Precast walls
Precast concrete walls may be used to provide stability in frame structures (shear walls), to carry vertical loads or to act as fire barriers. Precast walls may be used, with floor slabs, to form the complete structure (i.e. large panel construction) or be used as part of a concrete frames system.
The thickness of the wall will be determined by its required structural capacity and also by requirements for fire resistance and thermal or acoustic insulation. The dimensions of the walls may be limited by requirements for transport and handling on site. Connection to the other members of the building will be by means of reinforcement projecting from the wall into an in situ concrete ‘stitch’.
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