 

if you don’t get a definitive answer my suggestion would be to make contact with the previous owner. Their details will be in your contract. 

Nailbag

[fadetoblack]

Thanks so much your detailed answer Mitchell.

I forgot to mention that we bought a townhouse, so I think I'll contact the body corporate to see if they can offer advice. I guess as the floor boards will be 'floating' it shouldn't bee too much of a problem to remove them if need be.

[fadetoblack]

Thanks Dave

[fadetoblack]

Thanks Nailbag, 
I may have to contact the body corporate as the previous owner was a foreign inverter and the place has only ever been rented out. 

[Nailbag]

You could also try a local building draftsperson or engineer @fadetoblack. But at the very least I can't see any issue with laying the floor down and incorporating a removable sections over both plates as @MitchellMc suggested just in case, which I feel is going to be very remote.

Nailbag

[Noyade]

Hi @fadetoblack and other.

I too, vote for an inspection port - plumbing related?

https://www.abiinteriors.com.au/product/abi-inspection-outlet-square-brushed-brass/?utm_source=Googl...

I have seen them near reverse osmosis plants and out of curiosity once removed a cover - just to see a drain.