The Three Most Important Benefits You Didn’t Know about Precast Concrete for Your Project

For many construction and building projects, concrete is already a standard. But concrete panels made from pre-formed moulds, or precast concrete, have also become a more common sight across a good number of building projects, including entire buildings and structures, walls, and more. If you are involved in a building or construction project and are looking for the best material and component you could use, precast concrete may well be your best option.

Precast concrete comes with the best strength and durability, and it is also a flexible and versatile component you can utilise for many different purposes. But along with all this, it comes with a few other advantages you may not even know about.

So what are these advantages? Here are the three most important benefits you didn’t know about precast concrete for your project:

benefits of precast concrete

1. Immense capabilities for load-bearing

Precast concrete panelling is made of concrete with the highest possible strength, and this is combined with steel strands that are also pre-stressed. It is a standard for many precast concrete panels or walls to have a strength of around 7000 PSI. What this means is that it won’t be a problem for you to apply a load or weight in excess of a hundred thousand pounds to your precast concrete panels.

If you are planning to build a structure made of steel, for instance, you will have to set up perimeter columns and beams, and then you can place a ‘skin’ made of steel against the columns and beams. The steel columns and beams will need to support the enclosure panelling. But if you utilise a precast concrete system, you’ll no longer need to have the perimeter columns and beams, as you can tip the panels up and then just attach the steel elements onto the precast concrete panels.

This also means more savings because you don’t have to spend too much of your budget on buying steel. It’s the same if you construct a precast king post wall as well – it is designed to act as an effective retaining wall that can retain soil and water and protect a road or property most effectively.

2. High Wind Resistance

Furthermore, precast concrete is made to withstand the elements and has high wind resistance and can resist winds with speeds of up to 400 kilometres an hour, and the panels can handle storms and projectiles without damage.

3. Sound and fire ratings

You may already be aware that concrete has proven to be an effective fire barrier because it doesn’t conduct heat that easily. A precast concrete panel or wall can provide a fire rating of between two to four, and walls can remain intact when there is a chemical fire.

In fact, many warehouses make use of precast walls and panels so they can act as dividers, protecting goods and personnel from areas that are prone to fire. The greater the delay of the spread of fire, the higher the chance to save people and get them out without any incident.

Building and constructing a structure, wall, or other critical components can be a huge endeavour, and it entails a big investment as well. But if you want your project to go smoothly and benefit from one of the most effective components and materials, precast concrete is your best choice.