The rapid growth and development of urban centers today call for shorter timelines and reduced cost in the construction sector. Cost effective, proven technologies ensuring the highest standards and uniformity in quality are the need of the hour; a need that is now effectively met by Prestressed and Precast Technology.
Concrete, in some form, has been in use from over 5000 years, when the Egyptians built the Pyramids. Later, the Romans further reformed the use of concrete by pouring it into moulds, and using it to build their complex network of aqueducts, culverts, and tunnels. The invention of Portland cement in the 19th century completely revolutionized the construction industry.
As the demand for better practices grew, so did the use of innovative ways to achieve these goals.
There came a time when out of necessity, the concrete had to be cast away the construction site which led to the development of precast concrete. The precast paneled buildings were pioneered in Liverpool, England, in 1905, by a process was invented by the city engineer John Alexander Brodie. The tram stables at Walton in Liverpool followed in 1906. The idea was not taken up extensively in Britain. However, it was adopted all over the world, particularly in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia where the harsher climates make conventional practices unfeasible.
Whereas, the concept of prestressing, even though utilized in structures like The Colosseum and everyday objects in the form of bows and tents, from the prehistoric times, was not put into practice at a large scale until World War II during which the conservation of materials being used was a top priority. The idea of the application of prestressing to improve the performance of reinforced concrete structure became prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, during which the preliminary prestressed bridges were build across Europe and USA own to the work of pioneers like Hewett, Dyckerhoff & Widmann Co., and Freyssinet. During the last 50 years advancement in prestressing technology meant that the most significant advantage of usage of prestressed concrete, creating longer spans than those achieved by ordinary reinforced concrete, was then applied for the production of beams and floor slabs which revolutionized the building construction industry.
Precast Concrete is a high efficient and practical method of construction which imbibes unsurpassed characteristics like durability, aesthetics and quality. Tailor made solutions to each and every project ensure that any kind of challenge can be met to produce ecological and robust buildings. All this produced with minimal common utility construction problems and cost-effective speedy installation. Here are some of the reason why we at Preca advocate Prestressed Precast Concrete as a “Sustainable Invention for Building the Future”
Precast technology, by virtue of the industrial process involvement of casting under controlled circumstances, adheres to the highest standards of quality control.
Precast concrete construction does jobs sooner. Depending on size and site conditions, flooring for a number of units can be laid in a single day. Use of higher grade concrete and steel than conventional makes it structurally superior.
Research has proven that precast elements can ensure more than a 100 year life cycle which reduces the life cycle cost of projects. Precast technology assures uniform quality and eliminates leakage and cracks thereby reducing maintenance costs.
Early possession, slabs and beams with longer spans at lower depths, lower structure weight, efficient use of resources with minimal wastage and shorter timelines, all contribute to an economic solution.
Prestressed concrete components can improve the thermal storage potential of a building. It effectively conserves energy required for heating and cooling.
Precast Concrete absorbs and releases heat slowly shifting air-conditioning and heating loads to smaller more efficient heating ventilation and air-conditioning solutions. The result savings are significant up to 30% on heating and cooling costs.
No shuttering, scaffolding, material procurement and inventory needed on-site. Clutter free and safer site.
Prestressing allows for casting elements longer than those achievable by conventional systems. A typical 300 mm Hollow core Slab can span up to 16 m and T slabs up to 22m without intermediate columns and beams.
Precast provides a structural platform which will give the architects and structural engineers greater freedom in designing virtually any layout.
High thermal mass of Precast combined with sound insulation reduces noise and provides an effective sound barrier between roads and urban noises
