A Precast Concrete History Lesson
Although precast concrete was not widely used until the early 1950s, it got its start in architecture long before that. Today it is one of the most widely used materials in construction worldwide. Almost two thousand years after it was built in Rome, the Pantheon’s dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.
Precast Concrete in Ancient Rome
Ancient Roman builders were known for their massive, innovative architecture. They utilized concrete to build networks of aqueducts, culverts and tunnels. They were the first to pour the concrete into molds to create a wide variety of buildings and technologies. Many ancient Roman concrete structures are still standing today, including the famous Pantheon.
Roman concrete was called Opus signinum. It was made of tiles broken up into very small pieces, mixed with mortar, and then beaten down with a rammer. Pliny the Elder in his Natural History describes its manufacture: “Even broken pottery has been utilized; it being found that, beaten to powder, and tempered with lime, it becomes more solid and durable than other substances of a similar nature; forming the cement known as the “Signine” composition, so extensively employed for even making the pavements of houses.”
Pliny’s use of the term “Signine” references Signia (modern Segni), the name of a town in Latium which was famous for its tiles.
An example of opus signinum: the aqueduct of Itálica near Seville. Image: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=443705
Precast Concrete Enters the Modern Age
In 1905, the first precast concrete paneled buildings were created in Liverpool, England. The man who invented the panels, engineer John Alexander Brodie, also came up with the soccer goal net. Precast concrete panels expanded across the globe and became a staple of modern construction.
Precast Concrete Now
Today, the precast concrete industry can be divided into two sub-industries. Represented by the National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA), the Precast Concrete Products branch focuses on utility, underground and other non-prestressed products. The other branch is Precast Concrete Structures. It deals with prestressed concrete elements used in above-ground structures, such as buildings, parking structures and bridges and is represented by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI).
Since its inception and throughout history, concrete has formed the backbone of world architecture. It’s as important today as it has ever been. Based on the increase in demand in recent years, it’s only going to continue to rise in popularity.
See more here: delzottoproducts.com
Header image: A Touch of Rome
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Alan
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I thought one of the key features of Roman concrete was the use of volcanic ash which allow the Romans to use concrete under water.
Good to see the Pantheon. The best building in the world in my view.
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Jerry Krause
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Hi PSI Readers,
Not that which I write is maybe critically important; but the topic of concrete and its ‘factual’ history which I just read is very impressive. Author after author agree with each other and I believe what I read.
Have a good day, Jerry
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