Precast construction company Peikko South Africa completed the columns for the 5 100 m² Reserve 5 factory and warehouse project, in Cape Town, for Cream Properties in one week.

The factory and warehouse is the twelfth industrial building project in South Africa built using Peikko's precast technologies. The precast system, which uses an interlocking framework of precast beams, slabs and columns, significantly reduced column construction time, said Peikko South Africa project engineer Winston Visser.

“We provided M24 column shoes and anchors, along with installation drawings to Cape Concrete, which was the appointed pre-cast subcontractor. The project featured 48 pre-cast 300 x 900 mm columns.”

Peikko's role during the project was consultative, and it collaborated closely with project engineers Ekcon. This is also the second project in which Peikko South Africa worked with Ekcon, which provided design advice and calculation checking for structural, wind loading and seismic conditions.

“Once the installation drawings received Ekcon's approval, Cape Concrete efficiently manufactured the complete column inventory in a fortnight, and produced between 8 to 12 columns a day,” he explained.

A week was required to install the columns, saving 80 days of construction time compared with on-site column casting.

Carbon dioxide emissions were also substantially reduced owing to the manufacturing being done in controlled conditions. Further, transportation of the columns to the site was streamlined, and required only two deliveries, compared to three daily pours spanning up to four months for on-site casting, he added.

“Peikko South Africa’s precast system has not only expedited the completion of the Reserve 5 project but has ushered in a new era of efficiency and precision in construction practices. This monumental achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainable practices, and client satisfaction,” Visser said.