StructuralQ Why is shotcrete not applied to general housing? It could be applied against outer insulation reinforced panels, forming both pillars and walls at the same time. Higher cost of shotcrete should be more than compensated by much shorter time and lower need of cranes.
Shotcrete has been used for residential concrete construction, often for domed or other curved shapes. It has also been used to provide a structural skin over internal insulation panels in more rectangular layouts. Since shotcrete is concrete projected at high speed (between 60 and 80 mph [97 to 129 km/h]) many insulation products do not withstand the impact and abrasion associated with shotcrete impact. In many cases when shooting over an insulating foam panel that cannot withstand the high velocity impact, shotcrete isn’t used, but a low-velocity plaster/grout mix is spray applied over the insulation. Here’s a link to the PCA website with a page on residential housing using a foam inner panel: https://www.cement.org/think-harder-concrete-/homes/building-systems/shotcrete. You can also find similar system information doing a web search for “shotcrete foam panel.”
