Page 90 - Demo

90 APPLICATION & CONSTRUCTION AAC WORLDWIDE %u2022 2.2025APPLICATION & CONSTRUCTIONJetway Building Material Ltd., San Po Kong, Hong KongApplication of AAC panels in Hong KongIn Hong Kong, autoclaved aerated concrete is a popular choice and has been widely used among contractors due to its low weight and straightforward installation, which are well-suited for diverse projects, providing fire resistance and reducing the dead loads on structural building components.%u00a0Jetway Building Material Ltd. is the sole agent of Ytong AAC products in Hong Kong and Macau, specializing in the sales and installation of blocks, panels and other related products. This article presents two case studies that have recently been successfully realized by Jetway Building Material Ltd. These examples demonstrate the advantages of AAC construction systems in terms of the technical benefits for applications where space is at a premium and the focus is on construction speed.With over 30 years of application in Hong Kong, AAC products have been widely adopted, and architects and engineers are willing to also use AAC panels in structural applications such as external walls and slabs.For partitions and external walls, panels are favoured by owners because they are even more convenient to install than blocks and because they provide aesthetic appearance, resulting in a better finish with minimal aesthetic discrepancies. This reduces the need for subsequent finishing work and allows for the quickest possible handover of the wall surface to contractors tasked with installing the finishes. Therefore, AAC partition walls are particularly popular in classy residential projects.Ytong slab panels are also used for additions and renovations in structural applications, offering a simpler installation process and higher compatibility to MEP services compared to traditional cast-in-place concrete in the limited space, making them a preferred choice by main contractors.Two projects in which Ytong slab panels were used are briefly described here.Case studies4,500 m2 overhead smoke extraction duct at HKU stationThe original design for this project was based on precast concrete panels. However, due to the narrow construction site and the heavy weight of the precast panels, the installation machinery would have needed to be excessively large and heavy. Since this location serves as an entrance and exit for the site, using large machinery could have blocked the passage and disrupt site operations, thus limiting the working environment.Using Ytong slab panels, these operational issues could be avoided. Ytong slab panels are significantly lighter than precast concrete panels, allowing for the construction of a simple scaffolding under the work surface and hence the provision of space for