How to Set Up Temporary Supports for GRC Panel Installation and Analysis of Key Technical Points

In the field of architectural decoration, GRC panels, with their lightweight yet high-strength properties and rich shaping possibilities, have become an ideal choice for the exterior walls and decorative components of many landmark buildings. However, temporary support serves as the "invisible skeleton" during GRC panel installation, and whether it is set up scientifically directly affects construction safety and final forming quality. Qinglong Group, with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP and drawing on the practice of over a thousand projects, explains the key technical points of temporary support for GRC panels.

The Core Role and Design Principles of Temporary Support for GRC Panels

The temporary support system is the "lifeline" of GRC panels from production and transportation until permanent fixing. Its core function is to counteract the panel's self-weight, construction loads, and external environmental loads, ensuring installation accuracy and structural stability. At the detailed design stage, Qinglong follows three major principles of "strength matching, controllable stiffness, and orderly removal": the support structure requires dedicated calculations based on the GRC panel's dimensions (usually with the weight of a single panel controlled within 50-200kg), installation height (wind load amplification factors must be considered for work at height), and shape complexity (e.g., double-curved components require multi-point coordinated loading), so as to prevent panel deformation or falling caused by support failure.

Four Key Technical Points for Setting Up Temporary Support

1. Support Point Layout: Precisely Matching the Load Center of Gravity
GRC panels are mostly thin-walled components, so support points must avoid weak areas (such as hollowed-out sections and corners), and supports should preferably be placed along the vertical line of the panel's center of gravity and at the 1/4 spans of all four sides. Taking a convention and exhibition center project Qinglong participated in as an example, for an extra-large 6m×2.5m GRC exterior wall panel, a "four-point support + central auxiliary support" scheme was adopted, with BIM simulation used to verify support spacing and load distribution, ensuring deflection was controlled within L/200 (L being the panel span).

2. Material and Connection: Balancing Strength and Adjustability
Support materials should preferably be Q235B section steel or high-strength aluminum alloy, with anti-corrosion surface treatment to adapt to construction site conditions. Qinglong's original "adjustable support node" achieves ±5mm height precision control through bolt fine-tuning, effectively resolving installation errors caused by uneven substrates. Connection nodes must be fitted with anti-slip washers to prevent horizontal displacement of the panel during support.

3. Unloading Sequence: Following the "Last Installed, First Removed" Principle
Temporary support removal must be carried out only after the permanent connection between the GRC panel and the main structure (such as stainless steel hangers or embedded parts) is fully secured and has passed load testing. Qinglong adopts a staged unloading process: first loosening the adjusting bolts to gradually transfer the support force, with each unloading amount not exceeding 20% of the total load, to avoid panel cracking caused by instantaneous stress concentration.

4. Dynamic Monitoring: Full-Cycle Risk Warning
In large projects, Qinglong deploys stress sensors and inclinometers to monitor load changes in the support system and panel posture in real time. For example, during the installation of a GRG ceiling in a theater, monitoring data detected local support overload in time, avoiding the risk of overall instability caused by resonance.

Qinglong's Full-Chain Service: Technical Assurance from Design to Installation

As a national high-tech enterprise and a participant in the formulation of GRC industry standards, Qinglong incorporates temporary support technology into full-process control covering "detailed design - manufacturing - construction and installation." Backed by an annual capacity of 600,000㎡ at its production base in Nanning, Guangxi, Qinglong can customize dedicated support molds according to project needs and optimize support schemes through 3D scanning and parametric design. From the GRC shaped curtain wall of a commercial complex in Guangzhou to the GRP light-transmitting components of a landmark project in Malaysia, Qinglong has always maintained a meticulous and excellence-pursuing attitude, providing customers with one-stop solutions from material selection to installation completion.

Although temporary support is only a temporary measure during construction, it directly determines the final presentation of GRC panels. Choosing a supplier with full-chain technical capabilities can not only avoid construction risks but also enhance the overall project quality through scientific support design. With 28 years of professional experience, Qinglong Group is dedicated to helping more buildings realize its mission of "creating beautiful architecture."