Resources

The new PCI Architectural Certification Program is the first of its kind, backed by the reputation and expertise of the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI).

NEW PCI ARCHITECTURAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The PCI Erector Certification Program evaluates erection procedures and field quality control for precast concrete.

PCI ERECTOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Concrete contains natural materials, and it is these materials’ inherent beauty that is most often expressed in architectural concrete. The limitations of these natural materials with respect to uniformity must be considered.

WHAT CAUSES COLOR VARIATIONS IN PRECAST CONCRETE FINISHES?

When all attributes and true expenses are considered, precast concrete panels offer significant benefits in quality, speed and cost savings over site-cast tilt-up concrete panels.

PRECAST VS. SITE-CAST TILT-UP CONCRETE PANELS

Thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb and store heat energy (thermal sponge). A lot of heat energy is required to change the temperature of high-density materials like concrete, which is therefore said to have high thermal mass.

THERMAL MASS AND ENERGY SAVINGS

It’s common practice when detailing construction assemblies to treat the structural frame as an independent system assembled first, onto which lighter finish materials are hung, or clad, onto the supporting structure...

TOTAL PRECAST CONCRETE

If you have attended sporting events or concerts, you most likely have been seated on precast stadia and didn’t know it.

WHY PRECAST STADIA?

PCI offers a stringent quality assurance program, not just a marketplace credential. The PCI Certification program was developed and is updated by a team representing all industry stakeholders.

WHY SPECIFY PCI CERTIFICATION?

WHAT IS A HIGH PERFORMANCE STRUCTURE? The United States Government defines a high performance structure as one that “...integrates and optimizes on a lifecycle basis all major high performance attributes including energy and water conservation...

HIGH PERFORMANCE STRUCTURES AND HIGH PERFORMANCE PRECAST CONCRETE

Precast concrete is concrete cast into a specific shape at a location other than its in-service position. Prestressed concrete is structural concrete in which internal stresses have been introduced to reduce potential tensile stresses in concrete resulting from loads.

PRECAST VS PRESTRESSED CONCRETE

When severe weather approaches, precast concrete safe rooms and storm shelters provide protection and peace of mind for families and communities. Here are just six benefits of using precast concrete to construct storm shelters and safe rooms.

PRECAST CONCRETE STORM SHELTERS AND SAFE ROOMS SAVE LIVES

High performance precast concrete insulated sandwich wall panels provide a versatile, efficient, attractive and resilient building enclosure system. PCI-certified precast concrete insulated sandwich wall panels are also very economical...

PRECAST CONCRETE INSULATED SANDWICH WALL PANELS

Precast concrete stairs are cost-effective and convenient. Precast concrete stairs can be used in any application where a stair tower or individual steps are required.

STEP IT UP WITH PRECAST CONCRETE STAIRS

Abrasive blasting can be used to texture the surface of hardened concrete to provide an exposed aggregate surface. The blasting wears away the paste as well as fine aggregate to produce an exposed aggregate finish.

ABRASIVE BLASTING

PC Strand, or prestressed concrete steel strand, is a twisted steel cable composed of high strength steel wires that are stress-relieved (stabilized) for use in producing prestressed concrete.

HOW IS PC STRAND MADE?

Offsite construction refers to the planning, design, fabrication, manufacturing, and assembly of building elements at a location other than their final permanent location to support the rapid speed of, and efficient construction...

THE BENEFITS OF OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION

Fired Clay Brick is one of the world’s oldest and most durable building material utilized in the construction industry.

THIN BRICK

The goal of a data center is to keep your information safe and secure. Stringent design requirements consider conditions like hurricanes, fire and other forces of man or nature, and our data center products and solutions provide the ultimate...

DATA CENTERS

Insulated precast concrete wall panels have all the benefits of traditional precast such as durability, acoustic absorption, and quick install, in addition to the added bonus of being an all-in-one complete building enclosure system.

INSULATED PRECAST CONCRETE WALL PANELS

Our world has been turned upside down by a health pandemic, and as the construction industry evaluates how to safely and efficiently move forward, surely off-site construction will be at the top of everyone’s mind.

OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION

Precast concrete is incredibly dense, and the process used to create it makes it denser than other concrete options. This density is why it is used in many walls and privacy construction elements for large-scale construction as well as sound walls...

WHATS ALL THE NOISE ABOUT PRECAST

Most formliner manufacturers have the ability to produce custom made formliners. This broadens the realms even further for building design and provides architects a unique opportunity to be as creative as they desire.

CUSTOM FORMLINERS OPEN A WORLD OF CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY

New technology exists that allows the design professional to think completely outside the box. Photo-engraved, 3D relief formliners, and photo concrete films provide life-like images never before possible in concrete building design.

FORMLINERS MAKE PRECAST CONCRETE PRETTY AS A PICTURE

One of the most commonly manufactured precast concrete components is the double tee. As the name suggests, double tees resemble two capital letter T’s placed side by side.

FIVE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF PRECAST CONCRETE DOUBLE TEES

All structures and buildings are subject to everyday wear and tear, and this is where the use of precast concrete really makes sense. Precast concrete’s hard, tough surface is extremely resistant to everyday dents and dings. Sometimes everyday dents

PRECAST CONCRETE WITHSTANDS EVERYDAY USE... AND NOT SO EVERYDAY USE

Design-assist can play an important role, where every stakeholder on the project team has an early seat at the table.

PARTNERING WITH YOUR LOCAL PRECAST CONCRETE PRODUCER

Precast concrete structures offer unsurpassed benefits for designing and building multi-family housing projects by providing high quality products with faster speed of construction and shortening project schedules.

THE UNSURPASSED BENEFITS OF USING PRECAST CONCRETE FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING

The basic objective of architectural acoustics is to provide a pleasant environment where desired sounds are clearly heard by the intended listener and unwanted sounds or noise are isolated or absorbed.

ACOUSTICAL CONTROL WITH PRECAST CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Precast concrete provides inherent fire protection and resiliency. Concrete does not combust; therefore, it helps to contain fires in a controlled space.

FIRE RESISTANCE OF PRECAST CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Precast, prestressed concrete structures, because of their stiffness and massive concrete floors, provide significantly better vibration control and damping characteristics compared to conventional wood or steel construction.

VIBRATION CONTROL WITH PRECAST CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Most United States government and military structures are required to consider blast demands and structural integrity in the design process.

BLAST RESISTANCE OF PRECAST CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Corrosion of reinforcing steel in precast concrete structures is seldom a problem when compared with cast-in-place concrete construction.

CORROSION RESISTANCE OF PRECAST CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Precast concrete structures offer exceptional fast speed of construction compared with conventional cast-in-place concrete, masonry, wood, or steel construction.

FAST SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION WITH PRECAST CONCRETE

Precast concrete wall panels provide a single-source solution for supplying the exterior wall system for your building.

PRECAST CONCRETE WALL PANEL ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS

Precast concrete structures are inherently resilient and provide excellent protection against high winds from tornados and hurricanes, storm surge, and flying debris.

STORM RESISTANCE OF PRECAST CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Precast concrete building systems are ideal for K-12 schools and college and university campuses including dormitories, classrooms, laboratories, offices, parking structures, stadiums, theaters, and more.

WHY SHOULD YOU BUILD YOUR SCHOOL USING PRECAST CONCRETE?

Precast, prestressed concrete contributes to sustainable designs in many ways.

PRECAST CONCRETE STRUCTURES ARE RESILIENT

Precast, prestressed concrete parking structures are exceptionally durable, and are well-suited for areas where corrosion could be a problem.

EFFICIENT MAINTENANCE OF PRECAST CONCRETE PARKING STRUCTURES

Precast concrete is a versatile structural material that can be used as the structural system of a building, bridge, or other structure.

PRECAST CONCRETE BEAMS AND COLUMNS

Floors are the key element when it comes to architectural freedom and design.

PRECAST CONCRETE FLOORS AND ROOFS

Precast concrete wall systems can be comprised of a variety of shapes, and wall types.

PRECAST CONCRETE WALLS

Precast concrete and precast, prestressed concrete excel in strength, sustainability, functionality, and durability.

WHAT IS PRECAST CONCRETE?

Industrial structures are designed and built with precast concrete to meet or exceed high performance design goals.

BUILDING INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURES WITH PRECAST CONCRETE

Chemical surface retarders and water washing can be used to texture the surface of hardened concrete to provide an exposed aggregate finish.

EXPOSED AGGREGATE BY CHEMICAL RETARDERS AND WATER WASHING

High performance precast concrete structures are inherently resilient and provide excellent protection against high winds from tornados and hurricanes, storm water surge and floods, fires, earthquakes, and blasts.

HOW PRECAST BUILDS: RESILIENT STRUCTURES

High performance precast concrete is versatile, efficient, and resilient.

WHY SPECIFY PRECAST CONCRETE?

In everyday speech, people use the words “cement” and “concrete” interchangeably. But are they really the same? No, they are not.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CEMENT AND CONCRETE?

The exterior façade of a building is its signature. But a building envelope’s materials are more than just a visual appearance.

PRECAST CONCRETE WALL PANELS VS. BRICK AND CONCRETE MASONRY