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Precast Concrete Columns and Beams

The structural frame of the building, made in our plants and erected quickly on site.

Overview

What are precast concrete columns and beams?

Precast concrete columns and beams form the frame that carries a building's floors and roof. Columns can run one story or several, and beams are cast in shapes chosen for the loads and for how the floor members bear on them.

Common beam shapes include rectangular beams, inverted tee (IT) beams and L-shaped (ell) beams that support floor members along the edge. Our Arizona load tables, for example, cover 12 and 16 inch IT and ell beams, including prestressed jumbo and super jumbo sizes, and our Tampa plant publishes columns and beams load tables. Contact your nearest plant for the shapes it produces.

Raker beams, which slope to support stadium and arena seating, are another precast specialty. All members are cast under controlled conditions with connections cast in, so they fit together on site with little rework.

Where it is made

Made at these Coreslab plants

Each plant confirms what it makes and the services it offers. Choose a location to see its full capabilities. Links open in a new tab.

Do not see your nearest plant? Contact us and we will point you to the right location.

Applications

Where columns and beams are used

Parking structures

Columns and beams carrying double tee decks

Ledges and corbels cast in for deck bearing

Fast erection of repeating, standard members

Commercial and institutional

Frames for offices, schools and healthcare

Paired with hollow-core floors and wall panels

Fire-resistant concrete structure

Sports and entertainment

Raker beams for stadium and arena seating

Long clear spans over concourses

Built for crowds and heavy loads

Resources

Design data and guides

Find load tables for each plant in our resource library, and learn how members are joined in precast concrete connections explained and how precast concrete is installed. The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute publishes the industry design standards our plants follow.

See the frames we have built on our featured projects, or explore the other precast concrete products we manufacture.

Process

From design to delivery

Precast concrete columns and beams start with the structural design: the column grid, the loads and the connections between members. Each column and beam is then cast in a form in the plant, with reinforcing, prestressing strand and connection hardware placed before the concrete is poured. Our quality staff check each member before it ships.

Our plants follow the quality programs of the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, so members fit together on site with little rework.

Members are trucked to site in erection order. A crane sets each column on its foundation and each beam on its supports, and crews make the connections. Coreslab provides delivery, installation, finishing and detailing, so one team can carry precast concrete columns and beams from the plant to a finished frame.

Questions

Precast columns and beams: common questions

What are IT and ell beams?
An inverted tee (IT) beam has a ledge on both sides to support floor members from either side. An L-shaped (ell) beam has a ledge on one side, so it supports members along the edge of a floor.

How tall can a precast column be?
Columns can be cast one story or several stories tall. The practical limit depends on shipping and erection, so ask your nearest plant.

Can precast columns and beams be used with other products?
Yes. They are commonly combined with hollow-core slabs, double tees and wall panels to form a complete precast structure.

How are the members joined?
Connections are cast into each member and joined on site, so the frame goes together with little rework. Our guide to precast concrete connections explains the common details.

Planning a precast frame?

Share your column grid and loads and our team will recommend the right members and plant.

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