Why Hollowcore?
Sustainable construction with precast prestressed hollowcore floors.
Introduction
There is increasing awareness of the importance of guaranteeing future generations’ needs without compromising those of the present generation. Emphasis must be placed on sustainability if we are to achieve those goals.
Since some of the most basic needs of any generation are food, water, housing and transport, the construction industry is placed in a position of responsibility. It still places a considerable burden upon the environment in terms of energy consumption, use of resources, pollution and waste generation.
Designing for sustainable development not only involves using recyclable building materials and reducing energy consumption while building, but it also implies better use of available building materials and production systems with less environmental burden.
It requires products with higher performance, design systems with flexibility and adaptability to future needs, energy conservation in construction and during use of the building, environmentally friendly removal and recycling instead of noisy and dusty demolition.
Download Why Hollowcore?
The “Why Hollowcore?” brochure was created thanks to IPHA members who contributed with content ideas, and also Contiga Denmark A/S, Creagh Concrete Products Ltd, CRH Structural Concrete Belgium and Echo Precast Engineering NV, who provided illustrative photos used.
To download a PDF version, please click on the button below.
14 Advantages of Prestressed Hollow Core Slabs
Less is more
›› Reduced weight
›› Less concrete and steel per m2
40% – 50% of the element is air
›› Less requirements on foundation,
columns and beams
›› Efficient span/depth-ratio leading
to reduced story heights
›› Less waste, less mess
= less stress!
Safe to live in
›› Excellent fire resistance
›› Safer in seismic zones
›› Long–lasting and durable
Ready to go
›› Smooth surface – easy paint
›› Exposed natural surface
thanks to smooth surface
Controlled quality
›› Controlled and reliable
factory manufacturing
›› Repetitive process
›› Strict QC – procedures
›› Safe production
Sustainable
›› Reduced use of raw materials:
45% raw material saving
30% steel saving
›› Reduced waste
›› Less carbon footprint per m2
›› Easy to reuse/replace
One size fits all
›› Residential houses
›› Industrial purposes
›› Commercial buildings
Versatile
›› Adaptable to new usage in
design and final product
›› Easy to create new options
›› Flexible room design
›› Flexible buildings
Safe on site
›› Safe working platform
›› Less on-site work
(casting, RMC)
›› No construction activities
on construction site
›› Reduced site storage
›› Improved site planning
›› Less people on site and
thus less safety risks
›› Better site planning
Fast, not furious
›› High speed of building erection
›› Weather-independence
›› Next activity can start right away
›› Less neighborhood disruption
›› Adding installations almost
at the same time
Plug and play
›› Possible to embed electrical
cables, plumbing, sprinkler
services, heating and cooling
›› Drilling in less material for openings
›› Multi-purpose service options
available for the slab thickness
Strong
›› High load capacity
›› High performance in difficult
loading and handling situations
›› Extended lifetime
Size matters
›› Long spans without
intermediate supports
›› Longs spans are ideal
for open space
›› Self bearing on a large scale
Top cost benefit ratio
›› Tailor-made production
›› Optimized transport
›› Fast construction
›› Fast installation
›› Just-in-time arrival, ready to
install, lean assembly
Sounds good, feels good
›› Outstanding thermal properties
›› Capacity to heat and cool
›› Excellent acoustic results
thanks to sound absorption
›› High inertia gives more
thermal comfort
Less is More
›› Reduced weight
›› Less concrete and steel per m2
40% – 50% of the element is air
›› Less requirements on foundation,
columns and beams
›› Efficient span/depth-ratio leading
to reduced story heights
›› Less waste, less mess
= less stress!
Safe to Live In
›› Excellent fire resistance
›› Safer in seismic zones
›› Long–lasting and durable
Ready to Go
›› Smooth surface – easy paint
›› Exposed natural surface
thanks to smooth surface
Controlled Quality
›› Tailor-made production
›› Optimized transport
›› Fast construction
›› Fast installation
›› Just-in-time arrival, ready to
install, lean assembly
Sustainable
›› Reduced use of raw materials:
45% raw material saving
30% steel saving
›› Reduced waste
›› Less carbon footprint per m2
›› Easy to reuse/replace
One Size Fits All
›› Residential houses
›› Industrial purposes
›› Commercial buildings
Versatile
›› Adaptable to new usage in
design and final product
›› Easy to create new options
›› Flexible room design
›› Flexible buildings
Safe on Site
›› Safe working platform
›› Less on-site work
(casting, RMC)
›› No construction activities
on construction site
›› Reduced site storage
›› Improved site planning
›› Less people on site and
thus less safety risks
›› Better site planning
Fast, Not Furious
›› High speed of building erection
›› Weather-independence
›› Next activity can start right away
›› Less neighborhood disruption
›› Adding installations almost
at the same time
plug and play
›› Possible to embed electrical
cables, plumbing, sprinkler
services, heating and cooling
›› Drilling in less material for openings
›› Multi-purpose service options
available for the slab thickness
Strong
›› Residential houses
›› Industrial purposes
›› Commercial buildings
Size Matters
›› Long spans without
intermediate supports
›› Longs spans are ideal
for open space
›› Self bearing on a large scale
Top cost benefit Ratio
›› Tailor-made production
›› Optimized transport
›› Fast construction
›› Fast installation
›› Just-in-time arrival, ready to
install, lean assembly
Sounds good, feels good
›› Outstanding thermal properties
›› Capacity to heat and cool
›› Excellent acoustic results
thanks to sound absorption
›› High inertia gives more
thermal comfort