By: Tiffany Parra of Fire Pit Surplus
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Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete, or GFRC, is a composite material made from concrete and fine glass fibers. Its unique combination of strength, durability, and lightness sets it apart in the world of construction materials. It offers high tensile strength, reduced weight, and impressive resistance to weathering, which makes it a popular choice across various applications in construction and design.
GFRC is a game-changer in modern construction and design. Its structural and aesthetic versatility allows it to be used in everything from building facades to decorative details. Because of its inherent strength and durability, GFRC reduces the necessity for internal reinforcement, making it a more cost-effective and efficient material. In an industry always seeking innovation, GFRC is an essential material for forward-thinking design.
At Elementi Fire Pits, we believe in marrying form and function in all our creations. We specialize in designing and crafting luxury fire pits that add warmth and style to your outdoor spaces. At the heart of our design philosophy is our use of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC). This innovative material gives our fire pits a blend of unparalleled strength, longevity, and resistance to weather conditions. The lightness of GFRC allows us design flexibility and ease of installation. Our dedication to using GFRC speaks to our commitment to delivering exceptional quality and performance in every fire pit we create.
At Elementi, we are proud to utilize Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) as the cornerstone material for the creation of our fire pit collections. This decision is not made lightly, but rather born from an understanding of the exceptional advantages that GFRC brings to the table. Here are the top five reasons why we put our faith in GFRC:
The glass fiber reinforcement in GFRC provides an edge in durability over conventional concrete. It is capable of braving the elements and offers high resistance to potential cracking or damage due to heat or frost. This level of resilience ensures that our fire pits continue to serve you for years to come with minimal maintenance, promising a worthwhile, long-term investment.
Although GFRC is robust and durable, it’s significantly lighter than traditional concrete. The lighter nature of our fire pits contributes to their manageability, making them much easier to install and move around. This aspect enhances the overall customer experience, adding a level of convenience and adaptability to our products.
GFRC is a remarkably adaptable material, enabling us at Elementi to manufacture fire pits in an expansive range of shapes, hues, and finishes. This material flexibility allows us to satisfy a diverse spectrum of aesthetic preferences and environmental contexts, from the rustic charm of the countryside to the sleek style of a modern city. Our goal is to provide each customer with a product that harmoniously blends with their unique outdoor environment.
The production process of GFRC is less energy-intensive and generates less waste than many other materials, which makes it an environmentally friendlier choice. By opting for GFRC, we are upholding our commitment to sustainable practices and eco-conscious initiatives, a value we deeply believe in.
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The composition of GFRC lends it outstanding resistance to extreme heat, a crucial feature for any fire pit. This characteristic guarantees that our fire pits can securely manage and withstand intense heat, delivering a safe, effective, and spectacular performance to our customers. The functionality of our fire pits is in no way compromised by their stylish appearance, and safety remains a top priority in their design.
Yes, GFRC, as used in our Elementi Fire Pits, has remarkable fire resistance properties. This is because it is made of minerals that don’t burn. Furthermore, GFRC serves as a thermal regulator when exposed to flame, meaning it not only withstands fire, but also protects any materials behind it from heat. Therefore, our GFRC fire pits offer a high level of safety and durability even in high-temperature conditions.
GFRC, especially as employed in our Elementi Fire Pits, is notably durable thanks to its glass fiber reinforcement. With a thickness of just 13 mm, GFRC can handle exceedingly high loads and offers a calculated service life of more than 50 years. Thus, when you invest in an Elementi Fire Pit made from GFRC, you’re investing in a product designed to stand the test of time.
About GFRC
GFRC is concrete that uses glass fibers for reinforcement instead of steel. It is typically cast in a thin section of 1/2″ to 3/4″ in thickness. Since the fibers cannot rust like steel, there is no need for a protective concrete cover thickness to prevent rusting. With the thin, hollow construction of GFRC products, they can weigh a fraction of the weight of traditional precast concrete. GFRC is a composite of cement, glass fibers, aggregates and polymers. It has the look and feel of traditional solid precast and can be used in conjunction with solid precast to meet the projects design criteria.
How GFRC Can Be Used
GFRC can be used wherever a light, strong, weather resistant, attractive and fire retardant material is required.
Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Strength
As an engineered material, the properties of GFRC can vary depending upon mix design, glass content and production methods. Glass fiber used in quality GFRC has a higher tensile strength than steel. As a general rule, the higher the fiber content, the higher the strength. A typical mix with 3% glass fiber has a compressive strength of 6,000 to 8,000 psi. The biggest difference between solid cast and GFRC is that GFRC has significantly higher flexural properties than solid cast products.
GFRC Durability
Glass fiber reinforced concrete has been tested both by accelerated aging tests in the laboratory and in real life installations. GFRC can be expected to last as long as pre-cast concrete. In many environments, as when exposed to salt spray or high moisture, the GFRC can be expected to perform better, as there is no steel reinforcement to corrode. Since the surface of GFRC is a Portland concrete, it weathers much as a quality architectural pre-cast concrete would.
Advantages of GFRC
• Made of minerals and will not burn. In addition, the nature of concrete acts likes a thermal regulator when exposed to flame. GFRC not only will not burn, but it also protects the materials behind it from the heat of the flame.
• Relatively light in weight compared to traditional cast concrete. Its installation is quick and relatively easy. GFRC products typically reduce the amount of anchors and fasteners needed to attach the stone. Many pieces can be handled by one installer while the same profile in solid cast would require multiple installers or lifting equipment.
• Can be cast to virtually any shape straight or radius.
• Lightweight
• Classic Stone Creations GFRC, thin yet strong, weighs 70-85% less than solid concrete. This makes it easier and faster to install and reduces the load on the buildings structure. The lighter weight and stronger material also saves transport costs, allows more design freedom and, by using less material, reduces environmental impact.
•Durable
•Classic Stone Creations GFRC lasts. It is less susceptible to weather erosion and more freeze thaw resistant than conventional concrete. The use of glass fibers for reinforcement rather than steel means it cannot rust and can even be used in salt water and in marine environments.
•Beautiful
•Classic Stone Creations GFRC provides the look and feel of natural stone or architectural precast. We can manufacture GFRC in our “Classic” cast concrete mixture or our “Limestone” mixture which allows the designer more freedom in shape, color and texture than any material. GFRC can be manufactured in any of our standard colors, custom colors and a variety of finishes from smooth, acid washed, antiqued or distressed.
Contact Classic Stone Creations for any questions that you may have regarding GFRC.
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