Why Precast?

Precast concrete can provide highly effective solutions to a myriad of construction problems. Not only is its versatility second to none, but in an age where time is precious precast concrete can compliment a considerable number of construction types and be manufactured well in advance of erection to save valuable time.

Below are just some of the many advantages of choosing a precast concrete solution:

• Prestressed hollowcore flooring can span further and support higher loads than conventional precast or insitu reinforced floors. This means that the floor depth and weight is appreciably reduced, which positively impacts on the overall design of supporting members and foundations.
• The precast industry works with the construction industry as a whole, to ensure that precast slabs satisfy ever-changing and increasingly stringent building regulations. The most recent slab profiles are specifically designed to take account of issues such as disproportionate collapse through the use of open cores, side pockets and reduced ends preformed in the factory, as well as insitu concrete and steel reinforcement placed on site. Sound and thermal qualities are also designed for, via the manipulation of hollowcore density, depth and shape.
• Accelerated curing during manufacture enables usable precast product in days, not weeks. Erection is quick and in general there is no need for propping, formwork and structurally reinforced concrete. A large part of the weather-dependent and labour intensive site work associated with pouring floors, especially those requiring a suspended slab, is eliminated. As a result programmes of work can be considerably shortened and the product you receive is quality controlled and consistent.
• Generally precast slabs do not require propping and once fitted provide a platform for other trades to continue working. With composite slab design, where propping may be required, the slab acts as permanent contributing formwork.
• The profiled edge of precast slabs is designed so that the grouted joint is capable of transferring shear force, so that a fully grouted bay of slabs acts like a diaphragm. The structural properties of the grout allows the load applied to one unit to be shared with adjacent units.
• During the manufacturing process a number or notches, openings and slab widths can be formed to meet your requirements. This greatly reduces the amount of on site work required to form service openings, close gaps and fit round obstructing concrete, block or steel work. These design implications are accounted for at the drawing stage to avoid any adverse reduction in slab capacity
• Precast hollowcore is now commonly used in composite steel design. What was once considered an insitu concrete or solid precast plate and topping design now integrates the commonplace use of hollowcore. This is in no small part due to the recognition and reporting of this method by the PFF and SCI.
• Slab ends can be formed as reduced to fit into shelf angles normally welded or bolted onto the web of a universal beam or column section. This allows the beam to be hidden within the floor depth, and is also a beneficial feature when used in disproportionate collapse and composite steel beam design.
• Quality control systems are in place to ensure continual monitoring of concrete quality in our custom built laboratory