Cast in-situ / cast-in-place

Abstract

An essential difference between concrete and other materials used in facade construction is that concrete is poured in place into moulds, or into formwork, rather than being manufactured as a standard size component in a factory. Whereas metal, glass, masonry, plastics and timber are made to standard dimensions in the form of sheets or sections, concrete is cast, either on site or in a factory as precast panels. Although there are few constraints on the size of a single cast element in concrete, in practice an essential determinant of concrete panel size is the amount of concrete that can be poured at one time. With precast concrete the essential constraint on panel size is the weight that can be lifted by a crane on site.