SHARING OF EXPERIENCE
FROM PRECAST TO MIC
FROM SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG
11 JULY 2019
Outline of Today’s Presentation
▪ Precast to PPVC – P&T’s Singapore experience
▪ Key milestones
▪ Current PPVC design in Singapore
▪ Applying experience to Hong Kong MiC design
Terminology
HK SG SG
MiC PVC PPVC
• Modular • Precast • Precast
• Integrated • Volumetric • Pre-finished
• Construction • Construction • Volumetric
• Construction
Singapore
Dec 2013 Riot at Little India,
Singapore
To improve productivity and reduce dependency on foreign workers
Hong Kong
Singapore HDB Tampines
1992
N4C24 – precast beam, slab
and wall
Singapore Woodsvale Exec
Condominium – precast column, beams
2001
and slab
Hong Kong Grandeur Terrace
2003
Precast slab
Singapore Park Green Exec
Condominium – precast shear wall,
2005
columns and fascade
Mapletree Business City –
2010
precast hollow core slab
2011 to present Singapore 35 Public
Housing Projects comprsing >13,000
2011
homes – precast beam, slab, column
Precast to MiC – some milestones
and wall
Singapore The Crest Condominium Project
2013
– precast biaxial voided deck, shear wall,
balcony, fascade
Honkg Kong Shatin 36C Subsidised
2014
Housing Project – precast structural
wall
Singapore HDB Bukit Batok
2015
N4C11 PPVC construction
Singapore Canberra Drive
Condominium PPVC
2015
construction
Hong Kong Matrix Deck - Breast Cancer
2017
Foundation
Hong Kong, Pre-acceptance submission
2018
for steel MiC system
Hong Kong, Pre-acceptance submission for
40 Sty Concrete Mic Building, HK patent
2018
appln no. 18114717.3
Hong Kong, Pre-acceptance submission for
2019
20S Steel / Aluminium MiC system, HK patent
temp appln no. P6001
PRECAST STRUCTURE (1990 – 2000)
HDB Tampines Public Housing (1992)
• Precast non-structural fascade
• Precast half slab Casa Cairnhill (1990)
• Precast staircase
• Precast non-structural fascade
• Precast beams
• Precast staircase
• Cast in situ columns and shear walls
PRECAST STRUCTURE (1990 – 2000)
• Similar detailing as cast in situ concrete
• Void out some parts to be cast at the site to effect
structural connection
• Reinforcement protrudes out from structure,
obstructing placing of members
• Difficulty in installation
• Site fix reinforcement formwork still here and there
WE NEED TO SIMPLIFY
WOODSVALE EXECUTIVE CONDOMINIUM (2001)
• Design and Build procurement
method
• Design for precast from beginning
stage
9 blocks of apartments, 969 units, GFA 95,184m2
BCA Best Buildable Design Award 2001
WOODSVALE EXECUTIVE CONDOMINIUM (2001)
System form
cast in situ
perimeter
shear wall
Precast
columns
Precast
beams
Precast
prestressed half
slab
• Simple framing – shortest load path
• Work with Architect from beginning to design for precast
• Good teamwork with Client, Architect and Contractor
WOODSVALE EXECUTIVE CONDOMINIUM (2001)
beam column
• System formwork cast in situ perimeter shear wall
（175mm）
• Precast prestressed half slab
• Precast beams
• Precast columns, up to 3 storeys high
• Precast staircase
• Simplify column beam joint
WOODSVALE EXECUTIVE CONDOMINIUM (2001)
• 250x900 precast columns
• Early adoption of grout filled
pipe sleeve splicing system
1
2
PARK GREEN EXECUTIVE CONDOMINIUM (2005)
• Design and build procurement method
• Early involvement to design for precast
BCA Best Buildable Design Award 2005
PARK GREEN EXECUTIVE CONDOMINIUM (2005)
• All vertical elements
are precast – shear
wall, fascade,
balcony …etc
• All horizontal elements
are 175mm cast in
flat plate with table
form
• Early application of
precast shear wall
• Simple connection details
• Less protruding bars
• Reduced site formwork
PARK GREEN EXECUTIVE CONDOMINIUM (2005)
• Precast 2D elements on site, saving in transportation
• Omit external scaffolding
SINGAPORE HDB PUBLIC HOUSING， >13,000 UNITS（2012 TO PRESENT）
• Precast fascade including windows • Precast volume approximately 40% to 70%
• Precast beams
• Precast prestressed half slab
• Precast or cast in situ columns and
walls
SINGAPORE HDB PUBLIC HOUSING >13,000 UNITS（2012 TO PRESENT）
SINGAPORE HDB PUBLIC HOUSING >13,000 UNITS（2012 TO PRESENT）
Precast House Hold Shelter Precast service duct
Precast Refuse Chute
SINGAPORE HDB PUBLIC HOUSING >13,000 UNITS（2012 TO PRESENT）
• Standardised precast design and specifications
• Systematic approach to control quality and cost
• Standard floor height, standard precast staircase
and other components
• HDB projects built up a strong supply chain of
precast products and skills
• Validation of various types of precast design
methods and precast joint details
• Good library of proven precast components and
details
THE CREST CONDOMINIUM (2015)
• Private high end development
• Complex massing, floor plans
changes every floor
• Difficult for both cast in situ and
precast structure
THE CREST CONDOMINIUM (2015)
Structure logic
THE CREST CONDOMINIUM (2015)
• Precast biaxial voided
slab
• Spans up to 7.5m from
core to perimeter
• 2D slab precast on site
Biaxial voided slab layout
THE CREST CONDOMINIUM (2015)
THE CREST CONDOMINIUM (2015)
• Completed 2018
• Complex geometry
• Large scale 2D precast
on site
• Precast shear wall
connected by NMB
splice sleeve
• Precast slab without
beam
PROGRESSION TO MODULAR CONSTRUCTION
Cast in situ Semi-precast
An evolution - key design ingredients such as connections,
joints …etc, were achieved progressively over time and finally
integrated in modular construction design
Load bearing precast wall and
column, precast slab
PPVC PVC
PROGRESSION TO MODULAR CONSTRUCTION - PVC
wall joint wall joint slab joint
PROGRESSION TO MODULAR CONSTRUCTION
HDB WEST TERRA (2014 - 2018）
Commenced design in 2014
First Precast Volumetric Construction
project in Singapore
PVC modules
Precast bathroom units (PBU)
Volumetric household shelters
Other precast elements
Design and Build contractor –
Teambuild Construction Pte Ltd PROJECT TITLE HDB West Terra at Bukit Batok N4 C16 and 17
LOCATION Bukit Batok West Avenue 6
DESCRIPTION 9 Blocks of 22-storey residential building (Total 1793 units) with
2 blocks multi-storey carpark, ESS, precinct pavilions and
commercial block
GFA 196,180.23 sq.m
SITE AREA 53,280 sq.m
CONSTRUCTION 27 months (Project completed in 4th Quarter 2017)
HDB WEST TERRA (2014 - 2018）
Typical 2RM 45m2 Unit Type
HDB WEST TERRA (2014 - 2018）
HS
HS
PBU
PVC
PVC
PVC
PVC
PVC
PBU
HDB West Terra at Bukit Batok (2031 PVC Modules)
PPVC (FROM 2014）
2012 2014 2015 2016 2017
PVC
• Precast
• Volumetric
• Construction
Residential Halls HDB Bukit Batok The Brownstone HDB Valley HDB Fernvale
at North Hill NTU West Terra at N4 Exec Condo at Spring at Yishun Glades at
(Architect C16/17 Canberra Drive N4 C22 Sengkang PPVC
consultant) N4 C31
• Precast
First PPVC design First PVC for First PPVC for First PPVC for PPVC for Public
and adoption in Public housing Private housing Public housing housing high rise
• Prefinished
Singapore for high rise high rise high rise residential • Volumetric
Institutional and residential residential residential project • Construction
Student Hostel project project project
highrise project
Coupled with Project adopted All Units adopted All Units adopted
Steel PPVC 100% PBU and DfMA PPVC method. PPVC method.
technology is Mass Engineered technology for 1st project with HHS being
piloted with the Timber (MET) the Balconies HHS integrated integrated with
support of NTU erection with PBU the Bedroom
PEAK FORUM – 2018 | P&T Consultants Pte Ltd
PPVC (FROM 2014）
PROJECT PPVC TYPE NO. OF NO. OF
STOREY UNITS
The Brownstone EC Concrete 10-12 638 completed
Parc Riviera Concrete 36 752 Under
construction
West Terra
Valley Spring @ Yishun Concrete 14 824 Under
construction Valley Spring @ Yishun
Parc Botannia Concrete 22 735 Under
construction
Fernvale Glades
Artist’s impression Concrete 14 1911 Under
construction
Stirling Residences Concrete 40 1259 Under
construction
Fernvale
Glades
Artist’s impression
Brownstone EC Parc Riviera Parc Botannia Stirling Residences
PEAK FORUM – 2018 | P&T Consultants Pte Ltd
PPVC (FROM 2014）
N Shape N+U Shape U Shape
PEAK FORUM – 2018 | P&T Consultants Pte Ltd
HDB YISHUN VALLEY SPRING (2016 - 2018）
HDB YISHUN VALLEY SPRING (2016 - 2018） Structural Design
STRUCTURAL FRAMING PLAN
4 Room Units
HDB YISHUN VALLEY SPRING (2016 - 2018）
HDB YISHUN VALLEY SPRING (2016 - 2018）
• U shaped PPVC modules
• Non-composite double wall
• Less cast in situ strip
compared with West Terra
• Hoisting by heavy duty tower
crane
TAMPINES TAPESTRY (2016 - 2018）
S/N Description Remarks
1 Project Name The Tapestry
2 Project Address Tampines Ave 10 (Parcel C)
3 Contract Sum $180,400,000
4 Commencement Date 1 November 2017
5 Contract Completion Date 31 October 2020
6 Contract Duration 36 months
7 Client Bellevue Properties Pte Ltd (CDL)
8 Main Contractor Woh Hup Private Limited
9 Type of PPVC Reinforced Concrete (RC) PPVC – 6-sided
TAMPINES TAPESTRY (2016 - 2018）
200mm Composite Wall
41
TAMPINES TAPESTRY (2016 - 2018）
TAMPINES TAPESTRY (2016 - 2018）
Overall Installation Progress
HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY SHATIN 36C（2016 - 2018）
Subsidized Sale Housing Project at Shatin Area 36C
HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY SHATIN 36C（2016 - 2018）
• Precast structural wall for perimeter
• Omitted external scaffolding
• Details mainly following guidance of HK COP for Precast
Structure 2016
HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY SHATIN 36C（2016 - 2018）
BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION（2016 - 2017）
BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION（2016 - 2017）
First biaxial voided slab
project in Hong Kong
HK Breast Cancer Foundation Centre – Completion
HK 40 STOREY CONCRETE MiC SYSTEM （2018 - 2019）
Comparison Singapore Hong Kong
规范 EC1 COP for Structural Use
EC2 of concrete 2013
COP for Precast
Concrete Construction
2016
COP on Wind Effects in
HK
Design Hourly mean wind 18.4 m/s 38.7m/s
speed at 10m
Limits to compression ratio NA SUC cl. 9.9.3.3
Confined boundary zone NA SUC 9.9.3.4 to 9.9.3.6
Up to Y12 – 150 links
HK 40 STOREY CONCRETE MiC SYSTEM （2018 - 2019）
• Robustness - Provide effective periphery and internal
ties to Cl.6.4.1
HK 40 STOREY CONCRETE MiC SYSTEM （2018 - 2019）
• 40 storey MiC design
• Based on Singapore system with
some modification
OTHER MiC SYSTEMS（2018 - 2019）
• 20 story steel MiC system
• Aluhouse
• Submitted for pre-
acceptance in Mar 2019
OBSERVATIONS
• Singapore has a long process of development from precast to
PPVC
• Learning by developers, consultants, contractors, sub-
contractors and suppliers
• Teamwork between all parties required to implement new
technologies / continual R&D
• Progressively gained confidence in design methods, joint details,
construction processes and performance of precast structure
• While MiC is being promoted in Hong Kong, continual
development and practice of precast structure should not be
neglected
Coignet Reinforced Concrete System
Francois Coignet House, 1853
Cast in situ detailing does not work well for precast
Need paradigm shift from cast in situ detailing
A lot of room for improvement IstructE Standard Method of Detailing
Structural Concrete, 2006
THANK YOU
