Riyadh-Jeddah-Amlak
Precast concrete products (Precast Systems) in the Kingdom are experiencing significant growth, with growth reaching more than 20 % over the past four years, a period that has seen a massive boom in the construction sector led by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may God preserve him, particularly the Ministry of Housing’s projects, most notably the ”Land and Loan” program, in addition to the adoption of the mortgage and financing system. All of this has led to significant activity in the field of construction and building.
In this article, we will highlight ”precast” products in the Kingdom.

Growth of ”Precast”
Despite the growth achieved by the precast sector (Precast Systems) in recent years, it remains far below global averages. For example, the United Arab Emirates has more than 50 precast factories, whose total sales last year reached 6 billion dirhams—equivalent to approximately 5 million cubic meters—which is double the size of the Saudi market, not to mention that a large proportion of sales by Emirati precast companies goes to the private residential sector, whereas the Saudi precast market still relies heavily on government projects.
Precast Projects
Some are wary of precast products, particularly in the private sector, despite the pioneering experience of constructing a large number of Aramco and Jubail villas using precast products. In recent years, the private sector has begun to venture slightly into the field of constructing villas and residences using precast concrete..
Time Savings
The use of precast concrete reduces steel consumption and price fluctuations, saves 50% in time, and provides approximately 35% in thermal insulation.
What is ”Precast”?

The Precast Concrete System (PC) is defined as one of the industrialized construction systems, which relies on the use of concrete (and its components) to cast and manufacture standardized structural elements, assemblies, and modules in a factory, which are then erected and installed at the construction site at a later time according to a specific system.
.
* Design
Sometimes, architects may avoid using precast concrete elements because they believe they are mere molds or clichés lacking character, are costly, or represent an unfamiliar method. Careful attention must be paid to the appearance of joints and connections, as well as to preventing water leakage from the gaps between components.
Site:
Consideration should be given to the suitability of the site’s ground conditions for heavy vehicle traffic, access for mobile cranes and heavy-lift cranes, the storage area, and the risks to neighboring properties during handling
Cost:
Construction costs are a complex issue; however, precast concrete can be considered less expensive than traditional construction (or on-site casting) if it is produced in large, standardized quantities that allow for economies of scale.

Precast concrete units are manufactured in three main stages:

Stage 1: Design
During the design phase, the building is divided into sections, the number of concrete units required is determined, and the molds are prepared to begin manufacturing. After the design and drawings are finalized, production schedules are prepared, specifying the number and types of units to be used in the building.

Stage Two: Manufacturing

The preparation stage, which includes preparing the materials and setting up the central mixing equipment, followed by placing the reinforcing steel, which is secured to the forms according to the design, and then installing the plumbing and electrical systems—including pipes, wires, and connections— etc.

Concrete Pouring Phase... This involves supplying all production lines with the concrete mix, followed by mechanical compaction of the concrete and leveling of the upper surfaces.

Storage and Finishing... This involves treating the units with steam or hot air for a specified period of time... The manufactured units are then temporarily stored in designated areas... Finishing work is then performed on the unit surfaces during manufacturing using special molds, or carried out in a separate phase.

Phase Three: Transportation and Installation
The precast units are transported using specially equipped trucks. This stage requires a clear plan to determine the locations of the residential units, taking into account ease of movement on-site and flexibility during the installation process using cranes.
Advantages of precast concrete...
The use of precast concrete construction systems, products, and technologies offers multiple benefits for architects, contractors, and developers, including safety and suitability... It ensures a high level of quality control and provides fire resistance for up to 4 hours.
Precast in Malls
The precast market is currently one of the fastest-growing markets in the Kingdom, especially in major cities, where towers, markets, malls, hotels, administrative buildings, and banquet halls are springing up, many of which would not have been possible without the development of the precast industry. Although there are approximately 43 actual precast products (according to data from the end of 2011), there are more than 200 licenses for precast plants. The actual production capacity exceeds 10 million square meters in any case. This production is concentrated primarily in Jeddah, followed by Riyadh, then Jubail and Dammam. The market suffers from a real shortage of precast concrete products.

Precast Plant Costs
Precast plants range from fully automated to semi-automated facilities. Rotary technologies with fully electronic control have emerged. However, the cost of a medium-sized plant with an annual production capacity of 100,000 cubic meters may reach approximately 50 million riyals if fully automated technologies are used. It could reach approximately 100 million riyals if its production lines are diversified to include hollow core slabs, partitions, and walls. In other words, precast plants are considered high-investment facilities, with costs exceeding 20 million riyals in any case.
Disadvantages of Using Precast
One of the most notable disadvantages of precast is that it may not be suitable for cold climates, nor may it be suitable for environments with high levels of dust and humidity. Additionally, its costs are relatively higher compared to traditional buildings, and it offers little flexibility for modifications or alterations.
Other disadvantages include difficulties in maneuvering mobile cranes and heavy-load cranes, limited storage space, risks to neighboring properties during handling, and a lack of trained and experienced labor in Arab markets, and the problem of maintaining equipment and production lines, especially when they are imported from abroad.