Cutting Door Opening Through Existing Precast Siding Panel

[Eng_Struct]

Hi Group,

The owner wants to create a new door opening 8ft x 8ft through an existing exterior precast concrete panel. In the past, I have reached out to the precast siding supplier who installed the panels and have them detail the reinforcing for opening. The panels are 20ft tall and very likely to be prestressed.

I am looking for suggestions as to how to frame the new opening. The approach I am inclining towards is to provide new steel posts on either side of the opening with a header beam that can be fastened to the precast panels to pick up the weight of panel portion to remain above the door.

Note that the panels are 5ft wide and the opening will not align with panel joints. We will have to take out one full panel width and one partial panel width to create the opening.

Thanks All!

 

[TRAK.Structural]

If they are prestressed I think you need to know the arrangement of the tendons. Maybe scan the panel with GPR if you can't get record drawings.

I've used the scheme with steel jambs/header like you mentioned before, but with conventionally reinforced concrete panels.

 

[XR250]

You need to consider out-of-plane loads also.