Precast and prefabricated concrete structures: What is the difference?

Over the last few decades, precast and prefabricated concrete structures have become prevalent in the construction industry, used in a variety of projects. Concrete slabs, pillars, beams, and walls may be precast or prefabricated and are part of the modular construction method of a building. The latter is a technique that is applied in stages and is based on standardizing the building's components.

Precast and prefabricated buildings are handled as synonyms since the fundamental distinctions between the two construction methods are ignored. However, among the countless benefits of both precast and prefabricated concrete structures, the following stand out:

·       The speed of execution.

·       The reduction in waste generation.

·       The reduction of disturbances in the site.

·       The efficiency.

·       The improvement in safety concerns.

Precast concrete is produced by molding this material in a mold that is frequently reused. The process takes place on-site in a dedicated location for this purpose. Precast structures can therefore be produced in a specific place and do not require control, such as laboratory tests, whereas prefabricated structures are manufactured in factories. Precast elements are frequently used in small and medium-sized structures, like single-family buildings, while prefabricated elements are used in large-scale structures, like factories, industries, and sheds.

Prefabricated concrete structures have a high level of technological rigor and a more thorough quality that assesses each stage of the manufacturing process in addition to looking through catalogs like the date registration, the type of concrete and steel used, and the signature of those responsible. Compared to precast, prefabricated tends to give more guarantees regarding safety, quality, and durability due to the tight production control. The type of project and other requirements that must be satisfied in terms of costs, building time, and use will determine its application.