10 reasons to specify ti lt-up concrete construction today

TILT-UP

www.rcc-info.org.uk

The benefits of tilt-up

1. Flexible finishes and architectural expressionTilt-up offers exciting new architectural opportunities as a variety of aesthetic

effects is easy to achieve. Tilt-up panels can be plain and smooth or visually

rich. Grooves, texture and colour can be employed creatively by the architect,

while plain-finished or painted panels are used for a more subtle effect. Brick

and stone can also be cast into tilt-up concrete, or brick used as an outer leaf

for a more traditional appearance.

2. Short and long term financial gainsTilt-up is highly competitive with traditional construction for a wide range of

building types. Costs start from around 40 - 50/m2; fully-insulated sandwich

panels can be erected and finished for just 80/m2 (current at mid-2000).

For external walls, tilt-up can be at least 50% cheaper than insulated metal

cladding systems. Perimeter columns are eliminated by loadbearing tilt-up

panels, which can support clear spans of over 20m. The inherent fire resistance

and security of tilt-up walls may also result in lower insurance premiums for

owners and occupiers.

3. Energy savings all year roundTilt-up walls can be insulated economically to give the required U values,

from a normal building to cold stores. Sandwich tilt-up panels incorporate

insulation and minimise follow-on trades. This combination of concrete and

insulation builds in useful thermal mass, which can reduce temperature

fluctuations by up to 7oC and provide a durable internal and external finish.

4. Robust, easily-sealed surfacesTilt-up is sealed easily, making it ideal for controlled environments such as

hospitals, laboratories, food storage, timber preservation, high and low

temperature regimes including cold stores, and clean rooms for food, drug

and electronics manufacture. The low number of joints in a tilt-up building

means exceptional airtightness is achievable.

The tilt-up technique - step by step

What is tilt-up?

Tilt-up construction involves site casting the concrete walls ofa building on its floor slab or on a separate casting bed and

then tilting and lifting them into position by crane. The resultis rapid construction arising from a well planned process moreakin to a factory production line, but retaining the flexibility ofin-situ concrete work. Tilt-up is used for low-rise projects inNew Zealand, Australia and particularly the USA, where over7,000 tilt-up buildings are constructed every year. Tilt-up has

been used in the UK, Ireland, France and Hungary, and inover 150 countries worldwide.

Tilt-up sandwich panels being erected to form a cold

store plant room in Wolverhampton

Decorative tilt-up walls create an imposing entranceto this family centre in the USA (photo courtesy of

the Tilt-up Concrete Association)

concrete construction

5. Significant sound and noise reductionBuildings in a noisy area, such as near an airport or roads, can benefit from the

sound reduction properties of tilt-up concrete. The mass of the concrete walls

absorbs the sound rather than letting it through as can occur with lighter

forms of construction. Noisy processes within buildings are isolated easily and,

for airborne sound, tilt-up walls can provide a sound reduction index of at least

52dB compared with about 20 - 30dB for lightweight cladding.

6. Fire resistant wallsConcrete is an obvious first choice for fire resistance. Tilt-up panels can be

designed easily for up to 4 hours resistance and are particularly cost effective

as fire separation/compartment walls. A 160mm thick wall, for example, can

provide up to 2 hours fire resistance, and costs around 50% less than metal

stud and plasterboard walling. Tilt-up sandwich panels do not suffer the problems

of fire spread associated with some metal cladding systems.

7. Secure envelopeTilt-up concrete is frequently used for security walls and prisons because the

panels are virtually impossible to penetrate, unlike metal-clad buildings. In the

USA, concrete insulated sandwich panels are used for penitentiary buildings

where the benefits of stabilised internal temperatures and protection against

mechanical damage are particularly valuable features of tilt-up concrete.

8. Fast programme to completionThis is often a major reason for choosing tilt-up - one contractor uses tilt-up

regularly to save 4 to 6 weeks on cold store buildings. After the floor slab is

placed, the typical elapsed time from starting to form panels until the building

shell is completed may be only 4 to 5 weeks. Materials for wall panels are

procured easily with minimal lead times, allowing a fast start to this assembly

line process, which progresses while any products with a long lead-time (such

as roof steel) are being fabricated.

9. Safe and simple construction processWith a tilt-up building, much of the work is on the ground; there is no vertical

formwork, no scaffolding, and since the floor slab is poured first, workers have

a safer working surface. This uncomplicated method reduces labour costs.

Working at low level also means that good quality, well-compacted concrete is

attained readily. The short and uncomplicated project cycle presents less

opportunity for accidents, minimising health and safety risks.

10. Low maintenance, durable buildingsTilt-up offers reliable durability, as attested by buildings dating back to the

1940s. The wider panels also minimise the number of joints and length of

sealant, thus reducing maintenance costs. Visual concrete (fairfaced, textured,

profiled, tooled and exposed aggregate finishes) and cast applied facings (inlaid

stone, brick etc.) require little attention, and modern paints have long life

spans. Concrete surfaces are resistant to mechanical damage, and are easily

washed down (sandwich panels are particularly effective in this respect since

they provide insulation and two hard surfaces).

Commercial and industrial

offices, shops, warehouses and factories

Recreational buildings

sports halls, churches and cinemas

Housing and hotels

Other structures

prisons, retaining walls, laboratories, plant

rooms, fire-walls, silos and tanks

What is tilt-up used for?

This striking finish gives a modern and elegant

appearance to an office/warehouse building

Finishes such as brick, stone or other textures canbe incorporated easily in a tilt-up panel to create

architectural interest

Looking to the future

Massive market potential for tilt-upIn the USA, tilt-up has helped contractors expand in both new and established

markets. Recent figures show the use of tilt-up has increased there by 38%

in 1998 on top of the 24% growth in 1997. Now, several major UK retail and

industrial clients and developers have been actively exploring the possibilities

offered by tilt-up. There is also great potential for contractors to innovate

and broaden their range of services. To date, tilt-up has been used in the UK

for plant rooms, fire separation walls, offices, residential buildings, factories,

auditoria and a ready-mixed concrete plant, but there is scope to use this

construction method for many other building types. The RCC is keen to help

anyone interested in using tilt-up for new building projects.

The Tilt-Up GroupThe Tilt-Up interest Group (TUG) has been formed to encourage the efficient

and effective use of tilt-up concrete construction in the UK. Members include

architects, clients, project managers, developers, structural engineers,

contractors and tilt-up specialists; new members are always welcome. Please

contact the Reinforced Concrete Council for further details.

Reinforced Concrete Council informationA comprehensive guide for tilt-up is available from the RCC: Tilt-up Concrete

Buildings: design and construction guide brings together worldwide experience

of tilt-up into one document suitable for the UK. The examples shown have

been selected to demonstrate the versatility of tilt-up and provide the

necessary information for its wider adoption in the UK. The contents will

appeal to all those involved with the procurement of low-rise buildings from

clients and architects to design engineers and contractors. Copies are available

from the Concrete Bookshop on 01344 725704. Further information can be

found on the RCCs website (www.rcc-info.org.uk); a video and a

Powerpoint presentation are also available on CD.

International informationSome illustrations in this brochure are courtesy of the Tilt-up Concrete

Association (TCA). Further images, award-winning projects, an introduction

to tilt-up and further information on tilt-up in the USA can be found at

www.tilt-up.org

ContactThe Reinforced Concrete Council

Century House

Telford Avenue

Crowthorne

Berkshire

RG45 6YS

Tel 01344 725733

Fax 01344 761214

Email rcc@bca.org.uk

Web www.rcc-info.org.uk

97.380 First published 2000

British Cement Association

Graphic design by Haroula BalodimouEmail: moolife@hotmail.com