Encouraging the use of large-panel precast concrete in social housing construction | Materials

Construction technology using large prefabricated panel components has been researched and applied in Vietnam since the late 1960s, and then developed strongly in the 1970s. Initially, it was a system of beam and frame structures supporting precast floor slabs, but later, the large panel assembly technology became widespread, applied in large apartment complexes such as Giang Vo, Thanh Cong, Kim Lien, Van Chuong, Thanh Xuan, Nghia Do… ( Hanoi ) and some housing areas in Hai Phong, Viet Tri, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An…

According to experts, the advantages of large-panel precast concrete include reduced construction costs, lower management and production expenses, and most importantly, faster construction progress. This technology can continue to be used in the future; however, better quality control and maintenance of the structure are necessary.

According to Dr. Tran Ba Viet, Vice President of the Vietnam Concrete Association, the construction of social housing projects today requires high-performance and high-efficiency building materials to reduce the load on the structure, accelerate construction progress, and thus save time and costs.

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) technology has opened a new chapter in viaduct construction since 2022, followed by its application in elevated road construction and highway systems. Furthermore, UHPC is becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam, and is even expected to play a significant role in achieving the goal of "Building at least 1 million social housing units between 2021 and 2030".

UHPC offers numerous advantages over conventional reinforced concrete, including: improved crack resistance, impact toughness, viscous fracture, wear resistance, and reduced porosity. In particular, UHPC reduces shrinkage and creep, potentially eliminating the need for reinforcement; allows for more technologically efficient solutions (e.g., thin-walled structures, structures without distributed reinforcement, indirect reinforcement, or transverse reinforcement); reduces labor costs for reinforcement work while increasing mechanization and automation in structural production; enables faster construction and mass production; UHPC structures have a long lifespan and low maintenance costs; and reduce resource consumption and carbon emissions.

Architect Pham Thanh Tung, Chief of the Office of the Vietnam Association of Architects, believes that using green building materials for buildings in general, and social housing in particular, will help minimize the impact on the natural environment and reduce waste generation. These green materials (including straw and rice husks) also stimulate architects' creativity, helping them find new, useful, and environmentally friendly solutions that promote a safer and happier way of life and work. In particular, the application of large-panel precast concrete technology should be given attention and developed.

According to architect Pham Thanh Tung, over time, precast concrete panels have increasingly proven their superiority. The development and application of precast concrete panels in social housing projects is also consistent with the government 's policy of developing affordable and high-quality social housing to meet the growing housing needs of low-income workers nationwide.

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