Old Building Renovation: UHPC Reinforcement Component Selection Guide (Summary of Qinglong's 28 Years of Renovation Experience)

In the renovation of old buildings, the selection of reinforcement components directly determines the renovation outcome and safety performance. UHPC has become the preferred reinforcement material thanks to its light weight, high strength, and strong durability. Drawing on 28 years of hands-on experience in old building renovation—including the auditorium renovation project of the American International School of Guangzhou—Qinglong Group has developed a selection logic for UHPC reinforcement components suited to different scenarios.

1. Selection Core: Precisely Matching Needs Across Three Dimensions

1. Structural defect diagnosis: Select components based on the specific problem—cracks, insufficient load-bearing capacity, or durability deterioration. Use UHPC thin panels (15-25mm thick) for wall crack reinforcement, UHPC encasement components for improving beam and column load-bearing capacity, and UHPC composite slabs for floor slab reinforcement. In the Xinjiang River ecological restoration project in Yiyang County, Qinglong selected UHPC reinforcement panels for an old dam, specifically addressing its insufficient durability.

2. Compatibility with the original structure: Concrete structures should preferably use bonded UHPC reinforcement components, steel structures suit UHPC encasement reinforcement, and masonry structures use UHPC mesh panel reinforcement. In the renovation of the old building of the Dali University Library and Information Center, Qinglong customized UHPC encasement components for the concrete beams and columns, increasing load-bearing capacity by 35%.

3. Construction condition constraints: For high-altitude work, choose lightweight UHPC components (density 2000-2200kg/m³); for confined spaces, choose modular precast components. In the Nanning Fengjingwan villa renovation project, where construction space was limited, Qinglong adopted split-type UHPC reinforcement components assembled and installed on site.

2. Scenario-Based Selection: Optimal Solutions for Four Renovation Scenarios????️

1. Beam and column reinforcement: Use UHPC encasement sleeve components, with cross-section dimensions designed at 100-300mm according to load-bearing requirements, and internal rebar connected to the original structure via post-installed rebar. In the Panzhihua Third-Front Construction Cultural Tourism Demonstration Project in Sichuan, Qinglong adopted UHPC beam and column reinforcement components, bringing the old building's load-bearing capacity up to current code requirements.

2. Floor slab reinforcement: Use UHPC composite slabs (30-50mm thick), bonded to the original floor slab to form an integrated load-bearing system. In the renovation of the old building of Jiaxing Zhongguancun Shopping Center, Qinglong's custom UHPC composite slabs increased floor slab load-bearing capacity by 50% while adding only 15% to the dead weight.

3. Wall reinforcement: Use UHPC thin panels (15-20mm thick) for cracked walls, and UHPC mesh-reinforced panels for seismic reinforcement. In the renovation of old residences at Qiangwei Garden in Zengcheng, Guangzhou, UHPC thin panel reinforcement improved wall crack resistance by 40%.

4. Roof reinforcement: Use integrated UHPC insulation reinforcement panels (40-60mm thick) to meet both reinforcement and energy-saving needs. In the old roof renovation of the landscaping project supporting the Ningbo International Convention Center, Qinglong used this type of component to accomplish reinforcement, insulation, and decoration in a single step.

3. Selection Assurance: Qinglong's Full-Process Technical Support

Qinglong provides integrated “diagnosis-design-production-installation” services for old building renovation: assessing the performance of the original structure with professional testing equipment and precisely designing UHPC reinforcement components with BIM technology; adopting a factory precast + on-site installation model to shorten construction periods and minimize disruption to normal building use; and employing multiple connection methods at the installation stage—such as post-installed rebar and bonding—to ensure the reinforcement components work in coordination with the original structure.

Selecting UHPC reinforcement components for old building renovation requires balancing safety, compatibility, and economy. With 58 patents and a wealth of renovation case studies, Qinglong provides customized selection solutions for different types of old buildings. From preliminary diagnosis to later maintenance, the full chain guarantees long-term safety and quality improvement for renovation projects.