Concept and Design Considerations of Precast Concrete for Jail Constructions
24 October 2022The building of prison housing facilities may be done relatively quickly and effectively with precast concrete jail cells. Compared to concrete masonry units (CMU) cells, the level of security offered by precast prison cells is significantly better. The facilities provided in the cells can’t be changed in any way. There is nothing in the cells that convicts might use to hurt themselves or others, and there is no way for them to break out of their cells.
Quality and Design Considerations
In contrast to the building of cells on-site, all of the modules for the product are built in a manufacturing factory; therefore, the quality of the product can be carefully monitored and regulated there. Since building precast concrete jail cells takes less time, this results in cost savings for equipment and personnel. Because of these benefits, precast concrete prison cells have become more common in Australia. The functional design of the facilities will consider the various degrees of security available for living units in correctional institutions. For instance, the shower unit is a part of the maximum-security holding facility that you are in. A bathing space is provided within the building to make the living facility completely self-sufficient. This is the case even at lower security levels.
What Makes It Different from the Rest
Cell modules, balcony slabs, and plenums are the three separate components that make up precast concrete housing facilities for incarcerated individuals. The cell modules are stacked to a height of two stories, with balcony slabs inserted in the spaces in between. The floor slabs for the top cell modules are the ceilings of the lower cell modules since they are used as such. The balcony slabs are suspended from the cell modules in a cantilevered fashion. Plenums are located on top of the higher modules for attic spaces. These plenums give MEP feed ducts, which stands for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, to each cell. There is no requirement for the plenums. They are easily interchangeable with concrete wall panels of a simpler design.
On the other hand, the plenums offer certain benefits over the wall panels in terms of their ability to resist the lateral wind load from the roofs. In addition to cells, other sites, such as corner spaces or centre walls that support steel trusses, make use of other components, including wall panels, flat slabs, and columns. These additional components are employed to construct the jail. Because they are not unique to jail cells, further explanation will not be provided on this page. Following the completion of the precast structure, the installation of steel components such as stairs, balcony railings, and roof trusses takes place.
Other Features
The overall structural integrity of a building constructed with precast concrete depends on the quality of the connecting details. Poor connections might result in a significant reduction in the structures’ strength and endurance. Cell module-to-cell module connections, balcony slab and cell module connections, plenum and cell module connections, and cell module-to-foundation connections are some of the most important connections for correctional institutions that house inmates. Since compression controls most connections, dowels and corrugated sleeves are adequate for making the connection. Specialised connections, such as those that connect the cantilevered balcony slabs to the cells, must be meticulously designed.
Depending on the situation, grouting or caulking should be used to protect connection gear from the elements. To avoid rust, the exposed hardware has to be galvanised using a hot-dip method. In a correctional facility, safety concerns must be considered at all times. The number of exposed connections should be maintained to a minimum, and those left should not be susceptible to tampering. Because of the small concrete sections, the options for connection hardware in jail cells are restricted to small embeds that do not protrude from the concrete surfaces or interfere with the reinforcing.
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