Precast
concrete has experienced reasonable growth in recent years, and this
is expected to continue with long term underlying growth of around
4% forecast from 2007 to 2010. Included within this definition are
concrete blocks, roof tiles, cladding and precast structural
products.
Key factors influencing
market prospects include the performance of the housebuilding
market, key non-residential construction markets, influence of MMC
(modern methods of construction), impact of environmental
legislation and energy-efficient products.
Housing
accounts for around 45% of precast concrete demand, but the shift
away from traditional brick & block construction towards Modern
Methods of Construction (MMC) – most notably timber frame systems –
has primarily impacted on demand for aircrete blocks used for inner
leaf construction. This has been accompanied by a move away from
detached house construction towards multi-storey blocks of flats,
which has in turn constrained demand for dense blocks used for
foundations/below the damp proof coursing and also tiled pitched
roofing.
In the non-residential market,
the increasing use of MMC and other pre-fabricated building products
is gradually displacing traditional construction methods. In
particular, the defence, student accommodation, primary healthcare
and leisure construction sectors are all proving to be key users of
MMC. While this has impacted on demand for traditional building
products such as blocks, in-situ concrete flooring and concrete
tiles, increasing requirements for fast track construction in these
sectors has been generating demand for a broad range of
pre-fabricated products including crosswall panels, hollowcore and
insulated flooring systems.
In other sectors of the
non-residential market, the increasing use of MMC and other
pre-fabricated building products is gradually displacing traditional
construction methods. In particular, the defence, student
accommodation, primary healthcare and leisure construction sectors
are all proving to be key users of MMC. While this has impacted on
demand for traditional building products such as blocks, in-situ
concrete flooring and concrete tiles, increasing requirements for
fast track construction in the aforementioned sectors has been
generating demand for a broad range of pre-fabricated products
including crosswall panels, hollowcore and insulated flooring
systems.
With regard to MMC and
pre-fabrication in general, the precast structural concrete sector
has been one of the more innovative sectors an dis now valued at
over £500 million an drising strongly, with key products including
hollowcore floor and roof slabs, cross-wall panellised building
systems and concrete volumetric modules (pods etc.).
Future prospects are variable for different products with blocks and
roof tiles adversely impacted by changing construction methods and
the rapid switch to flats. Conversely, the continuing drive for MMC
and offsite manufacturing is encouraging wider take-up of more
innovative structural concrete solutions as part of a more
coordinated effort to promote concrete’s environmental credentials
and benefits in terms of sustainability and energy-efficiency.
Undoubtedly, concrete has been portrayed as a ‘traditional’ rather
than ‘modern’ material, but there are a wide range of applications
where the intrinsic benefits of concrete offer specifiers and
contractors an optimum solution.
