Innovation in the
UK precast sector
Martin Clarke
Chief Executive
British Precast
British Precast – the trade federation for the £2.4 billion precast sector
Safe, innovative, durable, attractive, sustainable
“intervention-free concrete assets”
Offsite is why the precast industry exists
British Precast and innovation
• British Precast Innovation Award started 2003 – 70
entries in 3 years. Unique to the UK and
Germany.
• Innovation and investment wave now and for
some years to come
• ‘Last 5 years the most exciting ever in precast’
Prof Joost Walraven – President FIB. Speaker at
Concrete Fever, Leicester - May 11th 2006
www.britishprecast.org
100 Advantages of Precast Concrete
How can you exploit these advantages ?
• Demand to know more from your advisers
• Early discussion with precast manufacturers
• Take up references
• Ask questions
• Reward expertise and excellence
What does the future hold ?
40 year view on the website – comments welcome
Fibre-optics and precast – decorative and
energy free security systems
New Surfaces
Translucent precast
www.litracon.hu
Robotics Precast from small modular to large structural units – in the factory, during installation, and during deconstruction
Bendable precast concrete
Applied Nanotechnology: void-free
precast to last thousands of years
Ultra thin
textile
reinforced
precast
about PRECAST
Ultra High
Performance
Concrete
Interiors
Foundation innovation:-Hollowcore slabs as beams
Basements – rediscovery not innovation
www.basements.org.uk
Architectural Cladding
Housing systems – precast at Offsite2005 and 2007 – the Hanson Houses 1 + 2
2007
Modern Masonry Alliance
innovation driven new body –Ian Abley of YRM appointed Eng Doc student/project leader
www.modernmasonry.co.uk
One slide on
on-site !!
Multi-storey residential buildings
Multi- storey residential buildings
Student accommodation, hotels
New designs for balconies – flagged by CSH
Commercial buildings
HMS Neptune
KEY ISSUES
> Reduced on-site construction time
> Reduced dependence on site based trades
> Reduced co-ordination of subcontractors on site
> Improved quality (factory based commissioning)
> Robust construction techniques
> Works removed from critical path programme
Precast Podcast
www.britishprecast.org
1800 Bathroom
pods
Industrial buildings –Concrete Centre solution 2006/7 ?
Improved joints and connections – more standardisation
Precast + render infacades
Prefabricated pipingunits
Integrated HVAC- coated cores
ICT in construction
3D/4D Modelling
www.tekla.com
British Precast and Buildoffsite
Associate membership - Working together
Buildoffsite and British Precast
• Information source – products, options, case
studies, manufacturer sourcing
• Networking group – workshops, testimonials,
CPD with The Concrete Centre
• Factory and site visits
• Encouragement of BOS company memberships
British Precast and Buildoffsite
Associate membership - Working together
Buildoffsite and British Precast
• A hub for interface collaboration
• Masonry and precast floors/stairs on steel
frame; basements under, and firewalls within
timber-frame; hybrid concrete – precast/insitu
• www.britishprecast.org
We look forward to it
Thank you
