The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is the technical institute and trade association for the precast and prestressed concrete industry in North America. It publishes design and quality standards and certifies precast plants and erectors.
Precast concrete is one of the most common structural systems for parking garages, using double tees, inverted tee beams, columns and spandrels made in a plant and erected on site. PCI’s certification programs and publications shape how these structures are designed, built and maintained.
What PCI provides
- Plant certification. Audited quality control for precast producers, often required in specifications.
- Erector certification. Qualification of crews that install precast members.
- Design Handbook. The industry reference for precast and prestressed design.
- Parking guidance. Publications on designing, building and maintaining precast parking structures, including durability and connections.
Precast parking considerations
- Connections and joints need sealing and maintenance to prevent leaks and corrosion. See expansion joint.
- Long-span double tees allow open, column-free parking bays. See clear-span construction.
- Plant-cast concrete gives consistent quality and fast erection.
The Parkonomics view
PCI certification is a simple way to buy a known level of quality. For precast garages, the joints and connections deserve as much attention as the members.
Related terms: Precast Pretensioned Concrete, Precast Moment Frames, Structural Systems of Parking, ACI, Clear-Span Construction