The most popular wall, floor, and roof-systems in pre-fabricated concrete are used in residential buildings.

Pre-fabricated houses and apartment buildings are generally planned on the basis of panel construction.

Certain panels are supporting; others are merely dividers. This system is widely used in Europe. Facades comprise, as sandwich elements, an inner supporting panel, thermal insulation varying in thickness from 50 mm to 150 mm and an outer, non-supporting panel in architectural concrete.

This system allows for rapid construction, good sound insulation and fire resistance, plus a smooth finish, ready to be painted or papered.

Walls made of pre-fabricated panels are usually in steel-reinforced concrete. Their height is that of a building storey, and their length varies from 6 to 14 metres. Standard thickness is 80 mm for non-supporting , and 150 to 200 mm for supporting panels. Special applications may require a thickness of up to 300 mm.

Advantages for the CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

- Wider spans
- Lower maintenance
- Resistance to corrosion and mildew
- Increased design possibilities
- Greater choice of finishes
- Faster construction
- Simpler building plans
- Better quality control
- Improved fire resistance
- Greater durability

Advantages for the ARCHITECT

- Closed system
- Diverse elements

Advantages for the CONTRACTOR

- Fewer employees on the site
- Less exposure to inclement weather
- An uncluttered site
- Fewer delays
- Reduced indirect costs
- Less noise
- Greater profitability

In spite of these obvious advantages, many architects, engineers and contractors continue to use traditional building techniques, such as pouring concrete on the site, simply out of habit. By contrast, pre-fabrication offers undeniable improvements: construction independent of weather conditions, faster assembly, possibility of night transport, plus on-site production and assembly, to name a few.