4 Facts about Precast Concrete Barriers for New Building Contractors
Posted on: 15 January 2018
Concrete safety barriers are devices when you need to prevent unauthorised entry into a property or section of a road. Notably, several small concrete barriers can be joined using interlocking technology. The resultant concrete barrier can be used to barricade a larger area such as a parking lot. The massive weight of the devices makes it impossible to move them around without the use of hydraulic equipment. In a construction site, a concrete barrier prevents heavy equipment from hitting workers or causing property damage. Here are some facts that building contractors must know about precast concrete barriers.
Precast Concrete Barriers -- Precast concrete barriers are produced in a concrete plant or casting yard. After the manufacturing process, the restrictions are inspected to meet design specifications before being shipped. Depending on the construction needs, barriers come in different lengths ranging from 10 feet to 20 feet. As explained above, you can join several precast barriers to achieve the desired length.
The Composition of Concrete -- Precast concrete barriers are made from several materials that give them strength to withstand severe environmental elements and compression force. The standard materials are cement, fine aggregate, water, air-entraining admixtures, water reducing mixtures and coarse aggregate. All the concrete barriers contain these ingredients but differ according to the type of rough aggregate added. Ideally, these devices must be able to pass a minimum comprehensive strength test.
Placement of Precast Barriers -- Horizontal and vertical alignment is a critical aspect that must be considered when placing precast concrete barriers in a construction site. There exist different measurements for aligning precast barriers. Therefore, check with your installer to ensure that you meet minimum standards. Furthermore, if you are not sure about the placement specifications, then consider installing movable barriers. For some portable barriers, anchoring might be needed to offer additional support. The conventional methods of anchoring barriers are the use of anchor pins, rods and bolts.
Cost -- The cost of buying a precast concrete barrier will be influenced by size regarding length and width. Also, the cost of installation is a factor, especially for permanent barriers. Installation costs might include hiring a hydraulic machine to hoist the barriers. You should even think long-term by adding the value of removing barriers at the conclusion of a construction project. If you are on a budget, you should consider buying used precast obstacles that can be offered at a discount. All the costs are passed to the client, and thus, contractors must ensure that the pricing is not prohibitive.
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