CONCRETE
PRECAST GETS TOP MARKS IN EDUCATION
With strong government backing for offsite construction methods in the education sector, and numerous operational efficiencies, concrete solutions are perfectly positioned to deliver high performance schools. British Precast’s Matt Butcher talks to precast concrete manufacturers to understand why.
1 State support for offsite construction methods has never been stronger. Leading the way among public clients is education. The university sector is embracing offsite for faculty buildings and student accommodation, while the Department for Education (DfE) announced the winners of a £3billion offsite schools framework in January. In the schools sector, precast concrete undoubtedly scores highly when compared to other offsite construction methods. Robust, with strong acoustic and thermal insulation properties, and quickly assembled on-site, it is little surprise that schools are drawn to concretes many advantages. Fire safety, a particular issue for schools who have to plan for accidental as well as intentional damage such
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as arson, is an area where precast outperforms its rivals. Concrete offsite construction solutions are classified non-combustible, A1 fire-rated. Precast concrete manufacturers have experience of supplying school projects. “The use of precast concrete as a material for schools has been increasing over recent years, with the benefits realised by both the client and end-users alike,” says Richard Wilks, Technical Manager at Sterling Services. Derek Russell, Head of Engineering at Techrete, notes that the nature of schools lend themselves to high levels of repeatability. “A significant advantage of precast concrete in education projects is the economy of design that can be achieved
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when the modular nature, in terms of classroom layouts, is considered. Exposed concrete also offers a durable and hard-wearing surface. This is a significant benefit in terms of both maintenance costs for internal surfaces and energy efficiency, especially when these are extrapolated over the working life of the structure.” Acoustic performance – vital in the noisy corridors and classrooms of a school building – also gives precast an edge over other materials. “Due to the durability and density of the concrete used in our façade panels,” adds Richard Wilks. “Excellent noise reduction properties are achieved, important for buildings located near busy main roads with heavy traffic.”