Benefits of Precast Concrete

Strength The strength of precast concrete gradually increase over time. Other materials can deteriorate, experience creep and stress relaxation, lose strength and/or deflect over time. The load-carrying capacity of precast concrete is derived from its own structural qualities and does not rely on the strength or quality of the surrounding backfill materials.

Durability Studies have shown that precast concrete products can provide a service life in excess of 100 years. For severe service conditions, additional design options are available which can extend the life of the precast concrete product. This is extremely important when calculating life-cycle cost for a project.

Mass Precast concrete products can act as effective barriers to vehicular traffic due to their size and weight.
In the current world climate, precast concrete products such as planters, bollards and highway barriers increasingly are being used to provide protection for a wide variety of venues.

Chemical Resistance Precast concrete is resistant to most substances. However no material is completely immune to attack form aggressive chemical agents. Thus it is wise to choose the material with the longest expected service life. Precast concrete products can be designed to withstand anticipated corrosive agents.

Quality Control Because precast concrete products typically are produced in a controlled environment, they exhibit high quality and uniformity. Variables affecting quality typically found on a jobsite-temperature, humidity, material quality, craftsmanship are nearly eliminated in a plant environment.

UV Sensitivity Unlike some other materials, precast concrete does not degrade from exposure to sunlight. This is extremely beneficial for above-ground applications.

Environmentally Friendly After water, concrete is the most frequently used material on earth. It is nontoxic, environmentally safe and composed of natural materials. Buried throughout the world, precast concrete products help convey water without contributing to poor water quality.

Weather Resistance Precast concrete is well-suited for exposure to all types of weather conditions.

Reduced Weather Dependency Precast increases efficiency because weather will not delay production. In addition, weather conditions at the jobsite do not significantly affect the schedule. This is because it requires less time to install precast compared with other construction methods, such as cast-in-place concrete. Precast concrete can be easily installed on demand and immediately backfilled there is no need to wait for it to cure.

Watertightness Standard watertight sealants are specially formulated to adhere to precast concrete, making watertight multiple-seam precast concrete structures possible.
Ease of Installation Since precast products are designed and manufactured for simple connection, many components can be installed in a short time.

Modularity Because of the modular nature of many precast concrete products, structures of systems of nearly any size can be accommodated.

Efficiency Precast concrete products arrive at the jobsite ready to install. There is no need to order raw materials such as reinforcing steel and concrete, and there is no need to spend time setting up forms, placing concrete or waiting for the concrete to cure.

Aesthetics Precast concrete products are both functional and decorative. They can be shaped and molded into an endless array of sizes and configurations. Precast concrete can also be produced in virtually any color and a wide variety of finishes (acid-etched, stand blasted, smooth-as-cast, exposed-aggregate) to achieve the desired appearance for building and site applications.

Low Maintenance Precast concrete requires little or no maintenance, which makes it an ideal choice for nearly any design solution.

Fire Resistance Precast concrete is noncombustible. Also, concrete does not lose its structural capacity nearly s quickly as steel. Other materials besides concrete and steel are flammable and / or do not perform well in elevated temperatures.

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