The use of concrete in construction is a common practice. One type of concrete you can usually find in construction projects is precast concrete. In contrast to site-cast concrete, precast concrete is made in mass in a factory or specialized manufacturing site.
Compared to site-cast concrete, casting precast concrete requires more labor and is done repeatedly. Hence, the process produces a mass of readily available concrete.
If you want to know how precast concrete works in construction, take your time to read the discussion below.
What Is Precast Concrete?
Precast concrete is a mixture of raw materials, such as Portland cement, hydraulic cement, gravel, sand, and water. The mix of these materials is then molded in the factory, not at the construction site.
Concrete that has been printed or is in precast form fits the construction of houses, buildings, and other types of properties. The precast concrete takes the shape of panels, later assembled by workers.
Mass concrete production at the factory is based on certain molds and sizes to meet needs at the construction site. Further down the line, the cast will undergo a treatment process to maintain the water content in it. With proper storage and care, the quality of precast concrete is guaranteed.
Once sored, the precast concrete goes through treatment stages, including watering the surface, wrapping it in wet sacks, circulating hot steam (steam curing), and opening the formwork (handling). If the concrete has reached its curing age, that means it is ready for use and can be delivered to the construction site.
Based on SNI 03-2847-2002, precast concrete can be reinforced or unreinforced. The standards for precast concrete quality are fc = 14.5 MPa (K175) and fc = 14.5 MPa (K-350) with a slump tolerance of (12 ± 2) cm.
Precast Concrete Functions
By the standards created by SNI, two types of precast concrete fit for use are K-175 and K-350. K-175 is called non-structural concrete, while K-350 is structural concrete.
By using precast concrete, workers do not need to perform the casting at the construction site. This not only speeds up the process but also reduces air and noise pollution due to direct casting.
Each readily available concrete panel also has guaranteed consistency in size and quality. With good quality and readily available concrete, the project contractor can ensure the strength and durability of the building structures.
Read also: 3 Advantages of Using Precast Concrete
Types of Precast Concrete
Some types of precast concrete commonly found are as follows:
- Paving Block: Mass-produced concrete used for gardens and outdoor courtyards.
- Kanstin: Concrete used as a barrier on the shoulder of the road.
- Box Culvert: Rectangular-shaped concrete used for the construction of culverts.
- U Ditch: Concrete used to construct drainage channels.
- RCP Concrete Pipe: Made of plastic or PVC, it is used to build water lines.
- Fence Panel: Concrete commonly used for the construction of road fences, housing, plantations, and so on.
- Road Barrier: Concrete for road barriers in permanent construction projects.
Why Use Precast Concrete
Apart from being practical, precast concrete has other qualities that should be taken into account when selecting construction materials. The following are the qualities of precast concrete:
- Quality assurance by building material standards.
- Minimize construction costs because it does not use scaffolding or formwork.
- Available in sizes fit for construction needs.
- Saves construction time.
- Prevent air and noise pollution.
- Reduce construction waste.
Dry Cast vs Wet Cast
In construction work, two types of precast commonly used are dry and wet. Here are some of the differences:
1. Function
Dry precast generally helps speed up compaction and increase output from certain construction stages. On the other hand, wet precast reduces large amounts of water, which increases the strength and speeds up the work progress.
2. Use
Dry precast is usually applied to products that use instant printing machines, such as sidewalk tiles, paving blocks, and others.
Conversely, wet precast fits products with high performance and a large water reduction capacity. Several examples of wet precast concrete are box culverts and u-ditch channels.
3. Joint
Dry concrete joints generally use iron plates connected by bolts or welding. Through different applications, wet concrete connections use the concrete's strength to perform the casting in grouting.
That's all the information about precast concrete. As previously explained, readily available concrete is made in a controlled environment. The factory ensures quality assurance through measured maintenance before delivering the product to the construction site.
Concrete in panels for houses and other buildings can usually be found on exterior and interior walls. Walls made of factory-made concrete can be easily installed on the ground, which makes the job safe for workers.
In terms of price, precast concrete tends to be more affordable than site-cast. The factory can use the mold up to thousands of times. That way, the production does not take a long time. It also saves a lot of money.
If you are interested in using precast concrete for your construction project, Precast Concrete from Semen Merah Putih could be an option. Semen Merah Putih provides precast concrete in various shapes, types, and sizes at competitive prices.
Through one of its subsidiaries, Merah Putih Beton, Semen Merah Putih supplies innovative ready-to-use concrete products designed for a variety of unique and strong applications through superior products such as Ready Mix Concrete, Precast Concrete, and Aggregate.
As one of the products of the Semen Merah Putih subsidiary, which specializes in concrete, the quality of Precast Concrete is guaranteed because we use modern precast machines. The treatment also uses the latest computerized books, guaranteeing the product's quality.
For further information about Semen Merah Putih products, you can consult with our experienced team. To get more information about Precast Concrete products and others from Semen Merah Putih, fill out the contact form. Our team will help with all your construction needs.
