Different types of Precast Concrete products

Concept about Precast Concrete

Precast concrete has been made by pouring the concrete in the reusable “form” or “mold” instead of directly pouring the concrete at the construction site. This product has been transported to the construction site and used as the finished materials.

Precast concrete products

Application of Precast Concrete

Precast concrete products have different decorative applications which include:

• These products are used to create decorative features such as moldings, cornices, and medallions. These products can also customized based on the requirements of specific designs.
• Large-scale sculptures and statues that are placed in buildings or public spaces as decorative elements are also made by using these concrete products.
• Several landscaping features including planters, benches, retaining walls, and others are also made with precast concrete which are designed to complement the surrounding environments.
• The precast concrete products help to provide a wide variety of finishes such as smooth, polished, or textured surfaces which increases the color options.
• Signage and wayfinding elements, for example, directional markers, monuments, and identification signs are also made by using these concrete products which can also be customized to match the architectures of the surrounding environment.

Advantages of Precast Concrete

In construction projects, there are several advantages to using precast concrete products.

• These types of concrete products ensure the overall quality of the finished products by reducing the chances of defects.
• These products help to allow a faster on-site construction procedure. It also reduces the overall time of construction and enhances the efficiency of the construction projects.
• The materials of this concrete has the ability to resist harsh weather and heavy loads. These products can also resist rot, insects, and fires thus ensuring the construction project’s durability.
• These concrete products are manufactured in various shapes, sizes, and finishes which offers design flexibility and customizations to fit the specific requirements.
• These products are made from those materials which are fully recyclable at the end of the product’s lifecycle.

Types of Precast Concrete

Different types of precast concrete products are used in construction projects which are:

Foundations

Combined footings: These footings are rectangular in shape and support two or more columns. This is used for industrial and commercial buildings.

Combined footings

Pocket footings: These types of footing offer more strength to the shallow foundation which bears and spreads the concentrated loads of the structures. In commercial and industrial buildings, these footings are used.

Pocket footings

Isolated footings: This type of footing is used for the shallow foundation which helps to carry and spread concentrated loads. Either reinforced or non-reinforced material are present in the isolated footings. This footing is used for residential buildings or smaller structures.

Isolated footings

Precast piles: These are the prefabricated piles which are made of prestressed concrete. These are used for the most conventional foundation method which is most cheapest and quickest method.

Precast concrete piles

Structural Beams

RCC beams: These are structural elements that carry the transverse external loads. These beams are categorized into T-Beam, rectangular, Circular Beam, I-Beam, and L-Beam which provide support to the floors of the buildings, walls, roof, and cladding.

RCC beams

Shell beams: These beams are used along with precast floor systems which helps to reduce the on-site labor and also streamline building programs.

Shell beams

Prestressed beams: These types of beams are very easy to install and also reduce the need for on-site labor and cost. These beams provide much-needed reinforcement for industrial applications and multi-story buildings.

Prestressed beams

Slabs

RCC slabs: The thickness of the RCC Slabs ranges between 10 to 50 centimeters. These slabs are used for the construction of the ceilings and floors. These slabs are also used for exterior paving.

Precast RCC slabs

Prestressed solid slabs: These types of slabs are customized and loosely reinforced. These are used in both industrial and residential constructions.

Prestressed solid slabs

Prestressed hollow core slabs: This is also known as voided slabs which are used for the floor construction of multi-story apartment buildings. The production of these slabs is achieved by Extruder and Slipformer machines.

Prestressed hollow core slabs

Double tee slabs: Double tee slabs are load-bearing structures that are capable of bearing high loads in case of a long span. These slabs can be applied in parking, roofing, and bridges.

Double tee slabs

Waffle slabs: This is made with reinforced concrete along with concrete ribs which run in two directions on the undersides. These slabs are much stronger than flat slabs, one-way joist slabs, one-way slabs, and two-way slabs. These slabs are used in those areas where in which have huge spans.

Waffle concrete slabs

Walls

Non-load-bearing walls: This type of wall only carries its own weight. These walls are 50 mm to 100 mm thick and carried by the supports.

Non-load-bearing walls

Load-bearing walls: This product helps to support the above slab and other building materials of the construction structure. These types of walls are generally 125 mm to 200 mm thick, which depends on the patterns of the loads.

Load-bearing external walls

To get more details, watch the following video tutorial.

Video Source: Brendan Hasty

Precast joist roof: In this building system, concrete planks, precast reinforced cement, and rectangular slab elements are placed on the precast RCC joists. The roofs of the construction units are completed by pouring the in-situ concrete over the partially precast joists and over the haunches in planks. This helps to ensure the monolithic action of each of the precast elements.

Precast joist roof

Precast facade: The strict requirement regarding the thermal insulation has been enabled by the precast sandwich panels. This helps to keep the buildings warm in the cold weather and cool in the hot weather by stabilizing the temperature and moisture inside the building.

Precast concrete facade

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC): This type of precast concrete has been made with high-strength glass fiber which is embedded in the concrete matrix. These products are used for thin architectural cladding panels. Sometimes these products are also used to construct statues, domes, planters, and fountains. Several decorative panels such as artificial rock work or concrete countertops have also benefited from using GFRC.

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete