Masonry, precast and tilt-up construction

Masonry walls, precast concrete members and tilt-up panels share a characteristic that makes them especially important for constructors: for a period during construction, they stand as tall, heavy elements that are not yet connected to the structure that will eventually stabilize them. A freshly laid masonry wall with green mortar, a precast panel hanging on temporary connections, or a tilt-up panel standing on its braces can all be blown over or knocked down. Many fatalities in construction have happened this way. This lesson covers how these systems work, the temporary bracing they need and the controls that keep workers out of harm's way.

Structural masonry

Masonry walls are built of concrete masonry units (CMU, or concrete block), clay brick or stone, laid in mortar. Unreinforced masonry is strong in compression but weak in tension and bending, which is why older unreinforced masonry buildings perform poorly in earthquakes. Modern structural masonry is reinforced: vertical bars are placed in the cells of hollow block and the cells are filled with grout, with horizontal reinforcing in bond beams or joint reinforcement in the bed joints.

In Canada, masonry design follows CSA S304 and construction follows CSA A371, with units to CSA A165. Grouted reinforced block walls are common for load-bearing walls in low-rise buildings, elevator and stair shafts and backup walls.

Masonry strength develops as mortar and grout cure. A newly laid wall has little strength in bending, and until it is grouted, reinforced and connected to the floor or roof, it behaves as a tall, thin cantilever from its base. Wind, even moderate wind, can blow it over.

Key construction controls for masonry include grout placement in lifts with consolidation, cleanouts at the base of high-lift grout pours, correct placement of reinforcing in the cells, cold-weather and hot-weather protection, and above all bracing walls during construction.

Bracing masonry walls during construction

Wall bracing during construction is the constructor's responsibility, and specific guidance exists in both countries.

In Canada, CSA A370 and A371 refer to temporary bracing, and the Canadian Masonry Contractors' guidance and provincial regulations require walls to be braced against wind until they are permanently supported. A widely used approach is a restricted zone around walls under construction during high winds, with work stopping above defined wind speeds.

The restricted zone is commonly set equal to the height of the wall plus a margin on the unscaffolded side, and workers not actively building the wall are kept out of it. If wind speeds exceed the limits in the bracing plan, workers leave the zone.

Precast concrete

Precast concrete members are cast in a plant under controlled conditions, cured and shipped to site. Common elements include hollow-core floor and roof planks, double tees for parking structures, beams, columns, stairs, spandrels and architectural or structural wall panels. Many are prestressed: strands are tensioned before the concrete is cast and released once it has gained strength, putting the member into compression and allowing long spans.

Precast saves site labour, formwork and time, but shifts the critical issues to design and erection:

• Connections. Precast members are connected by welded plates, bolts, grouted dowels or sleeves, and bearing pads. Until connections are complete, members may be unstable.
• Bearing. Members need adequate bearing length on supports and correctly placed bearing pads; short bearing can let a member slip off.
• Erection sequence and stability. Columns need bracing until beams and floors tie them in; double tees and beams need temporary bracing or connections to prevent rolling.
• Handling. Members must be lifted only at designed lifting points, in the designed orientation; lifting a prestressed member the wrong way up can crack it.
• Grouting. Grouted connections, such as column base sleeves and keyways between planks, must be filled and cured before they are relied upon.

In Canada, precast is designed to CSA A23.3 and manufactured to CSA A23.4 by certified plants. Erection drawings and procedures are prepared by the precaster's engineer.

Tilt-up construction

In tilt-up construction, concrete wall panels are cast flat on the building's floor slab or a casting bed, then lifted (tilted) into position by crane and braced until the roof and floor diaphragms are connected. Tilt-up is fast and economical for warehouses, distribution centres, schools and retail buildings. Panels can be 10 m (30 ft) or more high and weigh tens of tonnes.

Tilt-up panels are stable only when braced. The bracing system, usually pipe braces with adjustable turnbuckles connected to inserts in the panel and anchors in the floor slab, is designed by the brace supplier's or contractor's engineer for wind loads during construction. Panels have failed when braces were removed early, when brace anchors pulled out of a slab that was too thin or too young, when knee and lateral bracing was omitted, or when a vehicle struck a brace.

In Canada, tilt-up bracing follows the engineer's design, and provincial regulations and CSA S269 series standards for temporary structures apply. The Tilt-Up Concrete Association guidance is commonly used in both countries.

Key tilt-up controls include:

• Panel lifting inserts and rigging designed and placed by the insert supplier's engineer, with concrete at the specified lifting strength confirmed by testing.
• Brace anchors installed in slabs of adequate thickness and strength, as specified.
• Braces installed and tensioned before the crane releases the panel.
• Knee braces, lateral bracing and end braces where specified.
• Daily brace inspection, especially after high winds, and protection of braces from vehicles and equipment.
• Wind limits stated in the bracing design, with an evacuation plan for winds above them.
• No removal of braces until the engineer confirms the permanent structure (roof deck, diaphragm and connections) is complete.

Planning the erection of heavy panels

Precast and tilt-up erection is planned in detail before the crane arrives. A typical erection plan includes the sequence of panels or members, the crane position and capacity for each pick, rigging configurations, lifting insert locations and the strength required at each insert, bracing layouts and anchor details, the order in which permanent connections are made, and exclusion zones beneath and around each lift.

Crane selection depends on the heaviest pick at the longest radius. Because tilt-up panels are lifted from flat to vertical, the load on the inserts changes during the lift, and the insert supplier's engineer designs for the worst stage. Panels are also checked for cracking during lifting: a tall, thin panel can crack if lifted from too few points.

Connections between precast or tilt-up panels and the structure are often welded embed plates. Welding near panel edges must follow procedures that limit heat and avoid cracking the concrete, and welds must be inspected before braces are removed. Grout under panels and around dowels must be placed and cured as specified.

Masonry, precast and tilt-up elements share one more risk: they are often handled near people and other trades. Lift paths should never pass over occupied areas, taglines should control swinging loads, and no one should stand under a suspended panel or between a panel and a fixed object.