scope:

Purpose and scope

This document provides guidelines for specifying, planning, designing, manufacturing, and erecting precast concrete wall panels. Although the focus is on precast wall panels produced in established precasting plants, site precasting is an option that has been used successfully on a number of projects. Tilt-up concrete, as discussed by ACI 551, is a variation of site precasting. Guidance offered in this document should aid in establishing and maintaining quality site production as well as plant production of precast wall panels.

The guide covers two classes of panels, either both non-load-bearing or load-bearing, fabricated of either normal or lightweight concrete. The panels may be either of the following types:

Solid panels

Insulated (sandwich) panels

Ribbed panels

Hollow-core panels

Sculptured panels

In addition to reinforced panels, lightly prestressed (effective prestress, after all losses, between 150 and 225 psi) and prestressed panels are covered. Structural design considerations briefly addressed in Chapter 2 include the use of panels as shear wall components.

This guide is a compilation of information contained in several earlier ACI Committee 533 reports,^1-4 a symposium volume,⁵ committee member experience and new information and developments in the industry since the committee published its reports.

Heavy emphasis is placed on wall panels with an integral exposed aggregate concrete surface finish. Smooth wall panels, as well as those having finishes of a textured or shaped architectural surface, are included. Panels having natural stone veneer or ceramic veneer finishes are not covered in detail.