PFEIFER connectors – quick assembly of precast concrete elements
In recent years, more and more logistics facilities and industrial halls – production and storage – have been built. A significant part of these buildings are made of prefabricated reinforced concrete, combining the advantages of the material concrete with the benefits of prefabricated technology. For an investor analyzing the costs of maintaining a facility, the most important thing is the very high durability and fire resistance of reinforced concrete, which does not require maintenance work. Prefabrication not only allows the building to achieve its designed function (large span of girders, high columns), but also guarantees a rapid completion of the investment process, thus reducing construction costs and enabling the investor to start its business activity more quickly.
PFEIFER Connector Systems and Accessories
Success would not be possible without a system of modern connectors and accessories built into the prefabricated elements, ensuring a reliable connection of the elements as well as their safe transport and assembly. For many years, PFEIFER has been supplying excellent quality complete solutions, which (in the case of logistics) consist of transport anchors, lifting devices and accompanying accessories that facilitate installation. Three main groups of lifting anchors (threaded, headed, looped) are useful at every stage of prefabrication – during demoulding, lifting and assembly. A wide range of anchors makes it possible to transport any type of element (thin-walled, asymmetrical, etc.), with load-bearing capacity reaching up to 20 t.
Read more about PFEIFER anchors here: 👉 PFEIFER transport anchors
Prefabricated structure connections – foundation and column
In most of the transverse systems of prefabricated reinforced concrete halls, a rigid connection of the column footing to the foundation is used. This joint, which is crucial for the stability of the building, can be implemented in many ways:
- placing the column in the foundation socket;
- connecting the footing to the column in the prefabrication plant (footing column);
- using reinforcing bars anchored in channels created in the column (so-called starter bars);
- using system screw connectors.
The latter method, due to its many advantages, is becoming a standard when erecting prefabricated frame structures. The PFEIFER PCC system consists of a column support concreted into the column and a foundation anchor with a protruding external thread, embedded in a monolithic foundation footing. The connection is made by bolting using nuts and allows precise rectification of the column.
You can read more about our new prefabricated structure connections: 👉 PFEIFER Column Supports
PFEIFER PCC System – fast and safe assembly
A very important aspect that distinguishes this solution is the assembly load-bearing capacity of the connection, which is obtained immediately after screwing. There is no need to use additional assembly struts. Once the high-strength mortar placed in the space between the column and the foundation has set, a fully load-bearing connection is achieved and subsequent structural elements can be installed. Thanks to the simplicity of making a quick and safe connection, the time of completing the shell stage is significantly shortened, and the selection of connectors using an intuitive calculation program facilitates the designer’s work, giving him a guarantee of reliability during the assembly and operation phase of the facility.
PFEIFER PCC connectors for various connections
In addition to the standard foot-column connection, PFEIFER PCC connectors can also be used to create column-column connections and to form a rigid node between a column and a grinder.
Efficient connection of prefabricated elements
The speed of erecting the hall structure is determined by the efficient connection of all components, therefore every detail should be thought out in order to avoid time-consuming solutions and unnecessary downtime in the crane operation. The common element of the halls are foundations (most often made as layered walls with concrete covering and load-bearing parts and thermal insulation between them), therefore their quick attachment is of great importance.
Mounting L-shaped profiles
Most often, it is sufficient to connect the column to the ground beam using system angle profiles screwed to the elements (threaded anchor or anchor channel) concreted into the prefabricated elements and to connect the lower part of the sill plate with a bar and a corrugated pipe in the foundation. The angles have slotted holes (to ensure assembly tolerance) and a “indented” surface (to transfer horizontal forces).
For more responsible joints, a wall-to-column connection using connecting loops in mortar-filled wall joints is used. L-shaped profiles are then used only to stabilize the wall during installation until the mortar sets in the joint.
APL anchor plates
A versatile addition to accessories concreted into precast elements are APL PFEIFER anchor plates, in the form of a steel plate with head studs welded to it. They are an excellent system alternative to individually designed brands with welded reinforcing bars.
You can read more about APL PFEIFER here: 👉 PFEIFER anchor plates
Sometimes, prefabricated halls have ceilings (on part or all of the building), often made of TT slabs due to their high load-bearing capacity and the possibility of making openings in the panel flanges. To support the slabs on the supports, PFEIFER PS-A steel system supports are used, which are capable of carrying loads during the assembly phase (the slab’s own weight and the wet concrete topping) and during operation (permanent loads from the finishing layers and service load). Their use eliminates the need for labor-intensive brackets in beams or walls and ensures a reduction in the eccentricity of the ceiling resting on the support.
You can read more about steel supports here: 👉 PFEIFER steel supports
See the range of PFEIFER connectors
The presented examples of the use of system fasteners in modern prefabricated hall structures are only a fragment of the extensive offer of PFEIFER, which has been supporting the development process of prefabricated construction for years, offering optimal solutions for connecting elements in terms of economy, minimization of labor, as well as durability and reliability.
Read more about PFEIFER products here: 👉 PFEIFER products
