The question of all questions arises in all buildings in the UAE: Actually, what is the wall made of and who is building the wall? Whether it is a retaining wall on a slope in Ras Al-Khaimah, or a factory shell in Umm Al Quwain or a decorative facade wall on a villa in Sharjah, precast concrete is the preferred choice throughout the Middle East. It will outline the range of services that you can expect from precast concrete wall suppliers in UAE, the different wall system options, the factors to consider when finding a reliable vs risky supplier and how to quote a finished wall.
Applications of Precast Concrete Walls in the Building Industry in UAE
Precast concrete walls are produced in a factory where the weather conditions and humidity are controlled, and are delivered to site for installation, rather than on-site built-up walls using block, brick or poured-in-place concrete. The controlled manufacturing environment is more important in the UAE than anywhere else because it is possible for moisture to evaporate from a structure before it is completed if exposed to the hot conditions of a UAE summer.
The result is a wall system that is truly strong, durable and can be finished in a variety of ways, but doesn’t require the traditional building process. UAE desert climate is very demanding on the building materials due to very high temperature during the day, salty coastal air and frequent sandstorms; precast concrete is manufactured to withstand these factors with minimum maintenance throughout the building’s lifetime.
In the UAE, the use of precast walls is ubiquitous, from their application in structural walls in warehouses and industrial buildings, boundary walls and compound walls in villas and communities, retaining walls on sloped and uneven sites, through to the use of architectural walls and decorative walls where appearance is a key consideration. That is some of the largest in construction and is aided by manufacturers ranging from decades-old to newer, specialized companies, the UAE precast wall industry.
The Different Types of Precast Concrete Walls Suppliers Offered in the UAE
Once you understand the various wall categories you can have a more meaningful conversation with a supplier, and you won’t end up ordering the wrong wall system for your site.
Structural Walls
Structural precast walls are used within the main components of a building construction and are commonly seen primarily in industrial buildings, warehouses and larger commercial projects where speed of construction is a key requirement.
Boundary Walls & Compound Walls
A fence on the outside of a plot that provides privacy and security, normally made of a panel and column design that the precast columns are set in concrete footings and the panel is placed in a groove between the columns. Most commonly used configuration for villas, residential communities, farms and industrial sites.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls will need specific structural engineering if the ground level changes from one area to another on a site in order to ensure that soil pressure loads can be safely managed. If no levels, it’s best to verify this level of engineering knowledge is available with the supplier, as it may not be in-house with all suppliers.
Acoustic Walls and Barrier Walls
They are typically installed on highways, industrial sites and at the perimeter of residential subdivisions close to highways, and are designed to limit noise transfer.
Decorative Walls
Usually, they are used in luxurious villa communities, palace grounds and business projects where the surface of the wall itself is a part of the property image.
Double Walls and Modular Panel Systems
A system that is becoming more prevalent, which is structurally efficient, and quickly assembles on-site for larger developments that require uniformity in a lot of repeated wall sections.
The Following Factors Should Be Taken into Account When Choosing a Precast Wall Supplier in UAE
The UAE is a rich area with numerous precast wall suppliers. There must be some work done to eliminate some of the “clunkers” from the list, but it will be money well-spent — it will save many hours and dollars later when it is fixed.
Structural Documentation
A good supplier will readily provide you with the materials that prove the wall system you are ordering is concrete with a specified grade, has a specified compression test strength and complies with the structural requirements.
Certifications
Not a luxury, it’s a necessity – ISO certification, and compliance to relevant UAE structural codes and Civil Defence standards. These certifications are not only marketing jargon but they are also a true measure of the quality of design, manufacturing and testing.
The Extent and Size of Manufacturing Capabilities
A larger project would benefit from a supplier with the production capabilities to also supply the quality for the same volume and a smaller, or custom project might prefer a supplier with the production capability to custom project the same quality. Don’t take the risk of assuming that bigger is better, but match the supplier’s scale to your project instead.
Lead Times
Ask for a realistic amount of time for the project, not a standard figure. Any supplier that won’t be able to provide you with a definitive response on production and delivery scheduling is giving you a message you should take note of.
Supply-Only vs. Supply-and-Install
Some suppliers do only the wall components and others arrange the crane lifts, erection men and post installation checks. With a supply and install agreement, there is a more definite accountability if problems occur when installing.
Portfolio and Project References
Ask to see projects similar in size and type that have been completed. While working with structural walls is not a strict requirement for a supplier to be successful at developing a detailed architectural wall project, it does matter, and is not a negative thing in itself.
Leading Precast Concrete Wall Suppliers in UAE
1. KKK Precast Concrete Industry LLC
Throughout Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, KKK Precast creates and manufactures precast concrete wall panels for the specific project and site requirements of each structure.
2. Solid Rock Concrete Works (SRC Precast)
Based in Umm Al Quwain, UAE, SRC Precast is a renowned precast concrete company UAE, manufacturing concrete wall solutions for all commercial and residential projects with state of the art manufacturing plant, not only durable, but also stylish and cost effective.
3. Gulf Precast
Gulf Precast has been in the market for over 40 years and is one of the UAE’s longest established precast manufacturers, boasting several factories and production sites to serve a variety of projects from residential compounds to major infrastructure solutions and beyond, and delivering solutions with ISO 9001 quality assurance.
4. Abu Dhabi Precast (ADP)
Since its inception in 2001, Abu Dhabi Precast has built a long-standing legacy of precision, timely delivery and quality in wall products, both in residential, commercial and infrastructure markets.
5. Dubai Precast
Dubai Precast is based in Dubai Jebel Ali Industrial Area, and has a yearly production capacity of hundreds of thousands of square metres of precast structural elements and wall elements, plus a large technical team in-house to provide technical support to large scale projects in all over the world.
6. Al Watania
Al Watania is based in Umm Al Quwain, and excels in precast walls, floor slabs, stairs, and structures, offering capabilities that meet intricate design requirements while ensuring timely production, while also prioritizing environmentally responsible manufacturing practices.
7. Hard Precast Building Systems (HPBS)
HPBS has a huge production facility in Dubai Investment Park equipped with precast technology of top international equipment manufacturers that offer the entire precast solution, from design to value engineering, production, logistics to installation.
The Precast Wall Installing Process
Understanding how the process works will be useful to setting an appropriate schedule for a project.
Site Survey and Engineering
The engineering team from the supplier will visit the site and take measurements such as special features if required (e.g. retaining sections) and record the ground levels and soil conditions, as well as any special requirements that may be required for engineering calculations and drawings.
Foundation Work
Properly formed and cured concrete footings are constructed, and are of either column footing or strip footing depending on type of wall system, and are loaded. This should be done in a gradual manner and particularly when it is not the hot summer season in UAE.
Delivery and Installation
The wall elements are delivered on a flatbed truck, and lifted with a crane to form the wall, with the workers training the crane to ensure that the wall is aligned and the right size as it is assembled.
Finishing
Depending on the type of wall, Seal and/or Paint work may be necessary after installation of the structure.
UAE Approvals and Regulations for Precast Concrete Wall Suppliers UAE
The relevant emirate authority – Dubai Municipality, Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Municipality or other relevant authority – where applicable, as appropriate for the wall location and use, must approve all precast wall installations. This should not be overlooked as it is a possibility that legal action or demolition orders could be issued for not going through with the necessary approvals.
The engineering documentation – structural calculations, foundation designs, material specifications – for sign-off should be a familiar process for a supplier who has experience with the UAE market, and who can assist with.
Final Thoughts on Precast Concrete Wall Suppliers in UAE
The precast wall market in the UAE is wide and well established, ranging from the well established industry players from decades such as Gulf Precast and Abu Dhabi Precast, to the design-oriented companies such as Al Watania and SRC Precast. The remainder of the products complete the range of KKK Precast, Dubai Precast and HPBS to satisfy the requirements of any project from villa boundary to a complete industrial structural shell.
The choice of supplier will depend upon the type of structure, size, design objectives and schedule that is required for your project. Ask for structural documentation, ensure certifications are in place and consider finished projects that are similar to the one you’re interested in before you make your final decision — you want a precast wall that will last you for decades, and who you choose to buy from will help you make that happen.