INDEX

PREESTRESSED CONCRETE AS A LOW COST BUILDING MATERIAL CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2

ABOUT SHASTI

CHAPTER 3

ABOUT MOLDICRETE

CHAPTER 4

WHY MOLDICRETE TECHNOLOGY COST LESS

CHAPTER 5

WHY MOLDICRETE IS QUALITY

CHAPTER 6

BENEFITS OF OUR HOUSING TECHNOLOGY

CHAPTER 7

US MARKET

CHAPTER 8

SAFE, SECURE, SOLID HOUSING

CHAPTER 9

PLACEMENT OF MOLDS REINFORCEMENT

CHAPTER 10

CASTING

CHAPTER 12

SCREEDING

CHAPTER 13

REMOVAL OF MOLDS

CHAPTER 14

PRECAST CONCRETE ELEMENTS

CHAPTER 15

FIRE RESISTANCE

CHAPTER 16

THERMAL PERFORMANCE

CHAPTER 17

SOUND INSULATION

CHAPTER 18

DUREBILITY AND ROBUSTNESS

CHAPTER 19

STRENGTH AND LONGEVITY

CHAPTER 20

FLEXIBILITY OF DESIGN

CHAPTER 21

SPEED

CHAPTER 22

QUALITY

CHAPTER 23

STRUCTURAL STABILITY

CHAPTER 24

SIMPLICITY

CHAPTER 25

LOW COST

CHAPTER 26

KEY COMPNENTS IN MOLDICRETE CONSTRUCTION

CHAPTER 27

DESIGN LIFE AND FLEXIBILITY

CHAPTER 28

BENEFITS OF PRECAST/PRESTRESSED WALL PENNELS

CHAPTER 29

COREWALL PENNELS

CHAPTER 30

BENEFITS OF PRECAST BEAMS

1. INTRODUCTION

P1There has been a search done for an alternative technology that could lead to a revolutionized system and generate the

growth of the housing and other construction related industries. Various buildings technologies were introduced intothe housing market but they were unsuccessful, because they failed to satisfy the buyers. Home buyers are particular onhouses predominantly made of wood and concrete, at the same time affordable, durable and presentable. For this reason,San Antonio Housing Systems Technology Inc (SAHSTI). SAHSTI has developed a housing and building system andtechnology wherein houses can be erected in a much faster way and manufactured in an inexpensive, modular precision,pre-cast concrete panel and building element that would be a major components and building materials of this technology.

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2. ABOUT SHASTI

San Antonio Housing System Technology Incorporated (SAHSTI) Building System Technology is comprised of (A)construction method (B) Use of Modular precision pre-cast panels and building element. The technology is innovative andmost economical in construction not only in the low-cost housing project but also on medium high rise structure.The panels and building elements are the major component of the system and integral to the technology. Productionprocess of Moldicrete panels and element are the most economical slab panel production. It eliminates materials that arenormally wasted. It is ideal for load bearing structures, flooring, exterior and interior wall, stairs and roofs. The designof the Moldicrete panel and elements are cavity type structures. these panel are produce on a very rigid quality controlprocessed, molded in a heavy gauge metal sheet mould according to shape and size depending on its requirement andplace of use.Any traditional design can be easily adapted to this system, for either flat or pitched roof requirements. Thermalinsulation can be designed to client specifications and climatic requirements. Ancillary precast product can be a lucrativeand competitive ready mix concrete operation. All costs except materials and trucks are already covered in the factorydepreciation and running cost.The designed on the Moldicrete battery mold is that it enhances the curing time of both panel and elements by trappingthe heat moisture generated by concrete during hydration stage which achieves a high early strength concrete panel slabat the same time the panels are reinforced with high tensile grade steel bars that make Moldicrete panels and elements

versatile in construction and shortens the construction period. Special designs of Moldicrete casting plants can be locatedon a project per project basis with a very short period of time. This will benefit the countries where there are hugerequirements for Mass Housing development projects.

3 ABOUT MOLDICRETE The Moldicrete panel is a pre-cast precision modular concrete panel slab, the panel is lightweight in design and wallthickness is optimum, saves 50% of the materials consumed by a hollow block or solid cement block construction.Interconnected lateral and vertical ridges for its rigidity and stability, suitable even in multilevel building construction.Any traditional design is easily adapted to this system, flat or pitched roofs in various housing, schools, hospitals, policeand firestations.We also have the capabilities to develop: Single family homes, Duplexes, Town homes, Apartment buildings, Hotels,Storages, Mediums High Rises and Classrooms, Sanctuaries, Gymnasiums, Recreation halls, Day Care Centers,Restaurants, Convention Centers, Commercial complex, Warehouse, Churches, Sport complex, Perimeter fence, Retainingwalls, Water reservoirs without sacrificing its quality and architectural design.The preferred material is the Moldicrete panel. The Moldicrete panel house unit-building element is a modular precisionpre-cast concrete slab. Made of 100% concrete, ordinary Portland cement, water, sand and gravel. Pre-formulated mixturefor its required strength and it is ideal for load bearing structures such as flooring, stairs, roofs, exterior and interiorwalls. The Moldicrete and element design are cavity type structures that have 2 inches thick skin slab incorporated withharmonized protruded trapezoid shape ridge of 4, 6, 8-10 and 12 inches, vertical horizontal form that are interconnected toeach other. Both holes are provided at the perimeter ribs of the panel and element.It has interconnected lateral and vertical ridges for its rigidity and stability that can withstand different applications whichare suitable even in multi-level building construction. Likewise, the panels produced undergo a very rigid quality controlprocess and finishing for its uniformity in quality and the ability to withstand the increasing control in erection andconstruction process at the job site.The electrical conduit and plumbing pipes are pre-set into the panel during the casting process. The panels are

manufactured on standard sizes of 1.2 MW x 2.6 MH, 3.1 MW x 2.6 MH, 2.4 MW x 2.6 MH, and 2.6 MW x 2.6 MH.The panel sizes, however, can be produced according to the customer specifications. The mold process ensuring precisionon size produces Moldicrete panels. The battery mold process enhances the curing time of both panel and elements bytrapping the heat moisture generated by concrete during hydration stage which achieves a high early strength concretepanel slab. The panels are re-enforced with high tensile grade steel bars. Special design casting plant can be located onproject site. The Moldicrete construction system ensures high quality precision fit walls and shortens construction time.

4 WHY MOLDICRETE TECHNOLOGY COST LESS

The cost of Moldicrete panel and elements coupled with the speed of erection can result in a 30% to 50% savings whencompared to traditional building construction. The accuracy of production and mold surface reduced rendering andfinishing required. When there is more land than money available, SAHSTI insulated retrofit panels are ideal. Withinsulated precast concrete retrofit panels, you can build now… and later, when it fits the developer’s needs and budget.

5 WHY MOLDICRETE IS QUALITY ?

The use of reinforced high-grade concrete insures strength, longevity and permanency. No external rendering orinternal plastering of cracks is required. Timber isn’t used in the structural design of building, thereby enhancing longtermdurability. The structure is rated Zone 3 of the California Code of Seismic Design and Moldicrete also Exceedsrequirement for hurricane proofing. The accuracy of Panel production by means of steel molds assures uniformity ofquality and finish. Ensuring customer satisfaction and quality of product thus reducing maintenance cost.Insulated precast/prestressed wall panels are the best choice for food processing facilities, warehouses, retail, industrial,manufacturing, and educational applications. It is built to last longer than other types of wall systems; precast wall panelsresist the adverse effects of wind, rain, equipment, airborne contaminants, and soil.

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6 BENEFITS OF OUR HOUSING TECHNOLOGY

• Fast construction time reducing the gestation period• Precision panel connections producing a quality• Easy to set-up requiring low skill and low experience construction crew• Reduces construction cost and financial cost because of the quick turnaround• Acceptable by buyers because it is concrete based produce• Acceptable by banks for financing because it is of traditional concrete materials• Easily Finished Ceilings and Floors• Increased Load Capacities Low Maintenance• Fast-track Construction

7 US MARKET

In the USA, 30% of all housing is prefabricated. Although much low-rise housing is timber-framed or stick built, concretesystems are being used increasingly, particularly in areas that are vulnerable to environmental hazards such as hurricanesand tornados. Information from the PCA (Portland Cement Association) suggests that panelized 2D pre-cast concretesystems are used for low-rise housing in several states. Although the potential benefits of quality, less labor costs andreduced site time are accredited to pre-cast concrete, buyers have been discouraged by the previously plain appearance ofpanels, risk of water penetration and difficulties of installing insulation.However, recent development such as improved molds, improved concrete mixing techniques, availability of rigid foamsand a range of surface finishes have effectively reversed this trend. In a series of interviews with US home builders, thePCA found that up to 70% chose home building systems on the basis of cost/value alone. Finishes, flexibility and thermalmass were perceived as incidental benefits. However, it is clear that the traditional list of perceived benefits of concreteconstruction has been extended to include these factors and others such as speed and ease of construction; the idea ofprefabrication is gaining value in the US home building market.

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8 SAFE,SECURE,SOLID HOUSING

For condos, senior housing, assisted living, dormitories, hotels, or any other multi-unit housing applications, no otherbuilding material can offer the many benefits associated with precast concrete. Well known as being a strong, economicalfloor and roof system, Moldicrete makes an excellent long-term investment requiring virtually no maintenance. Tenantsachieve greater satisfaction and stay longer in structures built with Moldicrete. Reduced sound attenuation means quieterspace. Natural, fire resistance means increased safety.Objective of the project is the development of advanced automation technologies in a traditionally small and middlesized structured sector of the concrete industry: the industrial preproduction and precasting of the elements for concretebuildings (such as walls and roof plates). The following main steps of production in a precasting factory will be improved:(1) Optimization of the robot control and gripper for setting the form and shuttering of precast parts.(2) Improving quality and speed of the production of wire mesh reinforcing the steel.(3) Improving the quality of distributing the concrete into form.(4) Introduction of new optimization tools into the central production control computer.Practical usable solutions have been developed by integrating modern control and planning methods like fuzzy logicgenetic algorithms and evolutionary strategies into the four production steps mentioned above. Practical test andoptimization have been completed in the production lines of the partners. The improvement of production has resultedin a substantial reduction of production costs, production time and material needed. Furthermore high amounts of woodand polystyrene wastes will be completely eliminated. Working conditions will be improved, because hard, dirty andmonotonous labor will be replaced by automatic systems.Running at high capacity without sacrificing product quality, technicians note the facility also permits manufacture ofprecast components of varying geometries. Production currently accommodates eight different villa types, and furthervariations will follow, as the plant architecture does not restrict the range of possible configurations. Using a large-formatplotter, the layout of wall slabs can be drawn directly on the formwork to a 1:1 scale, guaranteeing that built-in parts andrecesses for doors and windows are positioned accurately.Shaping of element contours to conform to the indicated geometries is accomplished by means of a modular formworksystem incorporating box sections, which are secured to the palettes with strong, permanent magnets holding theformwork profile in place during the complete production process. A spreader fills the formwork tables with freshconcrete. The component surfaces are leveled automatically in preparation for final finishing and painting.

Flexible logistics in the production process and a smooth flow of material within the plant are achieved by means of apallet-circulation system, which transports formwork pallets to the work station in a one-minute cycle. The circulationsystem, together with high-bay racking is used to dry the manufactured elements.Concrete-laden formwork pallets weighing up to 24 tons each demand a system of considerable size. A master computersupplies the work stations with manufacturing data and coordinates all automatic processes in the plant. Additionally,the central computer monitors the storage period in heated high-bay racking and monitors the sequential removal ofcured elements from stock. The wall panels are stripped the next day, immediately transported to the building site, andassembled on location. Based on a long-term experience SAHSTI has the ability to build and install individually designedcomplete plants for an individual mix of products.For the modernization or upgrading of existing plants SAHSTI supplies the technology especially for the production ofhousing components made of concrete such as wall elements, precast, prestressed floor slabs, prestressed beams as well asprecast or prestressed lintels. SAHSTI has developed the state of the art construction technology and production processesproducing precast panels and housing elements whereby it replaces the used of traditional hollow blocks or cement slabconstruction materials. This technology is innovative and most economical in construction of low-cost housing andmedium high-rise structures without sacrifice to quality and architectural design saving 30% to 50% of materials normallyconsumed by concrete block which is normally wasted.Cross-lifting trucks are designed as scissor-type units and can lift the pallet from the level of the roller blocks into thesecond level of +2,500 mm. The mezzanine has three workstations with openings in the size of the pallets therefore palletsare free to choose positions. The opening in the mezzanine is safeguarded by telescopic railings. The positions in themezzanine level are set up for placing the steel moulds with integrated magnets according to the plotted geometry of theelements.To handle the molds, special handling cranes are installed at each of the three positions. By means of these handlingcranes, the molds are taken from the conveyor belts and placed on the pallet to form the element to be produced. Aconveyor belt which is acting crosswise to the pallet is transporting the molds from the cleaning machine into thepositioning area for placing the molds. The molds are automatically identified according to their length, height and shapeafter cleaning. Steel molds which are not needed for the actual production unit can be taken from the conveyor and be

placed in the stocks. Completion of formwork: After all required steel molds have been placed; the cross-lifting trucks liftthe pallet out from the opening in the mezzanine, let it down to the level of the rollers and transport it into the line of oneof the next free positions. The pallet circuit offers three parallel lines for finishing formwork, building in reinforcement,casting and screeding. Furthermore, window and door frames or the formwork are placed to the marked positions.Electrical inserts like boxes for outlets are placed on the pallet by means of hot-glue or magnets.

9 PLACEMENT OF MOLDS REINFORCEMENTS

Reinforcements are prepared in a separate bay. Three working tables are installed and a laser system displays the outlineand cut-outs of the required reinforcements. The laser system is working parallel on the tables. Synchronization betweenthe pallet circuit and the laser system is performed via the master computer of the pallet circuit. A storage area forstandard meshes and single bars is planned. A mesh straightening machine with related cutting unit will be installed. Aftercompletion, the reinforcement meshes or cages are picked up by an overhead crane. The crane travels from the bay wherethe reinforcement is prepared to the bay where the waiting pallet is on one of three available positions.

10 CASTING

For casting, the pallets are transported to a concrete spreader which can work over three pallet positions. The concrete issupplied by a bucket conveyor system. When the formwork is filled with concrete, the compacting unit can be started andthe concrete is compacted. All three pallet positions are equipped with compacting units.

11 SCREEDINGAfter casting and compaction, the pallets are transported on to the next positions. At these positions, a screeding deviceis installed. With the help of this screeding device, the surface of the concrete is leveled to the exact required thickness ofthe concrete element. Transport to helicopter smoothening after screeding, the pallet is transported to one of the stations

for helicopter smoothening. The smoothening stations are located on two different mezzanine levels. Each level isequipped with a helicopter smoothening device. The smoothening device finishes the concrete. Formwork supplements,reinforcements and concreting stations create elements in such a way that they have a very fine and smooth surface, readyfor painting.After smoothing, the pallets are picked up by the rack operator and transported to the curing chamber, where thehardening process of the concrete elements takes place under controlled environmental conditions.

12 REMOVAL OF MOLDSWhen curing is finished, the pallets are picked up automatically from the curing chamber by means of the rack operatorand are transported to the demolding line. In these positions, the steel molds are removed from the pallet with the help ofspecial handling cranes and are placed onto a conveyor system which transports the molds to an automatic cleaning andoiling unit. Also, all complementary molding material is removed and, if re-usable, transported back to the molding areaby means of a single girder crane

13 CAST CONCRETE ELEMENTS

After all shuttering material have been removed, the pallet is transported to one of the two tilting stations. The palletsare tilted and the wall elements can be unloaded with the help of the overhead cranes. The wall elements are placed intransport racks waiting at the unloading positions. When all elements have been removed, the pallets travel in automaticmode to the pallet cleaning and oiling machine. The finished transport units are picked up by a run-off truck and aretransported out of the building where a gantry crane takes them over. Stockyard handling and loading trucks are carriedout by the gantry cranes. The empty pallets pass a stationary cleaning unit with scrapers and brushes. Behind the cleaningunit, an oiling unit is installed. This oiling unit sprays a fine layer of separating agent onto the pallet surface to prepare itfor the new production cycle.

14 RE RESISTANCE

The performance of concrete in fire is well documented. The requirements for protection and surface spread of flame inlow-rise housing are well within concrete’s capabilities in this aspect. For example, a 150mm thick concrete wall can provide over 90 minutes fire resistance, which is in excess of what is required for most housing. Exposed concrete has aclass 0 surface spread of flame rating and the relatively modest nature of the structural elements in housing means thatcomplying with stability requirements is straight forward. Thus, concrete has an established and inherent advantage overboth metal and timber solutions in terms of fire performance.

15 THERMAL PERFORMANCE

Normal density concrete is able to contribute usefully to the thermal comfort conditions within a building (other solidconstruction materials can perform a similar function). Concrete’s thermal capacity allows heat to be absorbed and storedin the building structure and either re-radiated or ‘purged’ during cooler periods. This has the potential to remove theneed for air conditioning in many buildings, when used with effective solar control and ventilation. In housing, there iscurrently a growing interest in providing ‘comfort cooling’ as a selling point. The impact of such systems is well known,and so the opportunity to use concrete as a more sustainable alternative to HVAC systems should be a tangible benefit tohome builders. Fabric thermal storage can provide considerable payback benefits over time to the occupier. Moreover,concrete can provide a level of internal temperature stability that is simply not attainable with lightweight construction.The proposed revisions to the Building Regulations Part L could be advantageous for concrete. The revisions includethe increase in insulation requirements and mandatory air tightness testing for both new and existing buildings. The newU value of 0.3W/m2°C compared with the previous 0.45 could mean a doubling of insulation thickness but concrete’sthermal mass will also help keep the building cool.Indeed, several UK research projects have shown that buildings with exposed concrete internal surfaces can contributesignificant degrees of cooling (>5oC in some instances) (Glass et al., 1999). Air tightness tests would favor pre-castbecause of the lower number of joints and potential leakage points (unlike frames or masonry). However, in some highthermal mass buildings, during winter months there may be a slight penalty to pay in terms of space heating demands;to date this has been analyzed only for office buildings (Barnard, 1999). The decision to utilize the thermal capacity of

concrete can affect a building’s design, because the maximum effect is achieved where the internal surfaces of concreteare exposed.To achieve satisfactory thermal insulation (wall) values, consideration also needs to be given to the location of theinsulation materials which can be placed on the external face of the wall, the internal face of the wall, or internally to thewall, as a sandwich construction.In all cases, it is good practice in wall construction to consider carefully the position of the insulation relative to the dewpoint, which should prevent unwanted interstitial condensation occurring. For floors, there are several design alternativesto maximize the use of concrete’s thermal capacity. Exposed ceilings offer a ‘passive’ non-mechanical solution whereas‘active’ systems such as Termodeck provide a greater degree of control through use of air-driven ventilation in the slab.

16 SOUND INSULATION

Unlike steel or timber systems, concrete offers the possibility of housing that is intrinsically solid, with high acousticperformance. For all solid walls, the mass law for sound reduction applies, where a doubling of mass improves the SoundReduction index by 4dB. Concrete can provide good sound reduction values provided joints and openings are detailedproperly. For example, a 150mm thick concrete wall can provide over 50dB reduction in sound transmission betweenrooms, dwellings and from external noise sources such as traffic. Of course, pre-cast concrete houses also benefit from the dwelling.

15 DUREBILITY AND ROBUSTNESS

Concrete can provide a dwelling with a solid and durable construction that will prove resistant to impact damage and canbe easy to maintain provided all the normal standards and regulations are adhered to. Standard specific codes to precastconcrete ensures that concrete is used safely and appropriately within buildings to provide a robust, durable and stablestructure. The resulting dwellings will be long lasting and simple to maintain specific benefits of precast concrete. Theidea of prefabrication of building elements in factory conditions brings with it certain inherent advantages over purelysite-based construction. Whatever the product being manufactured, working in a factory offers weather independence, 24 hour working

capabilities and economies of scale and scope. In terms of precast concrete it is clear that people perceive that pre-castingoffers some very particular benefits in addition to those offered generally by concrete. Speed, quality and efficiency wereall cited as specific attributes of precast moldicrete. Speed was the most highly regarded as a key advantage.

16 STRENGTH AND LONGEVITY

The use of reinforced high-grade concrete insures strength, longevity and permanency. No rendering is required. Notimber is used in the structural design of the building, thereby enhancing long term durability. Upon request, structuralcalculations are available, proving the stability of the system upon to Zone 3 of the California Code for Seismic Design.Increases the developers’ chances of obtaining funding for the development and the end user.

17 FEXBILITY OF DESIGN

Any traditional design can be easily adapted to the system for either flat or pitched roof requirements in respect ofhousing, schools, offices, libraries, hospitals, hotels, sport complex etc. Thermal insulation can be designed to clientspecification and climactic requirements. Integrated computer programming enables tight control to be exercised overproduction cost, material supplies, etc., the system enables developers’ to produce a consistent quality of constructionwork when completing all the building in a town or city.

18 SPEED

There is much market interest in the advantages of treating construction as ‘onsite assembly’ of components manufacturedin a factory environment. This approach can offer faster, cleaner and safer working conditions on site and a huge benefitto clients, contractors and others involved in the process. Precast concrete elements can be used in this way provided themanufacturer has adequate notice of requirements.

19 QUALITYOne of the key perceptions attributed to production in controlled environments such as precast concrete factories is thatthe greater degree of control (and the lesser degree of risk) will result in a higher quality product compared to its onsiteequivalent. The ability to work in a weather-independent and controllable environment means that strength, surfacequality, consistency and detailed design features in precast concrete components should be much easier to achieve. Indeedboth the material and dimensional properties of the product should benefit from such a production environment.Most designers recognize that prefabrication and factory production also result in much finer levels of tolerance in theproduct itself; this is a key advantage for speedy and accurate on-site assembly operations (where appropriate, precastconcrete can be designed to have a degree of flexibility).Once on site, precast components offer better ‘line and level’ than traditional masonry walls for example, which isof benefit to subsequent build out activities. The quality of surface finish attainable in a factory can be higher thanthat achievable on site because specialist mold-makers are often employed and because battery casting of repetitivecomponents allows the manufacturer to invest in high quality, high re-use formwork materials.In housing, it may be appropriate to cast a high quality surface for internal applications that can be painted or wallpapered, but consideration must also be given to a more decorative finish for external panels. Indeed, the addition to ‘easyfinishes’ wall panels would extend the pre-cast portfolio to a ‘one-hit’ site operation providing foundation, floor system,walls, suspended floors, partitions, external walls and possibly even roofs. Finally, value could be added to the productrange by offering pre-installation of doors and windows, and a choice of finishes etc.

20 STRUCTURAL STABILITY

Calculations are available to support the stability of the system in normal conditions to the destination where the housingproject is proposed.

21 IMPLICITY

The uniqueness of Moldicrete panel and element is Self-supporting and allows endless variation of designs. After a short

initial training period, unskilled laborer can be employed both in the factory and in construction site.

22 LOW COSTThe inexpensive cost of Moldicrete panel & housing element coupled with the speed of erection can result in a 50% costsavings when compared to a traditional building construction

23 KEY COMPONENTS IN MOLDICRETE CONSTRUCTION

The connections between structural concrete elements are key to providing stability, and so these should be detailed withcare by a structural engineer. Various general safety standards and codes of practice govern construction of concretebuildings on site; these are designed to protect workers from accidents and other hazards associated with cement andconcrete handling and assembly. In summary, concrete construction can provide both short and long term benefitsprovided that designers and constructors adhere to the relevant standards and codes Inherent to Fire Resistance.

24 DESIGN LIFE AND FLEXIBILITY

The issue of design life for new and existing homes is complex; guidance and attitudes vary in different sectors of thehousing market. There appears to be two key areas to address:• Residents and their lifestyles• Design life of the building and componentsThe rise in the elderly population means that people staying in one dwelling for their lifetimes becomes more likely andso the issue of future flexibility is vital in new housing design. The Standard includes access and mobility, minimumspace requirements, sanitary provision, sound and thermal insulation and number of socket outlets. Changes in designlife standards for homes are reflected in the Scheme Development Standards as recommended ‘tests of performance’ forhousing sustainability. Under this section, the Standards recommend that scope for future adaptation can be improved byfacilitating internal re-modeling and extension within the roof space.

25 Benefits of Precast/Prestressed Wall Panels

• Owners can limit initial construction costs to immediate space needs and only add additional space later as

needed.• Insulated retrofit panels offer a variety of economical exterior colors, textures, and finishes.• Varying R-values are available, determined by overall panel thickness.• New construction moves along quickly with minimal interruption to existing operations.• Faster building enclosure means other trades can finish their work faster.• Temperature control and cleanliness can be maintained.

26 COREWALL PANELSCorewall insulated modular panels are strong, durable, and beautiful. Produced using up-to-date, mass-productiontechniques, machine-applied finishes and in modular sizes, Corewall panels offer a superior wall system at prices equalto or less than comparable materials. Panels can be furnished in customized widths, but optimal layout usually results in10’-0” and 12’-0” wide panels. While 4’-0” wide panels are rarely used, they are sometimes specified to expand existingbuildings, which were originally constructed using 4’-0” wide panels.Prestressing strands are provided in both the inner and outer widths of the panels to withstand the stresses imposed duringhandling, shipping, erection, and service loading. Insulation values range from nominal R-10.8 to R-15.6, depending uponindividual specifications. Corewall also features an inherent, four-hour fire rating as tested by laboratories.Along with other structural members, Moldicrete also produces precast concrete inverted “T” beams, inverted “L” beamsand rectangular beams. Whether produced as conventionally reinforced or prestressed, Moldicrete structural beams canbe used for numerous applications and can be produced in various sizes and lengths, depending upon the building design.Whenever using precast/prestressed concrete products, costs are reduced, construction schedules are accelerated, and quality is built into the manufactured products.

27 BENEFITS OF PRE-CAST BEAMS· Maximum durability and structural strength· Excellent for fast-track construction· Can be manufactured and erected during inclement weather· Provides superior loading and clear spans· Cuts overall construction costsA hands-down favorite with prominent parking garage designers, the highly popular double tee can also be designed foruse as an economical, dependable floor or wall system for other types of structures, as well.

28 SUMMARYThe performance benefits of concrete construction are well known. The material has inherent advantages in terms of fireresistance, thermal mass, acoustic insulation and durability, and these can be optimized by working to acceptable ‘bestpractice’ guidelines. Precast concrete shares these benefits, and in its own right can also offer fast on-site assembly of arange of high quality products. For housing in particular, the future needs of the occupants demand consideration of otherissues such as services integration and adaptability of internal spaces.Home builders and housing associations are mostly using precast concrete components, and have not yet fully exploredits full potential. But a greater use of prefabricated building methods and sustainability is impacting on all constructionmethods. The relative success of other materials in the prefabricated housing sector is a further indicator of the potential