Prestressed Concrete Panels
Favoured by the agricultural industry for many years, prestressed concrete panels are one of the most versatile precast systems on the market. The panel dimensions can be tailored to suit project requirements, making them the perfect solution for a wide range of applications. You can view each of the products in more detail on the product pages, including our unique 3D interactive viewers.
If our standard range is not entirely suited to your project or you have specific design criteria that need to be fulfilled, we are happy to discuss bespoke precast concrete wall panels with you.
Concrete Panel Design
Manufactured to last, with a design life of up to 100-years, prestressed concrete panels can be installed horizontally between steel columns in portal framed building and between steel columns to create a king-post retaining wall.
A tongue (top edge) and groove (bottom edge) profile enable fast construction and good alignment when installing multiple panels on top of each other and ensures a strong, clean finish. Lifting sockets are cast into the top panels and galvanised steel clips and bolts are supplied for attaching the panels to steel columns.
Prestressed panels can also installed vertically by casting them into a concrete foundation slab, the tongue and groove profile creates excellent alignment. For more information on this retaining wall type, please see the vertical cantilever wall page.
The manufacturing process incorporates 9.3mm wire strands, which are tensioned before pouring the concrete mix into the panel bed. The result of this is increased tensile strength in the panel, which enables a thinner panel to be used when retaining material. This makes the panels more cost-effective than an in-situ concrete retaining wall, which is reinforced using steel bars and mesh or concrete block work.
We can provide a variety of technical information to enable a project engineer to carry out their design checks and incorporate the precast element into their overall retaining wall design, including:
- CAD Drawings
- Technical Data Sheets
- Structural Calculations
It is always advisable to have any retaining wall design checked by a qualified engineer. We can also provide a retaining wall design service if you do not have an appointed engineer for your project.
Prestressed Panel Sizes
Concrete wall panels are cast in steel beds and are available in four thickness;
There are three standard heights in the range, however the panels beds can be altered to cast a panel of any height from 500mm:
The lengths of concrete panels are manufactured to suit specific wall dimensions, which can be up to 7m. For non-loading applications, such as livestock buildings, and cladding for buildings, the 100mm panel is generally used. At the other end of the spectrum, the 280mm panel is capable of retaining material and additional surcharges can be applied.
If you are not sure what size would best suit your project, speak to our product experts, who will be able to advise on the most cost-effective product.
Precast Retaining Walls
For projects where existing steels are not suitable to be used to support concrete panels or if the design requires an alternative solution, we have a comprehensive range of precast retaining walls. Retaining wall heights start at 500mm and go up to 6m. Unit lengths vary depending on the product range, please see the individual product pages for more information.
The L-shape, cantilever retaining walls are the most popular in the range. They are often used as a more cost and time-effective substitute to in-situ designed retaining walls. The L shape walling is available in a wide range of sizes and with a variety of fixing details. For all of these units we have corner units available for creating storage bays.
Precast Concrete Installation
In addition to the design and supply of precast retaining walls, we also offer a full construction and
precast installation service. Our dedicated contracts team are capable of delivering complex retaining wall construction, our services include:
- Site Surveys
- Foundation Design
- Steel Specification
- Construction Drawings
- Foundation Construction
- Precast Installation
- Joint Sealing
Please speak to the contracts team for more information or to request a quotation for any of the above products and services.
