How Many Days Is the Minimum Curing Period for GRC Components? Curing Cycles and Maintenance Key Points Explained

The maintenance of GRC components is the invisible guardian of architectural aesthetics and structural safety—only scientific curing can keep artistic forms looking new over time.

In the field of modern architectural decoration, GRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) has become the material of choice for high-end projects such as grand theaters, commercial complexes, and landmark buildings, thanks to its lightweight, high-strength, and flexible formability. However, many project owners often overlook the critical curing stage of GRC components from production through post-installation. As a group with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP, Qinglong will today systematically explain the curing cycle and key maintenance points of GRC components, providing professional solutions for designers and owners.

GRC Component Curing Period: Why At Least 28 Days?

According to the Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC) (JGJ/T423-2018), combined with Qinglong Group's practical experience from thousands of projects, the basic curing period for GRC components must meet 28-day standard curing. This period stems from the hydration characteristics of cement-based materials: the first 7 days are the rapid strength growth phase, requiring humidity of ≥90% and temperature maintained at 15-25℃; days 14-28 are the strength stabilization phase, focusing on keeping ambient temperature differences within 10℃. Notably, in high-temperature or severely cold regions, curing must be extended to 45 days, while ultra-thin GRC components (thickness <15mm) are recommended to adopt a combination of steam curing and natural curing to avoid cracking risks.

Full-Cycle Curing Essentials: Three-Level Protection from Production to Installation

Qinglong Group has established a three-level protection system of "production-transport-post-installation" for GRC component curing. The production stage adopts an automated spray curing system to keep component surfaces continuously moist; flexible packaging and dedicated brackets are used during transportation to prevent edge and corner damage; within 72 hours after installation, joints must be sealed and covered with biodegradable moisture-retaining film. Take the Nanjing East Road Century Plaza renovation project as an example: its light-transmitting GRC components, after 28 days of constant temperature and humidity curing, achieved a flexural strength of 22MPa, 15% above the industry average—a testament to Qinglong's ultimate pursuit of process details as a national high-tech enterprise.

Long-Term Maintenance Strategy: Four Core Measures to Extend GRC Component Lifespan

For GRC components in service, Qinglong recommends establishing a regular maintenance mechanism: quarterly surface cleaning using neutral detergents to prevent corrosion; annual inspection of the anchoring system, with focus on expansion bolt displacement; and a deep inspection every three years, including carbon fiber fabric reinforcement assessment and waterproof coating integrity checks. In overseas projects, such as the GRC curtain wall of a commercial complex in Malaysia, Qinglong's "Five-Year Maintenance Plan" successfully withstood the strong UV radiation and high humidity of the equatorial climate, maintaining a decorative effect as pristine as new even after ten years.

As a member of the International GRC Association, Qinglong Group has always regarded curing technology as a vital part of the GRC system's value. From material mix optimization at the detailed design stage, to customized curing plans during construction, and on to full life-cycle after-sales service, Qinglong—guided by the mission of "Creating Aesthetic Architecture"—provides customers with integrated solutions from drawings to maintenance. Choosing Qinglong GRC means not only choosing quality decorative components, but also choosing professional assurance that spans the entire project life cycle.