Precast concrete offers designers an opportunity to create meaningful buildings in which to live, work, and play, that are also sustainable. Sustainability encompasses the life cycle of a building from cradle to grave, so not only must a building product be manufactured in a sustainable manner and provide an environmental benefit once commissioned, it must also deliver those benefits over an extended period of time.
Precast concrete can contribute to sustainable design in many ways.
Precast concrete panels provide a long service life due to their durable, low-maintenance surfaces. Insulated sandwich panels paired with precast concrete construction also provides the opportunity to move and reuse panels to refurbish the building, rather than tear it down, should its use or function change.
The thermal mass of concrete allows shifting of peak heating and cooling loads in a structure to help reduce mechanical-system requirements and energy consumption through the building envelope.
Concrete is noncombustible and can contain a fire. As a separation wall, precast concrete helps prevent fire from spreading throughout a building or jumping from building to building. Precast concrete is resistant to wind, hurricanes, and floods.
Precast concrete panels have negligible air infiltration. Minimizing air infiltration between panels and at floors and ceilings will provide a building with low air infiltration. These effects will lower energy costs and help prevent moisture problems.
Concrete is used in almost every country of the world as a basic building material. Aggregates, about 85% of concrete content, are generally low-energy, local, naturally occurring sand and stone. Most precast concrete plants are within 200 miles of a building site. Using local materials reduces the transportation required to ship heavy building materials, and the associated energy and emissions.
Concrete contains low to negligible volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Polished concrete floors do not require carpeting. Exposed concrete walls do not require finishing materials, eliminating particulates from sanding drywall taping seams.
Precast concrete provides reflective surfaces that minimize the urban heat-island effect.
Precast concrete walls provide a buffer between outdoor noise and the indoor environment.
Vermin and insects cannot destroy concrete because it is inedible.
Most materials for precast products can be obtained locally, so there is no need to import materials from thousands of miles away.
Precast is easy to crush and recycle for use as aggregate.
Precast concrete systems greatly reduce unnecessary building materials from ever reaching a project site.
Precast concrete lends itself well to fast and environmentally friendly construction. It can help set your next project up for success during all phases of the building’s life cycle through precast concrete’s many structural, architectural, environmental, construction and energy-saving benefits.
~ Information provided by PCI
