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Tilt-Up Construction Basics

Tilt-up panels are constructed on a concrete slab, either the slab that will be the floor slab of the building or a casting slab that will be removed after construction. Sometimes casting slabs are used as parking lots after building completion. The slab must be smooth, because any imperfections will end up reflected in the panels.

The contractor positions side forms and applies bond breaker to the slab—proper bond breaker is essential to successfully lifting the slabs. Workers then position reinforcement, lifting hardware, bracing hardware, embedments, window and door blockouts, form liners, and thin-brick sections then place the concrete. Concrete is typically 3000 psi compressive strength with a 4-inch slump. The wall panels are usually 6 to 8 inches thick.

When the concrete has reached the necessary strength—usually in about 7 days—the lifting rigging and the braces are attached to the panel. A mobile crane then lifts the panels in the proper sequence. The panel is braced and plumbed. Adjacent panels are not normally connected to one another. Once all of the panels are in place the roof trusses are positioned to tie everything together. Grout is then injected at the panel's bottom and the braces are removed. Viola! A complete tilt-up building!

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