We can all appreciate the benefits of precast – compressive strength, air content, watertightness, and the list goes on – but how many of us actually understand the thermal properties of precast concrete products? As more Americans view energy efficiency as a priority, the thermal resistance of precast continues to grow in importance.
According to a recent report from the NCPA:
When explaining the thermal properties of precast concrete, it’s important to avoid confusion about thermal mass versus thermal resistance . . . Together, they provide the best performance for keeping a building comfortable for its occupants, and that makes precast concrete an optimal choice for a building material.
So what is the difference between thermal mass and thermal resistance? To sum up the article: thermal mass allows precast concrete walls to absorb and distribute heat energy. It conserves energy by reducing heating and cooling loads on the building’s HVAC system. The thermal resistance property of precast allows the material to slow down the transfer of heat energy.
At FABCON, we design our panels to take advantage of precast concrete’s exceptional thermal properties, meeting increased demands for sustainable, energy-efficient buildings.
Read the full article at precast.org.
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