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The Hong Kong Housing Authority's trial application of the Enhanced Precast and Prefabrication System in the Kwai Chung Flatted Factory Redevelopment Project has proved that this new technology can effectively upgrade building quality, improve site safety and enhance environmental protection.
Officiating at the topping-out ceremony of the Kwai Chung Flatted Factory Redevelopment Project last Friday (March 23), Chairman of the HA's Building Committee, Mr Ip Kwok-him, said, "The HA has always been committed to exploring and implementing innovative construction technologies. Back in the 80's, it first introduced precast facades, precast staircases and semi-precast slabs. In early 2005, it further launched the Precast System on a trial basis in the Kwai Chung Flatted Factory Redevelopment Project. Today we have witnessed the completion of the installation of all precast elements in this pilot project, and the results are very encouraging."
On the same occasion, Deputy Director of Housing (Development and Construction), Ms Ada Fung, said, "The success of this pilot project marks a milestone in the development of the HA's precast construction technology. The advancement from the non-structural and planar precast elements in the past to the Precast System we use today signifies a major breakthrough. We have succeeded in the design of two types of precast structural walls and several types of volumetric precast components, including bathrooms, bathroom-cum-kitchens, stair cores and lift cores."
Ms Fung added,"The Precast System effectively improves product quality. As precast components are mass-produced in casting yards, quality control is enhanced and construction errors are reduced. Thus the quality of building works, including building services improves noticeably."
Ms Fung remarked that by replacing the conventional waterproofing membrane with the fibre-reinforced polymer floor pan in bathrooms and kitchens, watertightness performance is better assured.
Furthermore, the Precast System helps boost site safety as it re-sequences the site works and reduces works at height. Ms Fung commended the contractor for the adoption of many new safety measures tailor made for the project. The accident rate was consequently brought down to about nine per 1,000 workers, a figure well below the industry average.
Ms Fung explained,"The mechanised production of precast components in casting yards is much more friendly to the environment than conventional insitu construction. It not only reduces both material wastage and construction waste, but also keeps down noise and air pollution, hence minimises the nuisance that may be caused to nearby residents."
Ms Fung indicated that the HA would continue to work closely with the contractor. From the technical data obtained, the HA will review the pilot project so as to map out the future development of the precast construction technology.
Ends/Friday, March 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:12
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