Trade Journals for the Concrete Industry

Precast concrete component systems appear to be the most suitable construction systems available in Brazil for delivering maximum quantity whilst sustaining the highest standards of quality. Modern industrial standards can be more readily maintained on a building site by assembling prefabricated construction components. The question remains, however, as to whether all requirements can be satisfied solely with precast. Viewed from an economic and environmental standpoint, it is becoming increasingly necessary to integrate construction processes into industrial manufacturing methods. The aim is both to obtain an optimum product by means of control and systemisation measures and gain a reduction in construction waste with a view to conserving natural resources. In the pursuit of these objectives, self-compacting concrete (SCC) can make a major contribution to advancing the degree of industrialisation on a construction site plus eliminate some of the problems that can occur in connection with mechanical compaction during casting with normal concrete. Utilising SCC means that it is possible to reduce the need for repair work on site significantly. A comparison of two construction projects carried out by BS Construtora, a Brazilian construction company, is given in this article in support of this hypothesis.