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Tilt-up construction

Tilt-up is form of construction in which the wall is precast horizontally on the ground adjacent to its permanent location and then lifted up into the vertical plane. It is then fixed to an already constructed edge beam or foundation slab. Connections are made between adjacent units to ensure stability and the joints sealed to make them weathertight.

The major advantage of the process is that it avoids the need for wall formwork and the associated supports. In addition most of the construction operations are carried out at ground level. The technique is widely used for one-and two-storey buildings in New Zealand, Australia and the USA. It is also used for buildings with three to five storeys. The size of panel that can be cast and lifted will be controlled by the capacity of the available crane or other handling equipment, unlike standard precast panels for which maximum dimensions may be controlled by transport requirements.

As with any form of precasting, a range of surface textures can be applied to the underside of the panel as cast (that is generally the exterior face of the finished building) though the upper (inside) face is generally given a plain finish. Brick and masonry finishes are possible, with the materials laid into the mould prior to casting the concrete. Exposed aggregate finishes are possible with the use of retarders.

Acknowledgement: The Concrete Society