Introduction
In general, concrete is used in many forms and for various types of construction: concrete block, concrete panel, cast-in-place concrete, and recently, hybrid forms of concrete mixed with fiberglass, carbon, or steel fibers. Precast concrete construction is the casting and production of concrete components offsite and shipping them to the site for assembly into a building.
There are two major categories of precast concrete based on its physical appearance and usage:
- Architectural precast concrete remains visible and exposed after erection contributing to the architectural finished effects such as shape, color and texture.
- Structural precast is covered by other elements and is mainly used for structural purposes.
Precast compared to onsite poured concrete has better quality, higher production control and monitoring. It is environmentally friendly because the form work is meant for multiple use and saves valuable production time.
Shapes
The common precast shapes that are available in the market are listed in the table below:
