Innovations in precast concrete building systems

Some of the innovations in precast concrete building system are discussed. Multi-purpose industrial building system was developed for construction of warehouses and multi-purpose industrial buildings, with relatively large free spans of 30-50m and more. These buildings are two-hinged composite frame structures, consisting of precast concrete columns and steel roof trusses. The U-shaped columns also proved to be very advantageous in construction of multistorey buildings. Multi-storey building system consists of U-shaped precast concrete columns, several storeys high, with built-in supports for the precast floor beams, which penetrate the columns. Universal systems are in which the precast concrete wall panels are U-shaped, interlocking with one another, and the joints, which are invisible, are cement grouted and therefore perfectly watertight. Designers and contractors are urged to adopt a questioning approach in tackling new projects and not to accept the conventional solutions as final ones but to look for new solutions, which many times are simpler.