Benefits of Offsite Manufacturing

Image courtesy of PCI Northeast.

Due to the many benefits it can bring to a project, offsite construction continues to grow in popularity within the construction industry.

Offsite construction is defined as any part of the building process that is completed away from the jobsite and includes both prefabrication and modular construction. Precast is designed and poured in precast plants where the components are overseen by precast manufacturers who adhere to strict quality review processes to ensure quality projects are created prior to arrival at the jobsite.

ERECTION IN TIGHT OR URBAN SPACES
With the pre-planning that goes into the use of precast concrete, site access and crane placement are determined long before precast components arrive on site. Our dedicated team of Project Managers and Field Installers have been on hundreds of jobsites with varying conditions and utilize their expertise and years of training to come up with the best plan for a successful project. Additionally, since precast concrete is manufactured offsite and shipped to jobsites and installed as needed, space is not needed for storage or manufacturing onsite.

Mid-States Concrete Industries is an S2 PCI-Certified Erector. Our S2 rating certifies us to install both complex and simple structural systems. Simple structural systems include horizontal decking members (such as hollow core slabs on walls) and single-lift wall panels attached to a structure. Complex structural systems include total precast concrete systems, multi-product structures (those that combine vertical and horizontal members), and single- or multistory-loadbearing members, including those with architectural finishes.

MANUFACTURED IN QUALITY CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT
Quality can be improved with offsite construction because components are manufactured in environments that operate under strict quality guidelines. PCI has developed strict quality standards that all PCI-Certified Plants are required to follow in order to retain their certifications.

Mid-States Concrete Industries is AC, B3, and C3 certified to produce architectural precast, beams, columns, hollow core slabs, solid slabs, and structural wall panels.

Our AC rating certifies us in the production of architectural precast concrete products including cladding or non-load bearing products with architectural finishes such as plant applied finishes formliners, brick veneers or extruded profiles, as well as structural products with an architectural finish.

Our B3 rating certifies us in the production of all precast, prestressed superstructure elements using straight, pretensioning, or posttensioning strands, as well as mild steel-reinforced precast concrete elements.

Our C3 rating certifies us in the production of precast concrete structural members that are prestressed with straight, pretensioning, or posttensioning strands such as stemmed members for roofs, floors, and walls, as well as beams, columns, spandrels, joists, and seating members, as well as wall construction that may be wet cast, machine cast, extruded or slip formed, and conventionally reinforced precast concrete elements.

TECHNOLOGY HAS ADDED SPEED AND ACCURACY
Technology has advanced the industry by helping increase speed and accuracy in construction.

Mid-States Concrete Industries uses Revit, a design software for Building Information Modeling used extensively by architectural and engineering firms. Its variety of tools let designers use the intelligent model-based process to plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure. Use of Revit allows for easy project model sharing and coordination with customers.

REDUCES THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL IN THE FIELD
Precast concrete also allows for less personnel on the jobsite. Less people equals less risk of injury and/or accidents. Oftentimes, precast allows for the quicker installation of a building’s shell, allowing other trades to get onsite even sooner.

Safety is a big deal to Mid-States Concrete Industries. The South Beloit Plant achieved SHARP (Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program) certification in 2017 and has maintained it since. SHARP recognizes small business employers who have used OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program services and operate exemplary safety and health programs. Acceptance of a worksite into SHARP from OSHA is an achievement of status that singles a company out among its peers as a model for worksite safety and health.

Source: PCI, PCI Gulf South, and PCI Northeast

Precast Concrete Stands the Test of Time: Versatility, Efficiency & Resiliency

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.

Precast and resilience: a comprehensive look

The concept of sustainability in construction has been undergoing constant redefinition. Originally, much of the debate about sustainable building products revolved around the environmental friendliness of the manufacturing process. Where did the raw materials originate? Were they virgin materials or recycled? How much energy was used in their manufacture and transport to the job site? And how much waste was generated during production and installation?

The concept quickly evolved to encompass how the product or system performed to reduce energy usage in a building or reduce the building’s operating carbon footprint. Would the products lower energy draw and use? Utilize less water? Enhance daylighting? Reduce VOCs, improve indoor air quality and enhance worker productivity?

The added philosophy of “resilience” has now moved to the forefront. Not only must a building product be manufactured in a sustainable manner and provide environmental benefits once a building is commissioned, it must deliver those benefits over an extended period of time - with the impact of maintenance factored in.

CarbonCast wall panels are a sustainable and resilient choice.

  • Embodied energy

  • Transport to the job site

  • Erection

  • Fire Resistance

  • Energy savings, thermal performance, moisture performance

  • Durability

  • Earthquake Resistance

  • Blast Resistance

Learn more in this Technical Brief from AltusGroup >>

Mid-States Concrete Industries is a proud member of AltusGroup, an international collaboration of precst concrete companies dedicated to speeding and perfecting the development of precast technologies that improve the built environment. AltusGroup members work together to bring advanced technology to market, then compete against one another for work.

At Mid-States Concrete Industries, your project is a big deal. That’s why our team ensures that each project not only begins successfully but is completed successfully as well. Your project is unique. Our team will ask questions and listen to your objectives and goals so we can apply the latest design and engineering techniques to your projects, adhering to the strictest safety standards in the industry. As a Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Certified Plant and Erector, our precast concrete components are manufactured and installed according to stringent industry standards.

Have questions regarding CarbonCast Wall Panels or precast concrete in general? Our team is happy to help! Contact our sales team at sales@msprecast.com.