When it comes to commercial building projects, many architects opt for concrete tilt panels over other methods of concrete construction. Tilt up panels are recognised as a cost effective and environmentally friendly solution because all construction occurs on-site. This eliminates any transportation costs, including vehicle hire.
A second benefit of concrete tilt panels is their ability to be custom-created for every unique project. Each concrete tilt panel is created in a purpose-built formwork, before being lifted by a crane and positioned in place.
First, the formwork is created on location. This is a custom-built, wooden frame constructed in the precise shape needed to cast the concrete. A separate formwork is made for each tilt up panel, as the formwork is designed to match the size and shape of each concrete panel and account for any windows or doors. Think of the formwork as a mould.
In order to create strong, durable concrete tilt panels, steel reinforcement such as mesh and deformed bar is placed inside the panel formwork.
Once the formwork is complete and the steel reinforcement is added, the concrete is ordered, poured, and cured. If more than one of the same panel is required, we apply a chemical agent to the first layer of concrete. This prevents tilt panels from bonding to each other. A second layer of concrete is then poured on the first, creating a stack of tilt up panels. This is an effective space-saving solution.
When all tilt panels cured to the specified concrete strength for lifting (generally 25 mpa), they are ready to be lifted and positioned. There is no need to transport the panels to site as they have been created, conveniently on-site.
On-site tilt panel creation is one of the top advantages of using tilt up construction. Here are just some of the benefits that come with this effective construction method: