Steel structure manufacturer since 2009 · 8 fabrication bases in China
Floor & Envelope
PBS: prefabricated shells that become the formwork and the finish
PBS (Prefabricated Building Shell) uses thin fibre-reinforced concrete shells as permanent formwork for columns, beams, walls and slabs. The shells are set on site with the rebar inside, then filled into one monolithic RC structure.
50%
Design time saved*
30%
Construction time saved*
10%+
Saving vs precast concrete*
Own system
Standards and atlas authored
Cómo funciona
Concha prefabricada + montaje en sitio + vertido monolítico
01
Factory shells
Fibre-reinforced boards formed into column, beam, wall and slab shells.
02
Entrega
Light shells, no curing on site.
03
Assembly
Shells placed around rebar cages.
04
Pour
Concrete fills the shells; the board bonds.
05
Finish
Surfaces ready for putty and paint.
Diseño
Who designs a PBS building?
| Ítem | Responsibility | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Structure (members, rebar) | Your engineer, as a normal RC frame or wall structure | Local concrete code (GB 50010, ACI 318, EN 1992) |
| Shell layout and joints | GGSteel | PBS design atlas and application specification |
| Pour sequence and lift heights | GGSteel with your contractor | Shell capacity against fresh concrete pressure |
| Connections between shells | GGSteel | PBS details |
The shell is formwork, not structure. Strength comes from the cast-in-place concrete and rebar, so the structure is checked like any RC building. That is why local approval is usually simpler than for a new precast system.
From our engineers
Three site points that decide quality
Pour in lifts. Fresh concrete pushes on the shell. Columns and walls are poured in lifts at the rate in our method statement, not in one go.
Set-out first. Shells are placed to grid lines and levels before the rebar is closed; once filled, position cannot be corrected.
Protect the face. The shell is the finish. Chips from handling are repaired before the pour.
Product range
PBS shells by element
Column and beam shells
Permanent formwork for RC columns and beams.
Shear wall shells
Double-skin wall shells filled on site.
Slab and haunch shells
Floor deck and haunched slab elements.
Benefits
Faster, cleaner, comparable cost
Programme
Design time saved 50%, construction time saved 30%.*
Costo
About equal to cast-in-place; 10%+ lower than precast concrete by project size.*
Fewer trades
No formwork removal, no plastering, fewer props.
Calidad
Factory-made surfaces, insulation, sound and moisture performance.
*GGSteel project comparisons.
PBS suits
- RC frame and shear wall buildings: housing, schools, offices
- Precast speed without heavy precast lifting
- Sites short of formwork labour
Consider alternatives when
- Pure steel frames, where truss deck and ALC suit better
- Markets where the authority requires testing of any new formwork system
- Very small projects where setup cost dominates
Is PBS a precast concrete system?
No. The shells are permanent formwork; the structure is cast monolithically on site.
Which standards cover PBS?
GGSteel authored the PBS design atlas and the PBS application technical specification. The structure itself follows your concrete code.
Can PBS be used overseas?
Yes, subject to local approval. We provide the technical standards and test reports for review.
PBS
Check if PBS fits your building
Send structural drawings or the building type and floor area.