The precast concrete technology offers an almost endless variety of products for construction. From he largest infrastructure projects to the smallest architectural details, there is a precast solution for all architects, engineers and construction professionals.
Costs associated with heating and cooling can be greatly reduced through concrete’s thermal mass benefits. Reduced peak heating and cooling loads can be achieved because concrete re-acts slowly to changes in outside temperature. The versatility of precast can be seen in its application as a carrying medium for heating or cooling – by air or fluids. Hollow cores in pre-cast floors can be used or pipes can be placed into slabs. Concrete surfaces radiate very effectively, enabling space to be used without the hindrance of ducts.
Precast concrete is fireproof. It protects against the spread of fire between rooms or properties, and it cannot catch fire, burn or drip molten particles. Concrete typically needs very little remedial treatment following exposure to the high temperatures of a fire. In many cases, some minor patching and a coat of paint may be all that is required
Unlike most other materials, precast concrete increases in strength over time. What’s more, concrete is designed to minimize the effects of creep and shrinkage, providing a reliable structure for many years to come.
Precast products can be designed with a high span- to-depth ratio, reducing the need for additional columns and supports. Precast can also be designed with lightweight concrete to re-duce dead loads and decrease the size of structural members and foundations.
In civil engineering applications, high-strength concrete is often desirable, and precast components can be cast to meet such demands. If high early strengths are needed, this can be achieved through high-performance concrete, custom mix designs or accelerated curing meth-ods at the plant.
The use of synthetic or steel fiber reinforcement, carbon composite grids and other reinforcing materials in the precast concrete mix can produce extremely slender elements. This means that precast can be used in structurally ambitious projects.
The accuracy and factory- controlled conditions in a precast factory are ideal for producing very precise, sharp details. This relies on the craft-based skills of mold makers, and through their expertise even minute details become possible. Considerable flexibility can be built into precast concrete. Not only can window and door shapes be created, but there is scope to de-sign elements so that they are more lightly reinforced in some areas. These can then be cut through at a later date should the client wish to add a door between two rooms, for example. Thin-walled knockouts are also common in utility products that are easily adaptable to on-site conditions and changes.
Precast products are manufactured in plants under strictly controlled conditions. The con-trolled plant environment has a steady temperature, regular shift patterns and a dedicated workforce. This means that high- quality products can be made every day, regardless of the weather.
The combination of precast with steel or cast-in-place concrete in composite construction can have cost and program benefits. Precast concrete brings accuracy, high-quality finishes and speed of erection to any composite concrete construction project.
Precast units arrive ready for installation and can be scheduled to arrive “just in time” so they can be lifted directly into place. This avoids the need for storage space and unnecessary handling.
Because precast components are cast in a plant and delivered to a job site, disruption to the surrounding community is greatly reduced. Noises associated with the construction of forms and placement of concrete is contained within the plant environment. This results in substantially quieter construction sites – a genuine benefit to local residents and workers alike.
Precast structures – particularly floors and staircases – provide an early, secure and broad platform on the job site. This solid footing helps speed up construction and provides a safer working environment.
At the end of a structure’s life, precast products can be reclaimed as whole elements such as floor slabs. These could be reinstalled in the same building or even transported a short distance and used in a comparable structure elsewhere.As with many concrete products, precast is easy to crush and recycle as an aggregate. Demand for “previously enjoyed” materials like this is growing every year. Even the reinforcing steel can be recycled. Precast concrete building products correlate with at least four categories of LEED certification and can also help a building qualify for additional “Innovation” points.
The technology behind precast production, design, and construction stretches back hundreds of years, so customers can be assured of peace of mind when specifying precast products. Precast is a proven technology with a long history and a high-tech future.
Reference: NPCA