MATERIAL DATA SHEET

Precast concrete beam, prestressed (Specified by section size)

Precast Concrete
mineral › Cementitious › Precast Concrete
mineralcementitiousprestressedstructuralprecasthigh-strengthdurablefire-resistantAustralian-standards
ATLAS CODE
MIN-CEM-PC-005
Precast concrete beam, prestressed (Specified by section size)
Category mineral
Material Family Cementitious
Regulatory Status Non-combustible
Density
2400 kg/m³
Carbon (A1-A5)
0.32 kgCO2e/kg
Fire Class
Non-combustible
Lifespan
100 years
Description

Prestressed precast concrete beams are structural elements manufactured in controlled factory conditions using high-strength concrete (50-100 MPa) and high-tensile steel strands (1860 MPa). The prestressing force induces compression in the concrete, allowing longer spans, reduced deflections, and crack control. Available in standard profiles (T-beams, I-beams, rectangular) or custom designs, these beams comply with AS 3600:2018 and AS 5100 for infrastructure applications.

Primary Sectors
[Transport & Infrastructure][Commercial][Industrial]
Typical Uses
  • Bridge girders and infrastructure
  • Long-span commercial buildings
  • Industrial warehouses
  • Multi-storey car parks
  • Stadium and grandstand structures
  • Marine structures and wharves
  • Railway sleepers and infrastructure
  • Architectural facades
  • Post-tensioned floor systems
Recycled Content 25
Renewable Content 0
Recyclability 100
Embodied Carbon 0.32 kgCO2e/kg
Embodied Energy 2 MJ/kg
EPD Available Yes
Advantages
Extended span capabilities (up to 40m)High load-bearing capacityExcellent durability (50-100 year design life)Superior fire resistance (up to 4-hour FRL)Crack control through prestressingQuality factory productionRapid on-site installationLower lifecycle costsInherent bushfire resistance (BAL-FZ compliant)
Cautions
Higher initial cost than cast-in-placeTransport limitations for large sectionsCrane requirements for installationLimited design flexibility once castSpecialist design expertise requiredConnection detailing complexityPotential for prestress losses over time
TECHNICAL DATA: PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES MIN-CEM-PC-005
Density (Dry) 2400 kg/m³
Specific Gravity 2.4
Porosity 10 %
Water Absorption 4 %
Hardness 6
Surface Roughness 5 μm
UV Resistance Excellent
Chemical Resistance Good to moderate depending on exposure
pH Tolerance 6.5 – 11
Compressive Strength 65 MPa
Tensile Strength 4 MPa
Flexural Strength 5 MPa
Shear Strength 3.5 MPa
Elastic Modulus 36 GPa
Impact Resistance High
Poisson's Ratio 0.2
Creep Resistance 2
Abrasion Resistance High
Thermal Conductivity 1.7 W/m·K
Thermal Resistance 0.12 m²·K/W
Specific Heat Capacity 880 J/kg·K
Thermal Expansion 10 ×10⁻⁶/°C
Melting Point 1200 °C
Ignition Temperature N/A
Sound Transmission Class (STC) 50
Noise Reduction Coeff. (NRC) 0.02
Optical
Light Transmittance 0 %
Light Reflectance (LRV) 35 %
Solar Reflectance (SRI) 35

Prestressed concrete was introduced to Australia in the 1950s with the Warragamba Dam ice tower (1953). The technique was pioneered by the formation of the Australian Prestressed Concrete Group in 1962, which evolved into the Concrete Institute of Australia in 1969. Early applications included the Gateway Bridge Brisbane and numerous infrastructure projects. Australian development has focused on durability in aggressive environments, leading to world-leading standards for marine and infrastructure applications with 100-year design life requirements in AS 5100.

SAFETY, ECOLOGY & INSTALLATION MIN-CEM-PC-005
Flame Spread Index 0
Smoke Developed Index 0
Combustibility Class Non-combustible
Ignition Temperature N/A
Fire Resistance Rating 240 minutes
Heat Release Rate 0 kW/m²
Toxicity of Combustion Non-toxic
Embodied Carbon (A1-A3) 0.32 kgCO2e/kg
Embodied Energy 2 MJ/kg
EPD Available Yes
Recycled Content 25%
Renewable Content 0%
LEED Points 4 points
Circular Economy Score 7 /10
VOC Emissions 0 g/L
Skill Level Specialist precast erection crew
Crew Size 4 persons
Curing Time N/A - Factory cured hours
Setting Time 24 min
Temperature Range [object Object] – [object Object] °C
Humidity Range [object Object] – [object Object] %
Required Tools
Mobile crane (capacity per beam weight)Shims and bearing padsWelding equipment for connectionsGrouting equipmentSurvey equipment for alignmentTorque wrenches for bolted connections
Certifications Required
Crane operator licenceRigger certificationWorking at heightsStructural welding AS/NZS 1554
Weather Limitations
Wind speed <40 km/h for crane operationsNo installation in electrical stormsWet weather management for connections
COMMERCIAL, LOGISTICS & REGULATORY MIN-CEM-PC-005
Material Cost [object Object] – [object Object]
Installation Cost [object Object] – [object Object]
Annual Maintenance 0.5 %
Lifecycle Cost (50yr) 45 $/m²/year
Market Availability Readily available
Lead Time 56 days
Design Life 100 years
Warranty Period 10 years
Maintenance Interval 10 years
Service Temp Range [object Object] – [object Object] °C
Freeze/Thaw Resistance 300 cycles
Dimensional Stability 500 microstrain
Certifications Held
NPCAA Producer CertificationISO 9001 Quality ManagementFactory Production ControlEPD Australasia verifiedGreen Star compliantISO 14001 Environmental ManagementSafe Work Australia complianceSilica dust management AS/NZS 1715
Fire Code Compliance
AS 3600:2018 Section 5 - Fire ResistanceAS 1530.4 - Fire resistance testsBCA Specification C1.1
Standards Compliance
NCC Volume One - StructuralNCC Section C - Fire ResistanceDeemed-to-Satisfy provisionsASTM C39 - Compressive StrengthASTM C78 - Flexural StrengthASTM C666 - Freeze-Thaw ResistanceISO 1920 - Testing of concreteISO 22966 - Execution of concrete structuresEN 13369 - Common rules for precast productsEN 206 - Concrete specification

DISCLAIMER: This specification document is generated from the CLAD Materials Atlas Database. Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Values are typical and may vary by batch, manufacturer, and production run. Verify suitability for specific project applications independently.

ID: MIN-CEM-PC-005 Schema: v3.0