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Quality control
VME Precast is produced in a controlled environment in a state-of-the-art plant. Hence the highest levels of quality control can be maintained as opposed to on-site pouring of concrete where temperature, humidity, material quality and craftsmanship play an important role. Since it is produced in a precast plant, it can be properly cured and closely monitored by plant employees, so there are no issues of leakage or cracks, thus ensuring uniform quality and reducing the maintenance and foundation costs considerably.
Strength
It is a known fact that the structural strength of buildings made with precast concrete increases over time. This is because 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 backfill materials. Other materials may deteriorate over time or lose strength or deflect over time while buildings made with precast concrete literally go from strength to strength.
Durability
Using precast concrete improves construction quality and thus extends the life cycle of buildings. Studies have shown that precast concrete products can provide a service life of more than 100 years which in turn brings down the life-cycle costs of a project. The life-cycle of precast concrete buildings can be further extended by using additional design options as well.
Fire resistance
Most other materials other than concrete and steel are flammable or do not perform well in high temperatures. In fact, even steel loses its structural capacity fairly quickly which can lead to a building collapsing. Precast concrete is one of the few noncombustible building materials which does not lose its structural capacity nearly as quickly as steel, and performs very well even in elevated temperatures.
UV sensitivity
Precast concrete is very useful for above ground applications as it does not degrade from exposure to sunlight.
Chemical resistance
Although no material is completely immune to attack from aggressive chemical agents, precast concrete is designed to withstand the most common corrosive agents. It naturally provides a longer service life than most other building materials as it is resistant to most substances.
Weather resistance
Unlike other construction materials that can rust, rot or degrade in the presence of moisture, precast concrete actually gets stronger if the un-hydrated cement particles in it react with water, thus making it completely water-resistant. In fact, precast concrete is appropriate for all weather conditions from regions that have regular freeze-thaw cycles like European countries to extremely hot regions like the Gulf.
Reduced weather dependency
Precast concrete is cured in the plant itself which cuts down the time required for installation. Dependency on the weather is also avoided as changes in the weather will not delay production or affect the schedule. Precast concrete increases efficiency as it requires less time to install it and it can be cast on-demand as compared with other construction methods, such as cast-in-place concrete.
Watertight-ness
When precast concrete products are produced in a quality-controlled environment and used with high-quality sealants, it makes the finished product completely water-proof. Almost all buildings especially hospitals and commercial buildings list watertight-ness amongst it standard requirements and precast concrete has proven to be far superior to conventional building material in this regard as well. Nowadays, standard watertight sealants are specially formulated to adhere to precast concrete, making watertight multiple-seam precast concrete structures possible.
Ease of installation
Since the precast concrete makes use of moulds in the plants to create the building materials before transporting it to the site, it makes it more convenient than on-site pouring of concrete into required forms as this requires additional machinery for handling and installation.
Efficiency
Precast technology saves up to 50% of construction time. Precast concrete has a much faster construction period as precast concrete products arrive at the job site ready to install, so raw materials such as reinforcing steel and concrete are not required and time is not wasted setting up forms, placing concrete or waiting for the concrete to cure. Precast technology is also energy efficient and gives energy savings as high as 50% as compared to other building material.
Aesthetics
Precast concrete products can be given distinctive facades like marble, granite and brickwork. Coarse aggregates can also be added to it to design unique effects. It can be produced in any colour and in a variety of finishes that range from smooth cast to exposed aggregate. Precast concrete can be shaped and molded into an endless array of sizes and configurations making it functional as well as decorative.
Environmentally friendly
Precast technology contributes to green building practices in a number of ways. Buildings made with precast sandwich panels can achieve anywhere between 30 to 40% savings in energy. The thermal mass of concrete allows shifting of heating and cooling loads in a structure to help reduce energy consumed for air conditioning. Recycled precast concrete can also be used as aggregate in new structures. Overall, using precast concrete is environmentally superior to casting on site. Apart from this, less community disturbance also takes place as less dust and waste are created at the construction site and less debris are left behind. Fewer trucks, less manpower and less time is needed with precast concrete construction.
Low maintenance
Precast concrete produces products of the highest quality, where stringent quality control measures are adopted so the usual post construction problems like leakage or cracks can be avoided. Therefore it requires little or no maintenance post construction, reducing maintenance costs, making it an ideal choice for any commercial or residential project.
Seismic
Buildings made with precast concrete have also got better resistance to seismic conditions. |
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