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Tiltwall Construction Benefits
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Why do Design / Build Contractors Choose Tiltwall Construction?
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The
moble crane lifts the panel and tilts it
into position over the footing. Workers
help to guide the panel and keep the braces
from getting tangled in the lines. The
process for putting up tiltwall panels goes
quickly; an experienced crew, like this
work crew in Dallas / Ft. Worth, Texas,
can tilt up as many as 30 panels a day.
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Tiltwall construction provides numerous
advantages over steel buildings or traditional construction
for warehouses, call centers, distribution centers, retail
stores, office buildings, storage facilities and other
types of industrial and commercial projects. Generally
speaking, a one- to two-story structure larger than 50,000
square feet with less than 50% wall opening space is an
excellent candidate for tiltwall construction.
But what are the advantages?
- Savings in Construction Costs
- Tiltwall provides numerous construction cost
savings. This method of construction uses locally
available materials rather than ones that must be
manufactured and shipped in. This means that raw material
costs are lower, available when needed and less prone
to price fluctuations. Tiltwall work crews are typically
smaller than the crews used in traditional construction
and are normally comprised of local labor. That translates
to reduced labor costs. Because of the economies of
scale, the larger the footprint for the building,
the more these savings improve the project's total
cost.
- Fast Construction Schedule
- Tiltwall offers several opportunities to "compress"
the schedule and deliver the building very quickly.
Erecting the walls with tiltwall panels is faster than
building walls using traditional construction techniques.
The trades can begin work earlier in the process on
a tiltwall project, which allows greater overlapping
of project phases. Because the building is made of
ready-mix concrete from local sources, the project
is less likely to be affected by transportation delays
as well. All these factors provide for a faster, more
predictable schedule with fewer opportunities for
delays and associated cost overruns.
- Safety - Tiltwall is a proven,
safe method of construction. The vast majority of
the project takes place on the ground rather than
on scaffolding, reducing many of these risks normally
faced by workers.
- Aesthetics - Tiltwall buildings
are not prefabricated. Each one is custom-designed
for the client's needs and preferences. A full range
of building finishes, wall textures and adornments,
colors, even curved walls, are available with this
method. Tiltwall provides architects and designers
with virtually unlimited flexibility in crafting a
building that is functional, durable and aesthetically
pleasing.
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Once
the panel is set in place, the crew attaches
the braces to the slab to keep the panel
standing until it is attached to the other
tiltwall panels and the roofing system.
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The benefits of a project built with
tiltwall construction continue long after it is completed:
- Durability - Tiltwall buildings
are extremely durable. Many structures created in
the 1940s are still in operation today, with little
apparent wear. A testament to the strength of tiltwall
construction, general contractors in earthquake-prone
California now use this method for 90% of their one-story
industrial building projects.
- Fire Safety - The concrete
used in tiltwall panels meets the fire-resistance standards
of even the most demanding building codes. For example,
a 6.5" concrete wall offers a fire resistance
rating of four hours or more. Tiltwall panels are also
frequently used in the building's interior as fire
walls. Tiltwall buildings offer real protection and
safety for their tenants' employees, property and
ongoing operations.
- Ease of Maintenance - Tiltwall
buildings require little in the way of ongoing maintenance,
outside of periodic cleaning and repainting as desired.
Concrete is impervious to insect or rodent infestation,
so this problem becomes a relative non-issue as well.
- Repairs and Expandability
- In the event a wall is damaged by a forklift or
truck, damages are typically more localized on a panel
than in other types of structures, like steel buildings.
Also, the modular design of the panels allows for
easier repairs and expansion of the building.
- Security - Facilities that
require positive security and management of the interior
environment - prisons, classified manufacturing facilities,
businesses with clean rooms - will appreciate the
strength and control afforded by concrete and tiltwall
buildings.
- Reduced Insurance Premiums
- Because tiltwall buildings have superior fire resistance
ratings and have been proven to withstand severe weather
and earthquakes, these buildings typically enjoy better
insurance rates than steel buildings or other types
of structures.
- Reduced Operating Costs -
Concrete provides excellent insulation, reducing the
ongoing heating and cooling costs for the tenant.
This insulation extends to sound as well as temperature.
Workers in a tiltwall office building located in a
noisy area will be less affected by the environment.
By the same token, a manufacturing business that generates
noise will have less effect on its neighbors and will
find it easier to comply with local noise ordinances.
With a better understanding of these
benefits, it's easy to see why many design/build contractors,
construction managers and savvy building owners are
opting for tiltwall over steel buildings or traditional
construction. Delivering value, speed and responsiveness,
quality, durability, reduced construction costs, and
ongoing cost savings in operating expenses, tiltwall
construction is the best choice for a wide range of
commercial construction projects.
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