HISTORY OF PRECAST CONCRETE

What would our society today look like without precast concrete? Precast concrete is a
pivotal factor in our ability to develop and innovate. In order to better understand just
how imperative precast innovations have been to the developed world, we have decided
to take a closer look at the history of precast concrete and forms.

Precast History
Precast concrete has been around just about as long as concrete itself. Around 1300
BC, builders in the Middle East discovered how to make a hard cement-like coating by
covering their clay homes with burned limestone – the precursor to modern cement.

2500 BC Egyptians used mud mixed with straw to bind dried bricks. Also furthered the
discovery of lime and gypsum mortar as a binding agent for building the Pyramids.

Ancient Rome
Builders in ancient Rome would use concrete for a variety of things. The innovative
network of tunnels culverts and most famously aqueducts were created in part because
of a revelation the builders had. They realized that it would expedite the building
process if they poured the concrete moulds.

These ancient structures have stood the test of time and are still standing strong today.
Although the foundation has been laid for thousands of years, no pun intended, the
technology has only gotten stronger and stronger.

Modern World Use

John Alexander Brodie and Yannick Macken developed precast paneled buildings in
1905. This allowed for houses to be built quicker and cheaper than ever before.
However, the qualities of the houses still remain and to this day, you can visit many of
the original precast paneled buildings.

Today the precast concrete field has turned into two sub-industries, the precast
concrete products industry and the pre-stressed concrete industry. The precast
concrete products industry consists of utility, underground, and other non-pre-stressed
products, and the pre-stressed industry, while also precast, applies tension to the steel
to carry the loading factors required. These products are usually found in building and
bridge support members as well as parking garages. Both industries are governed by
the National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA), Precast Concrete Structures
Association (PCSA) and the Precast/Pre-stressed Concrete Institute (PCI).

Del Zotto Makes Precast Concrete History

Born in 1901, William Mario Del Zotto was an immigrant from Italy to the U.S. during the
beginning of the European Arena of World War II. He worked as a brick layer in the
coke ovens of U.S. Steel in Duluth, MN. William Mario helped his son William John Del
Zotto, born in 1942, get started in the precast concrete business, and continued to give
him advice well into his retirement up to his death in 1984. Del Zotto Manufacturing was
started by that only son, William John Del Zotto.

Bill started out making steps and step forms, then septic tanks and septic tank forms.
From those early forms, Bill built smarter forms by making them safe and easy to strip,
pour and maintain. He invented and patented hundreds of precast forms and
equipment. This took the precast industry to an entirely new level.

SOURCE : A Brief History of Precast Concrete and Forms (delzottoproducts.com)

Precast Concrete Today

Despite these early uses, precast concrete didn’t become common or popular in much
of Western Europe and North America until the early 1900s.

Just prior to World War I, British city engineer (and soccer net inventor) John Alexander
Brodie patented the process of constructing precast paneled buildings, what was then a
ground-breaking innovation in construction.

He ended up paving the way for future construction innovations.

On June 18th, 1954, the Precast Concrete Institute was formed to serve as the technical
sounding board for all information and practices related to precast/prestressed concrete.
Since its founding, PCI has developed, maintained and disseminated the body of
knowledge for the precast and prestressed concrete structures industry, and hence
created and maintained many industry standards.
Today, precast is widely used in the construction of the superstructure or frame of a
building. And due to its versatility in shape, texture and color, it’s often used as
architectural cladding designed to mimic the appearance of more costly materials such
as limestone, granite or stone. But perhaps the greatest benefit of precast concrete is
that it can serve as both the structural and architectural element at the same time,
providing a total precast concrete building.

SOURCE : A Brief History of Precast Concrete | Metromont