Commercial Site Visit: Precast Panels

          This past Wednesday thee were some precast concrete panels being delivered to the Undergraduate Admissions and Visitors Center job site.  I took advantage of this visit to talk to one of the workers about the panels and take some great photos which helped me see how exactly the panels were moved into place and connected to the structure.

The four panels were delivered on two flat beds.

          As I walked around the panels to take a close look, I spoke to the driver who delivered the panels.  He explained that these were concrete precast panels that were 6" thick and had rebar reinforcing along with large steel L hooks on the back to allow the panels to be seated onto mounting brackets.

One of the L brackets that seats on a mounting bracket and helps support the panel.

          The also have hook areas which are used to lift the panels into place and possibly later hook them together.  A crane can use straps and hooks to lock into the precast hooks to allow for the panels to easily be maneuvered.

Each of the panels have at least one of these lock in points on each side.

          These panels can be installed with few workers.  A crane operator, signaler, and three laborers can easily lift one of these panels into place and lock it down in a short amount of time.

          Precast panels are extremely efficient in that they are quick to install, and provide better quality craftsmanship seeing as workers are not exposed to the elements when crafting them.  Had precast panels not been used, and instead a brick veneer had been applied, workers would have faced weather challenges on this very cold winter day.  Mortar would have been difficult to work with because of the water in the mix freezing during the curing time.