PRECAST CONCRETE CLADDING SYSTEMS

The cladding or curtain walls are the most widely

used precast wall for building envelopes. They are
non-load bearing walls intended for the use to
enclose space and are designed to resist wind,
seismic forces generated from their self weight, and
forces required to transfer the weight of the panel to
the support structure.

Cladding units include

Assembling of precast wall
• solid wall panels
• window wall units
• spandrels
• mullions
• column covers.

concept and Basics

• The concept of Precast Concrete
Cladding includes off-site
manufactured precast concrete
panels, which can be used to clad a
wide range of buildings, such as
commercial buildings, residential, retail,
leisure, hospitals, schools, and so on.
• Panels can be supported by fixing
back to the structural frame of the
building or can be self-supporting. They PVA fiber welded via reinforcement steel
can also be designed themselves to anchors and steel studs are incorporated in
precast concrete cladding
parts of the building structure such as
floors. Panels are typically in the range
of 150 mm thick, designed to span
either between columns or between
floors.
• Precast concrete panels can result in a
thinner external wall construction than
traditional walls, and so they can allow
a larger lettable floor area.

INTRODUCTION
Precast concrete cladding offers a
cost-effective means of providing a
robust, high-quality facade, with a
great variety of durable textures,
colours and patterns, including a range
of facing materials such as stone and
brick. It is also known as architectural
precast concrete cladding.

• Primary functions: • Secondary functions:

1. Define the aesthetic image of the 1. Adjust to movement in the building
building due to wind, earthquakes, etc.
2. Keep water out of the building 2. Adjust to thermal expansions and
3. Prevent air leakage contractions
4. Control the passage of light and 3. Control the passage of water
heat (radiation and conduction); vapour
5. Control sound from the outside; 4. Resist fire
6. Avoid thermal bridges; 5. Resist weather conditions
gracefully

Purpose
• Precast concrete is widely used in low- and mid-rise apartment buildings, hotels,
motels, and nursing homes.
• Precast concrete is also a popular material for constructing office buildings.
• For stadiums and arenas, seating units and concrete steps can be mass produced
according to specifications, providing fast installation and long lasting service.
• It also include piles and deck for railroad and highway bridges, railway crossties,
burial vaults, educational institutions, commercial buildings such as shopping malls,
and public buildings including hospitals, libraries, and airport terminals.

CONCEPT, PURPOSE AND BASICS

 Types of Pc Cladding
There are three main types of Precast Concrete Cladding:

SPANDREL LOAD BEARING NON LOAD BEARING

1. PRECAST CONCRETE SPANDRELS

• Spandrels are wall panels which are often cast with a concrete corbel or beam
section, for slab to bear onto. They use the full depth of the wall section as a deep
beam, and therefore can take substantial amounts of load.
• Spandrels can be cast in almost any size, with typical sizes ranging from 5' to 8' in
height and 25' to 60' in length.
• With the aesthetic flexibility to manufacture these units utilizing a variety of
finishes, colors, textures and shapes.
• The thickness can range from 5" to 12" thick depending on the project.
• Precast spandrels can be used as cladding on building construction such as
parking garages, office buildings, pedestrian bridges, and other vertical
construction.

TYPES OF PRECAST CLADDING SYSTEM

 •A typical undersill
unit, is designed for
bottom rib support
and top edge
restraint at columns.
• Support and restraint
fixing is through the
bottom horizontal rib
bearing on the floor
slab with dowel fixing
and restraint fixing by
cleats fixed to
columns and ribs.

PRECAST CONCRETE SPANDRELS

2. Load Bearing Panels
• Architectural precast concrete wall panels that act as load bearing elements in a
building are both a structurally efficient and economical means of transferring floor
and roof loads through the structure and into the foundation.
• These panels can be used not only in all-precast structures but also in structural steel
framed structures and cast in-place concrete structures.
• Features -
1.It has desirable thermal, acoustic and fire-resistant properties.
2.Contributes to the horizontal stability of the building.
3. Normally used for cladding applications, such as solid wall panels, window wall or
spandrel panels.
4. Considerable inherent structural capability.
5. Used effectively to renovate and rehabilitate old deteriorated structuresTypes of

Load Bearing Panels

LOAD BEARING PRECAST CLADDING


Building layouts in which load bearing panels can be
used advantageously
• Load uniformity is one of the
important advantages for high-rise,
load bearing panel structures
where the bearing walls also serve
as shear walls. It produces even
loads on the perimeter foundations
and reduces the tendency for
differential settlement. The jointed
nature of the facade also makes it
more tolerant of any differential
settlements.

• As in all precast construction, the transfer of vertical load from element to element
is a major consideration. Differences in section, shape, architectural features and
unit stress result in a variety of solutions and types of connections.

LOAD BEARING PRECAST CLADDING

3. Non Load Bearing Panels
• A non load bearing cladding panel must be designed, together with its fittings.
• These types of precast concrete panels do not transfer vertical loads but simply
enclose the space. They are only designed to resist wind, seismic forces generated by
their own weight, and forces required to transfer the weight of the panel to the
support.
• Common cladding units include wall panels, window wall units, spandrels, mullions,
and column covers. These units can usually be removed individually if necessary.
• Panels are either be top hung or bottom supported from the building structure.
• Both methods should never be used together on the same panel.
• Non-load bearing panels are 100mm in thickness and can be easily clipped to the
face of the steel.

Bottom supported Top hung

Cladding unit Cladding unit

NON-LOAD BEARING PRECAST CLADDING

 Basic Components -
Claddings or Curtain walls
1.Transoms
2.Mullions
3.Vision glass
4.Panels
5.Anchor

Shear walls
1.Stiffener
2.Button plate
3.Reinforcing bars
4.Stud
5. Surface plates
6.Boundary column7.Infill
concrete

BASIC COMPONENTS
Technical Aspects -
PANEL FORMATION :

Sandwich panels or structural insulating panels (SIP)) consist of two layers of a rigid
material bonded to either side of a lightweight core. The three components
act together as a composite.

The lightweight core keeps the two faces in the correct position, resists shear
forces, and provides insulation, while the two faces provide durability, weather and
impact resistance, and resist in-plane forces of tension and compression.

INSTALLATION

i. Method of sequence of assembly and installation: Precast elements should be

identified based on their location number and the tagged.

ii. Method of providing temporary support: Elements should be supported

temporarily before these get stabilized. Generally structural members with
adjustable ends shall be used for securing the panels. Shims should be used to
adjust the panels to ensure dimensional correctness.

iii. Installation tolerances: Installation tolerances should be based on codal

provisions and design considerations should be clearly indicated.

iv. Handling and rigging requirements: Elements should be checked for handling
stresses before lifting and the cranes should have sufficient capacity to handle the
precast panels. At least 10% impact should be considered while calculating the
lifting capacity of the crane.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS
 Common Norms -
The cladding system must have adequate strength to support its own weight between the
points of support or fixings to the structural frame.

The total thickness of sub-base and concrete slab should be a minimum of 450 mm(If the
subgrade is susceptible to frost).

Reinforcement may be either steel fabric or bar reinforcement, the letter being deformed
and spaced at centres of not more than 150mm.

Concrete cover to the reinforcement should be 60 mm.

The reinforcement should terminate at least 40mm

and not more than 80mm from the edge of the slab
and from all joints except longitudinal joints

TECHNICAL ASPECTS- COMMON NORMS

Construction Details -

(precast wall panel between joints)

(Window sill at
architectural precast
panel)

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
(Roof to precast concrete wall connection.)

(Curtainwall to Jamb Connection)

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
(Detail at horizontal joint and floor intersection)

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
(Window head at
architectural precast
panel)

(An air gap behind a

conventional precast
wall)

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURES
1. After the completion of construction preparations,
the layout of the structure is set.

2. Then, the foundation of the columns are

constructed

3. After that, the columns are placed using suitable

machines , and continuously checked by surveyor for
alignment. In the case of Frame system and slab-
column system with shear wall. Alternatively, precast
panels are installed in the case of large panel system.

4. Beams for precast frames, and precast

floors in the case of large panel systems
and column-slab systems are placed.

5. For precast frames, after the

installation of precast concrete beams,
precast concrete floors are erected.

6. The above steps are followed until the

construction is finalized.

METHOD & PROCESS

ADVANTAGES

Durability: Assuming the panel design has been carried out with proper thought for
rainwater flow over the surface of the building, it will weather well and not require
frequent cleaning.

Economy: Precast cladding offers major cost benefits compared to its natural
competitor, curtain walling. Costs can further be reduced if designers restrict the
diversity of the panels, thereby boosting repetition.

Speed: Cladding panel erection can often be completed without the need for
external scaffolding. The process is quick and allows the swift enclosure of the
building, a major benefit to all projects

Quality: Cladding panels are produced under highly controlled factory conditions.
The highest grade materials are used and the concrete mixes are carefully
monitored to ensure a quality finish

DISADVANTAGES

• If not properly handled, the precast units may be damaged during transport.
• It becomes difficult to produce satisfactory connections between the precast
members.
• Skilled workmanship is required.
• Improper detailing or inappropriate construction of precast clad walls can result in
widespread water problems due to condensation forming within the wall
construction.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES