Architectural precast
Bison Precast’s architectural precast concrete façades bring buildings to life through innovative design solutions paired with high-tech manufacturing capabilities.
Precast concrete panels can be manufactured as a sandwich wall or single skin construction, in a range of decorative finishes and colours. They can be utilised either as part of a structural precast frame or as a decorative cladding panel onto a steel or in-situ concrete frame.
In addition to increasing the speed, cost effectiveness, and quality of construction, precast technology offers endless possibilities in terms of design and aesthetics. It is also reliable, durable and low maintenance.
Bison Precast’s in-house design and technical experts will support your project from design stage through to installation, ensuring the structural and aesthetic details of the project are achieved at every stage. Our Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) approach ensures that the structure can be erected quickly and efficiently, often using standard lifting equipment. The modular nature of many precast concrete products allows structures or systems of virtually any size to be constructed. If required, precast elements can be delivered ready clad, insulated, and glazed, reducing the number of following trades and saving time and costs. It can also eliminate the need for external scaffolding.
Sandwich panels
Sandwich panels consist of two leaves of concrete separated by an insulating core. The inner leaf is loadbearing and provides support to the perimeter of the building structure. The outer leaf acts as a weather and airtight barrier and provides the desired architectural finish for the building envelope. An insulation layer sandwiched between the inner and outer layers of the panel provides the required thermal performance.
Brick-faced sandwich panels
Bison Precast’s brick-faced sandwich panels are made by factory-fitting brick finishes onto precast concrete panels. They are ideally suited to multi-storey structures in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial developments.
Brick-faced sandwich panels are an extension of Bison Precast’s cross wall frames. Suitable for direct decoration, they can be manufactured with features such as cast-in electricity conduits, plug sockets and even glazed windows, all installed at our factory, reducing the need for onsite labour during the build.
With access to the full range of Forterra facing bricks – one of the largest in the UK – prefabricated brick-faced panels are an obvious choice for architects and developers looking to achieve speed of construction without the worry of a shortage of skilled onsite trades or material supply.
Façade finishes
Bison Precast architectural precast concrete façades can be manufactured in a range of decorative finishes and colours.
Brick-faced Precast Panels
Brick-faced cladding gives a building the appearance of being traditionally built while benefiting from the usual advantages associated with offsite manufacturing, including high product quality, speed of installation and reduction in site labour. Bison Precast can supply fully-pointed brick-faced panels in any colour or texture of brick from the vast Forterra brick range.
Concrete-faced Panels
Concrete-faced panels can be supplied either smooth-faced or enhanced by the application of a texture to the exposed face. Textures may be formed several ways. For example, a fine textured finish can be applied after the concrete has cured and been removed from the mould. This process involves abrading the concrete surface to remove the fine material, creating a surface finish similar to sawn and honed stone, a finish often referred to as reconstituted stone. Grit blast and exposed aggregate surface finishes can also be achieved.
Unique textures, graphics and three-dimensional features can be formed using formliner technology. These surface finishes are formed within the mould rather than applied after de-moulding. The use of textured formliners open up unlimited possibilities in façade design.
Stone-faced Precast Panels
Precast concrete acts as a carrier for a wide range of natural stones, including limestone, sandstone and granite, to provide a selection of decorative finishes. The stone facings are mechanically fixed to the concrete panel by a series of stainless-steel dowels set into the rear face of the stone.
Single-leaf cladding
Single-skin, non-loadbearing cladding panels provide a weather-proof architectural envelope around a building structure and can be manufactured in a range of decorative finishes and colours. Cladding panels do not support the structure and may be hung from, or supported by, the building frame.
The structural design of precast cladding panels is significantly influenced by factors such as panel dimensions, location of the panel joints, number of apertures or openings, the number of storeys, and the floor-to-floor height of the building or structure. The arrangement of the precast concrete panels is primarily influenced by the geometry and number of apertures or openings within the façade.
Brick-faced Precast Panels
Brick-faced cladding gives a building the appearance of being traditionally built while benefiting from the usual advantages associated with offsite manufacturing, including high product quality, speed of installation and reduction in site labour. Bison Precast can supply brick-faced panels in any colour or texture of brick from the vast Forterra brick range.
Concrete-faced Panels
Concrete-faced panels can be supplied smooth-faced or enhanced by the application of a texture to the exposed face. Textures may be formed several ways. For example, a fine textured finish can be applied after the concrete has cured and been removed from the mould. This process involves abrading the concrete surface to remove the fine material creating a surface finish similar to sawn and honed stone, a finish often referred to as reconstituted stone. Grit blast and exposed aggregate surface finishes can also be achieved.
Unique textures, graphics and three-dimensional features can be formed using formliner technology. These surface finishes are formed within the mould rather than applied after de-moulding. The use of textured formliners open up unlimited possibilities in façade design.
Stone-faced Precast Panels
Precast concrete acts as a carrier for a wide range of natural stones, including limestone, sandstone and granite, to provide a selection of decorative finishes. The stone facings are mechanically fixed to the concrete panel by a series of stainless steel dowels set into the rear face of the stone.
DESIGN BENEFITS
- Flexibility in design
- Inherent fire resistance – concrete is completely non-combustible (classified as an A1 fire-resistant material under EN 13501-1)
- Acoustic benefits
- Energy efficient
- Extensive range of finishes available including brick, smooth and textured concrete surfaces
- Sandwich panel internal faces can be prepared for direct decoration
- Durable and low maintenance
SUSTAINABLE APPLICATIONS
- Residential (multi-occupancy and student accommodation)
- Leisure and hotels
- Prisons/secure units
- Schools
- Retail
- Offices
CONSTRUCTION BENEFITS
- Design for Manufacture and Assembly approach (DfMA)
- Speed of erection
- Windows, doors, insulation and other façade features can be preinstalled at our factory
- Fire protection during construction
- Programme benefits relating to follow on trades
- Brick-faced panels fully pointed at our factory
- Reduced wet trades on site
- M & E services can be cast into precast walls
- Reduction of waste on site
- Just-in-time deliveries
- Achieves fast building weather tightness
- System can also eliminate the need for external scaffolding
QUALITY BENEFITS
- Factory produced to high quality standards
- All precast concrete products and processes comply with relevant standards and are manufactured in accordance with BS EN ISO 9001
- Accredited to BS EN 14001 and BES 6001 responsible sourcing
Bison Precast request a quote
Our experts are on hand to provide you with the most cost-effective solution, and can provide guidance at every stage of a project, from concept to completion. We will work with you to deliver practical support from the earliest design stages, specifying the most appropriate products and solutions from the Bison Precast range.
Bison Precast technical enquiry
From concept to completion, our experts are on hand to provide technical guidance at every stage of your project. By working with you from the earliest design stages, we can specify the most appropriate products from the Bison Precast range to help you select the most cost-effective solution.