Industrial construction (warehouses, logistics centers, production workshops, hangars) imposes special requirements on wall and roof materials: installation speed, fire resistance, low weight for large spans, durability and cost-effectiveness. Reinforced ALC (Autoclaved Lightweight Concrete) panels are one of the optimal solutions by aggregate characteristics.
Installation speed is the key advantage. ALC panels are factory-produced in precise dimensions (length up to 6 m, width 600 mm, thickness 75–250 mm), installed dry on a steel frame using special brackets. One installer completes 15–25 m² of panels per shift. For comparison: brick or block masonry yields 3–5 m² per person per shift. For a 5000 m² warehouse, enclosure construction time is reduced 3–5 times.
Low panel weight (density 500–700 kg/m³) allows using a lighter steel frame, reduces foundation load and enables panels on sites with limited bearing capacity. For ALC roof panels (100–250 mm thick), low weight is especially important for large spans (up to 6–7.5 meters between trusses).
Fire resistance is a critical parameter for industrial facilities. ALC is a non-combustible material (group NG), fire resistance limit of wall panels is REI 120–240 minutes (2–4 hours), roof panels — RE 60–120 minutes. This allows using ALC without additional fire protection on facilities with heightened fire safety requirements (category A and B warehouses, production workshops).
Thermal performance and operation. ALC thermal conductivity coefficient — 0.14–0.16 W/m·K. A 150 mm panel is thermally equivalent to 640 mm of brickwork. This allows single-layer walls without additional insulation in most climate zones of Russia. Panels do not rot, are not affected by rodents, have high vapor permeability, ensuring a comfortable indoor microclimate.
Cost-effectiveness. Despite a higher price per m² compared to brick, the total cost of an ALC wall is lower due to: reduced construction time (savings on equipment rental and installer wages), no need for insulation and wet mortar finishing (panels can be puttied directly), reduced foundation and frame costs. For industrial facilities, the payback period for additional ALC investment is typically 1–2 construction seasons.
