Prestressed Concrete Panel Handling & Installation

Panel Handling

Always carry out your own on site health and safety risk assessment before unloading panels.
Your pre-stressed concrete panels will be delivered to site on a flat-bed trailer usually stacked up to 6 panels high and separated by wooden batons.
The lorry should be parked on level firm ground, allowing plenty of space to approach the side of the trailer squarely with forklift/ tractor.
Panels should be unloaded one at a time and forks should be set as wide as possible to help prevent chipping of the edges.
Set stacking timbers out on hard, level ground placing them approximately 20% of the length of the panel in from each end.
Ensure that following layers of stacking timbers are placed in line with the others. Do not stack more than 6 high.
Ensure forklift/tractor is capable of lifting load safely and within the machine’s safe working load.

Using the supplied D-shackles, or appropriate lifting devices, connect the shackles to the two pre-cast hole in the top of the precast concrete panels.
Connect the d-shackles using a lifting sling, or chains that have a safe working load for the panel weight.
Attach the sling/chain to the fork or arm of your lifting machinery and slowly bring the panel to a vertical position.
Carefully maneuver the panel to the steel frame ready for fixing.
Using the 4no steel bolts and cleats, secure the panels to the steel frame by inserting the bolts into the pre-cast ferrells in the back face of the panels.
Tighten the bolts until the cleat is securely placed against the steel column, to help keep the cleat in place a small amount of mastic can be placed in-between the cleat and steel column.
Once the panel is securely in place the chains can then be slackened off and the d-shackles removed.
Repeat process until all panels are installed.
To create a weather proof seal or to prevent debris getting in-between the joints, an appropriate mastic sealant can be used.