Why Hollow Core?

Why Choose Fast Core Precast?

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Quality – since the slabs are factory-made, the soffit is of high quality, with no need for plastering. Time and speed – erection undertaken by our trained crew thus saving customers the cost of the curing period of in-situ slabs. Noise and dust is also minimised on-site.
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Reliability – being produced in the factory allows for consistency in construction and casting under controlled conditions.
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Fire resistance level (FRL) – structural adequacy 180 minutes; Integrity 90 minutes; Insulation 90 minutes.
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Cost effective – taking the cost of concrete, propping, curing period for concrete, hiring of scaffolding and formworks, Fast Core believe there is a cost benefit of 20% using our hollow core slabs as opposed to conventional in-situ concrete.
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Raceways are provided for plumbing trades and/or electrical heating, through the continuous natural ducts.
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Dry installation, aside from wetting and grouting joints.
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Increased lifespan – more resistant to corrosion and cracking.
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Offer a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
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Fewer greenhouse gasses are emitted during the hollow core production process as opposed to the other conventional building methods.
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Less concrete is used due to the nature of hollow core slabs.
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Weather is less impactful, as construction can continue during less favourable weather conditions.
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Less of an environmental impact due to the methods being cleaner and more efficient.
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The panels are effective at saving energy in both cold and hot climates due to having a high thermal co-efficient.
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It is possible to recover and re-use the precast flooring element for other low budget and smaller projects.
Prestressed Hollow-core Slabs

Hollow-core slabs are prestressed and precast concrete elements, manufactured using long line steel casting beds. They are typically 1200mm wide and between 150mm – 250mm deep.

 

Spans can be around 12m, and applications range from individual houses to residential apartments, office buildings, hotels, schools, hospitals, supermarkets, industrial units and car parks.

 

Longitudinal voids, or cores, run throughout a hollow-core slab. These reduce raw material consumption, the self-weight of slabs and provide ready-made ducts for services.

Made to Design

As advancements in the construction industry continue, hollow-core has an important part to play. BIM (Building Information Modelling) gives architects, engineers and contractors the ability to design, plan, construct and maintain buildings more efficiently.

 

Made to match the requirements of the end user, prestressed hollow-core is designed using 3D CAD software, and manufactured off-site under factory controlled conditions. Additional detailing of the slabs, such as cut-outs, narrow width units and shelf-angles, are all carried out in the production environment. Planning of manufacture and delivery to site can be coordinated for maximum efficiency.

Efficiency & Sustainability

Prestressed concrete, and hollow-core slabs in particular, offer exceptional structural efficiency. Long spans and shallow units allow for low material usage, and better use of space within buildings.

 

Hollow-core is extremely durable, retaining it’s structural capacity for a lifespan of 100 years or more. Production of elements in a controlled factory environment reduces waste, noise and emissions.

 

Concrete has a large part to play in the heating and cooling of buildings, which consumes large amounts of energy. Hollow-core slabs contribute to the thermal mass of a building, enable reductions in the energy used for air conditioning.

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