Precast concrete wall panels - renovation/upgrade
Precast concrete wall panels - renovation/upgrade
(OP)
I am working on conversion of a one story warehouse structure into an elementary school. What started with supporting new RTU's now requires that we upgrade the building to current code (IBC 2006). The original construction was under BOCA - no seismic design required at all. The code upgrade requires seismic design cat. B, which controls over wind. The lateral system of the building is precast wall panel and the architect has to provide windows in the building for its new use. We've had no luck locating the 10 yr old precast panel shop drawings, so we're planning to spec some testing, including cutting panels to see what we are working with.
Please share any experiences/advice with similar situtations.
Please share any experiences/advice with similar situtations.






RE: Precast concrete wall panels - renovation/upgrade
I have only ever relied on existing panels when I had drawings to tell me what the reinforcement was, or else have simply considered the raw concrete and have strapped with steel for the increased ULS case load.
I will be very interested in others' postings!
Cheers,
YS
B.Eng (Carleton)
Working in New Zealand, thinking of my snow covered home...
RE: Precast concrete wall panels - renovation/upgrade
RE: Precast concrete wall panels - renovation/upgrade
The best way to test something is to squeeze it, slowly, until it breaks!
RE: Precast concrete wall panels - renovation/upgrade
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RE: Precast concrete wall panels - renovation/upgrade
Here's what we know:
1. We have the orginal design drawings. The building is basically a box with the exception of some loading docks.
2. There really are no true "structural" drawings. The roof framing was done by the architect and there is no design cirteria for the lateral load resisting system.
3. There is a line of perimeter steel columns carrying the roof loads - i.e the panels are not load-bearing.
4. We expect that these are prestressed insulated wall panels - though none of the local precasters will claim the job.
My initial thought was GPR (though I don't know how we coudl measure the prestress)to locate the reinforcement and size of insulated cores. And of course, concrete cylinders.
to be honest, I would like to just add some steel bracing inside the panels where we have no new windows to take care of the lateral and deal with the windows by adding a steel frame to the inside. The owner, of course, doesn't want the expense.
RE: Precast concrete wall panels - renovation/upgrade
I would assume the minimum steel allowed in the year it was built and mark it to be verified in field. This will be easy to do on the first panel that gets cut and then can be checked on other panels for consistency.
RE: Precast concrete wall panels - renovation/upgrade