Surfaces of structural precast elements / execution in accordance with FDB product specification sheet  No. 1

Structural precast elements are primarily used in classic industrial and commercial construction. In the form of such elements as roof trusses, beams, horizontal members, transfer beams and columns, they provide the supporting members of a building. Additional reinforced-concrete elements for fire walls, staircases, office furnishings. etc. frequently supplement these constructions. The subsequent use of the buildings is of primary importance, but the clients have a claim to their visual appearance.

The surfaces of the precast elements that are visible on the completed building are so-called fair-faced concrete surfaces. These are both the formed surfaces and the casting sides of the reinforced–concrete elements. The formed surfaces meet, as a rule, the requirements of the usual fair-faced concrete surface 2 (SB2) in accordance with “Merkblatt Sichtbeton” of the German concrete and construction technology association – Deutscher Beton- und Bautechnikverein E.V. (DBV). In practice, this view is unanimously shared by architects, planners, clients and precasters. For this reason,
the revised version of Merkblatt No. 1 “Sichtbeton” of the trade association of German precast construction – Fachvereinigung Deutscher Betonfertigteilbau e.V. (FDB) – contains this specifications
(SB2), which has been defined for the first time as standard for precast elements.

Columns and wall slabs are usually manufactured lying flat in the plant. For this reason, the casting side is visible in the subsequent building. Here, the specifications in the Merkblatt define surface finishing as standard execution: “screeded  and manually smoothed with a trowel.” Many years of experience and feedback received from precasters confirm this execution in practice. In the Merkblatt, additional possibilities of surface execution are named, their visual appearance described and advantages and disadvantages listed.

Invitations to tender for reinforced-concrete elements without detailed design specifications can now take place simply by making
reference to the standard execution in the new Merkblatt. If deviating executions are desired, the new check list of the new FDB-Merkblatt No. 14 will serve as aid for an unambiguous description
of works.

x

Related articles:

Issue 02/2021

Surfaces of structural precast components – Standard approach in accordance with the FDB Code of Practice No. 1

Structural precast components are primarily used in conventional industrial and commercial construction. They form the system of load-bearing members of buildings, including roof trusses, restraining...

more
Issue 03/2022

Projects with surface-refined precast concrete elements in Spain and France

Sustainability is a broad concept that in the case of construction involves addressing numerous aspects, grouped into each of the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social and...

more
Issue 02/2016 upstream fishway at Schwerte and seaport terminal at Jade ­Weser Port

Solutions in structural precast construction –

Precast reinforced-concrete elements have been successfully used in industrial and commercial construction for many decades. Such structural frameworks excel with their benefits in respect of fire...

more
Issue 10/2014

Earthquake-proof precast structures in Chile

Until recently, most complex industrial buildings in Chile used to be built from steel. However, because of the country’s proximityto the sea, there is a trend to now build them in precast concrete,...

more
Issue 02/2014 Eurocode 2 or DIN 4102-4?

Structural fire design of precast concrete elements –

Structural fire design of concrete elements shall be done according to DIN EN 1992-1-2 (Eurocode 2 part 1-2) [1] and DIN 4102-4 [2] in Germany. In annex 2.3/5 of the technical construction regulations...

more