Used for thousands of years, concrete has stood the test of time. The most versatile of building systems is precast concrete construction. With its ability to adapt to many different functions, precast can benefit a multitude of projects.
What is precast concrete?
Concrete is a construction material composed of cement which serves as a binder of water, aggregates (sand and stone), chemical admixtures, and air. A concrete’s mix design, or recipe, controls the color, strength, and performance of the concrete.
Precast Concrete is concrete cast into a specific shape in a controlled environment at a precast concrete plant. This prefabricated concrete is then transported to the job site where it will be erected.
Prestressed Concrete is concrete whose primary reinforcement consists of steel strand put into tension, resulting in compression of the concrete. This increases load-carrying capacity, allows for greater spans, and reduces cracks.
Precast concrete and precast, prestressed concrete excel in strength, sustainability, functionality and durability. It integrates easily with other systems and provides the versatility, efficiency, and resiliency needed to create buildings that will stand the test of time.
Versatility
From its fluid state in a form to its varies use in and on a structure, precast concrete is adaptable and serves multiple purposes. Whether you value the wide spectrum of colors, textures, and finishes, or rely on its stability, strength, and durability, it all comes down to the versatility of precast concrete construction.
Efficiency
Precast concrete minimizes wasted effort or expense from cradle to grave. From the planning phase, efficient design uses thinner sections: skinny columns, reduced beam sizes, and slim wall panels. In production, precast concrete plant operations use the least amount of labor and materials to meet building specifications. During construction, fewer trades are involved, limiting on-site duration, wasted effort, and cost of financing. The operation of a precast concrete building involves less maintenance and lower insurance costs.
Resiliency
What can we learn from buildings past and present? A resilient building is one that rolls with the punches. To maximize the future resilience of buildings, they should be designed for durability, robustness, and continuity. Use materials and construction methods that are durable in the face of natural and man-made events. Precast concrete construction is designed to last the test of time.
