PRECAST AND

CAST-IN-PLACE
CONCRETE
CONSTRUCTION
ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES
PRECAST CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
SLIGHTLY SHORTER ON-SITE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
POTENTIAL FOR A SLIGHTLY LOWER INITIAL
CONSTRUCTION COST, ESPECIALLY FOR PRETOPPED
SYSTEM, IF STANDARD SIZES AND REPETITION OF
STRUCTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENTS
ARE USED.
LONG SPAN CONSTRUCTION WITH TYPICAL COLUMN
SPACING OF 30
MORE ADAPTABLE TO WINTER CONSTRUCTION
POTENTIALLY BETTER CONCRETE QUALITY CONTROL IN
PLANT CONDITIONS.
ADVANTAGES
PRECAST CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
WITHSTANDS EVERYDAY USE.
IS WEATHER-AND-FIREPROOF, AND RESISTANT TO MILDEW
AND RUST.
BECOMES STRONGER WITH EACH DAY.
CAN SUPPORT HEAVY LOADS.
CAN BE THIN, THICK, HEAVY OR LIGHT.
COMES IN A WIDE RANGE OF COLORS, INCLUDING WHITE
AND BLACK.
ALLOWS FOR A HIGH LEVEL OF PRECISION AND DETAIL.
CAN BE PAINTED OR STAINED TO CHANGE ITS COLOR.
GOES UP QUICKLY ONSITE AND REDUCES JOB SITE IMPACT.
LOCALLY SOURCED AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE.
ADVANTAGES
PRECAST CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
LONGER SHOP DRAWING REVIEW AND FABRICATION
SCHEDULE
HIGHER MAINTENANCE COST
CANNOT BE USED FOR TWO-WAY STRUCTURAL
SYSTEM
NEEDS CRANES TO LIFT MEMBERS OR COMPONENTS
DURING CONSTRUCTION
MANY CITIES DONT HAVE LOCAL PRECAST
SUBCONTRACTORS
DISADVANTAGES
CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
MONOLITHIC STRUCTURE SO FEWER JOINTS
EASIER TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE DRAINAGE
POST-TENSIONING COMPRESSIVE FORCE REDUCES
CRACKING IN SLABS
FLEXIBLE FRAMING LAYOUT TO FIT THE SITE WITH COLUMN
SPACING OF 20 24
WIND AND SEISMIC LOADS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO
FOUNDATIONS AND REQUIREMENT FOR SHEAR WALLS ARE
NOT NEEDED ANYMORE
PERCEPTION OF HIGHER CEILING AND MORE OPENNESS
LOWER MAINTENANCE COST
CONSTRUCTION CAN BE MADE BY LOCAL
SUBCONTRACTORS WITH LOCAL LABOR AND MATERIALS
SUPPLIER

ADVANTAGES
CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
SLIGHTLY LONGER ON-SITE
CONSTRUCTION PERIOD

CONSTRUCTION QUALITY IS DIFFICULT TO
ACHIEVE

LESS ADAPTABLE TO WINTER
CONSTRUCTION

DISADVANTAGES
DESIGN IMPACTS OF PRECAST AND CAST-
IN-PLACE CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
CIP CONCRETE DURING CONSTRUCTION
MINIMIZED WASTES
LOCALLY RESOURCED
ACCOMMODATES RECYCLED CONTENT
SIGNIFICANT TO GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
CIP CONCRETE FOR THE LIFE OF THE STRUCTURE
THERMAL MASS IMPROVES ENERGY PERFORMANCE
DURABLE
COOL
LOW-EMITTING
RECYCLABLE

DESIGN IMPACTS OF PRECAST AND CAST-
IN-PLACE CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
PRECAST CONCRETE DURING CONSTRUCTION
MINIMIZED WASTES
LESSER DEBRIS ON SITE
ACCOMMODATES RECYCLED CONTENT
SIGNIFICANT TO GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
PRECAST CONCRETE FOR THE LIFE OF THE STRUCTURE
THERMAL MASS IMPROVES ENERGY PERFORMANCE
AND PROVIDES EFFICIENT H.V.A.C.
EXTREMELY DURABLE
COOL
LOW-EMITTING
DOWNCYCLING