Staircases are among the building parts that no one considers until they fail. A shoddy staircase will squeak, crack or even become a danger. Precast Concrete Staircases are the preferred solution among developers, contractors and engineers alike in the UAE where projects are built with a bold vision and quality is a must.
This guide will answer all your questions about precast concrete staircases in the UAE, you will learn about what they are, why they work, the types, manufacturing standards, and how to select a manufacturer in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE.
Precast Concrete Staircases – What They Are
Precast concrete stairs are stairs that are constructed using precast concrete sections, which are produced at a factory and assembled into a staircase at the construction site. Their durability, low maintenance, and affordability make them popular choices for use in residential, commercial, and industrial structures.
It is simply a casting process: a factory casts staircase unit in a controlled environment in steel moulds, reinforced with steel bars, and cures the unit under optimal conditions. When assembled the unit is shipped to your location and put up quickly.
Precast stairs can be single steps or straight monobloc stairs with landings. The straight stair flights and landings can be cast separately, or as part of a single piece. E
Simply put, the legs of the work have been done before the product reaches your construction site.
The Reasons UAE Developers and Contractors Prefer Precast Staircases Are Numerous
There are so many reasons why UAE Developers and Contractors opt for precast stairs.
We’re being fair — the old-style cast-in-place stairs are a pain in the back. You make the formwork and pour the concrete, wait days to cure, remove the formwork and hope it looks good. Then repeat for every floor. That’s most definitely a strategy that’s on the wane in the kind of country where building timelines are brief and labor expenses are too high.
Precast concrete staircases shorten construction time, reduce site time and save time. Usually, curved and helical staircases are fitted in a day or two and often with the structural floor. In contrast, in-situ stairs require weeks of construction, casting, curing, stripping and finishing.
The building sector in the UAE enhances these benefits. On-site concrete curing is difficult because of the high temperatures of summer. That’s eliminated in a factory produced item.
With fewer people working on site, precast provides fewer safety hazards and less site disruption in construction. All elements are also supplied according to specifications as all is manufactured in a controlled quality environment. Precast is also always much stronger that in-situ or blockwork.
Precast Concrete Stairs Can Be Used in a Variety of Ways
Precast Concrete Stairs Have Many Styles
Not all precast staircases are the same. Here is a breakdown of what’s available:
Straight Flight Staircases (Most Common)
One continuous set of stairs where the risers and treads are all straight, either with or without a mid-landing. The monolithic top and bottom landings ensure no formation of landings onsite and the advanced mechanical connections accelerate the installation time and remove the need for temporary propping.
L-Shaped and U-Shaped Staircases
These are often one or two quarter turns where the staircase needs to turn between floors in the building. They are made as separate aircraft and landing units to be connected on site.
Curved and Helical Staircases
Precast curved staircases are quick to install and are designed and supplied to exact build-fit specification, accelerating the build process and minimising time spent on site. Using precast, pre-stressed materials, the strength and load bearing capacity of the material can be increased.
Open-Riser Staircases
A more architectural type, with risers completely open thus giving a lighter effect of the staircase. They’re ideal for commercial lobbies and upscale residential developments where style is as important as design.
External Staircases
Suitable for outdoor use and made from a weatherproof concrete material. It is found in various industrial, warehouse and utility access areas in the UAE.
Precast Concrete stairs are ideal for steel framed or concrete structures, and can be tied in to your floors through projecting reinforcement and completely integrated into your build.
The Following Are the Main Benefits of Precast Concrete Stairs in the UAE
Weather Conditions
Installation can take place in all weather conditions and typically is completed in less than an hour for smaller units. Precast steps can be installed without having to disrupt foot traffic or delaying the overall construction process.
Precision
All the precast steps are built off-site, ensuring the stairs’ dimensions and tolerances are met with great precision, especially when every floor height needs to match the exact design parameters of the structural drawings.
Precast stairs are incombustible, giving a minimum of one hour fire resistance, thereby enhancing the fire resistance of the building. This is indeed an advantage in a UAE regulatory scenario where fire safety is monitored with great care.
Does Away with Temporary Stairs
Precast staircases are maintenance-free and durable, and eliminate the need for temporary stairs during construction, as well as offering safe, solid, instant vertical access during construction and a safe foundation for attractive finishes in the built structure.
Cost Efficiency
The repeatable use of flexible steel moulds, along with precision manufacturing off-site, has saved on labour costs and eliminated on-site delays, ensuring cost certainty and value.
Design Flexibility
Precast concrete stairs can be designed to meet specific design needs and sizes, to suit specific project requirements and to match the overall design of the building.
Use of Precast Staircases in UAE Projects: Practical Application
The UAE precast industry is well established and is quite mature. Companies in this region have helped lead the way in pioneering projects throughout the region.
UPC Dubai has been involved in various significant construction projects in the UAE such as Burj Al Arab hotel in Jumeirah, which featured precast spiral staircases and hollow core slabs in the full precast IKEA Dubai Festival City and precast elements as part of major precast projects.
Dubai Precast is located at Jebel Ali Industrial Area with production capacity of 85,000 cubic metres of reinforced concrete products for buildings such as wall panels, slabs, beams, columns and staircases and infrastructure.
This is not “small business”. The UAE’s top precast manufacturers have large, well-equipped and modern factories that have engineering departments to deal with complicated staircase structures of any size.
Hard Precast Building Systems LLC (HPBS), based in Dubai, is a company specializing in the manufacture and supply of precast concrete structural and architectural components, such as precast staircases, with a modern precast facility in Dubai Investments Park that is dedicated to manufacturing top quality products meeting international standards.
DM Approval and Quality Compliance for Precast Manufacturers
In the case of Dubai, there is no alternative, but to comply with the regulations if your project is located here.
Dubai Municipality issued Administrative Decision No. (316) of 2012 for the Control of Ready Mix Concrete Plant, Precast Concrete Factory and Central Batching Unit (CBU) to meet the approved rules and specifications for the quality of the product and ensure that the manufacturers comply with them.
Dubai Municipality regulations require all precast concrete factories to have a Certificate of Conformity for precast concrete plants issued by the Dubai Central Laboratory – Certification and Quality Control of Products Section (DCLD – CQPS).
There’s no grey in it. Unless a precast staircase manufacturer has this certification, they are not allowed to legally supply products for a regulated construction in Dubai. If you are asking for quotations, be sure to check for the DM conformity certificate first.
For precast concrete or other heavy systems, per Building Code Regulations of Dubai Municipality, elements shall be securely tied at their levels, either by tying together at the support or directly to the support as recommended by the applicable code. Precast staircase shop drawings in Dubai should make it clear to structural engineers that these connection requirements must be considered. Scribd
The 2024 building code changes in Dubai are increasingly emphasizing innovation and the adoption of new technologies, and the city actively promotes the use of modular construction methods, which enable faster construction, lower costs, and enhanced quality by manufacturing some components off-site. Precast staircases are perfectly suited for this direction. Dubaipropertysnagging
What to Look for in a Precast Staircase Manufacturer in the UAE
This is where it is important to select the right manufacturer, to ensure that the project is smooth or stressful. This is what’s really important.
Valid DM Certification
Dubai projects require it, it’s a good sign of quality throughout the seven emirates.
ISO 9001 Certification
UAE’s top precast producers receive certification for their quality control and standard practices in the design, manufacture and erection of precast parts. The international standard for quality management.
Custom Mould Capability
Each project comes with their own configuration of the floor-to-floor height, the dimension for the tread and the landing configuration. Your manufacturer should make custom moulds to your drawings, rather than making your drawings fit their standard mould sizes.
Shop Drawings and Engineering Support
A good precast supplier will supply you with detailed shop drawings that have been checked with your structural drawings before they are produced. This avoids unnecessary surprises and pitfalls on site and prevents costly mistakes.
Logistics for Delivery
Large precast staircase units must be transported by specialist delivery company and installed with the help of a crane. Check the manufacturer’s track record in your specific environment – whether in Business Bay and a high-rise building, or in JAFZA and a warehouse facility.
Coastal environment of the UAE is aggressive and concrete mix durability is one of the concerns. The type of cement, water-cement ratio and cover to reinforcement should be appropriate for concrete that is exposed to salt-laden air. Request mix design as well as test reports on durability.
Final Thoughts on Precast Concrete Staircases Manufacturer UAE
One of the most convenient choices you can make on a construction project in the UAE is precast concrete stairs. They are time-saving, risk-free, consistent and compliant with the regulatory standards imposed by Dubai Municipality and other regulatory bodies.
Using precast concrete flights and landings is by far the most efficient and professional method of building staircases in today’s modern methods of construction. Stair flights and landings are manufactured in the factory in controlled conditions in the moulds designed and created especially for the purpose. While the staircases are being manufactured, the site can be prepared for the building to accept the staircases, which saves time and money. uae contractors
That’s speed, reliability, and compliance in a market that changes at lightning speed – every developer and contractor needs that.
It is best to hire a staircase manufacturer that has been approved by the Department of the Museum and check their credentials, not wait for your structural engineer to be involved, and you won’t have to worry about your staircase anymore.
