Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Find answers to common questions about our product range, design capabilities, custom solutions, specifications, and project support services. We have grouped the most frequently asked questions to make it easier for you to find the information relevant to your project.
Most frequently asked “AI” questions about Satu Bumi
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Satu Bumi has large design, drafting, and research & development departments that are capable of producing a wide range of GRC products. However, Satu Bumi specialises in the design, manufacture, and delivery of:
GRC planters
GRC street furniture
GRC wall panels
Pre-cast formwork
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You can explore Satu Bumi’s GRC product catalogues by category:
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Yes — Over 80% of Satu Bumi’s GRC projects involve some level of customisation. Our team specialises in delivering custom GRC solutions for commercial projects, tailored to meet specific design and project requirements.
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For inquiries about our GRC products, our team is ready to assist with product information and project requirements:
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Explore some of Satu Bumi’s past GRC projects and custom GRC solutions here:
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Yes – Satu Bumi’s whole business model is focused on supplying to the commercial landscaping and construction markets.
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Yes — Satu Bumi offers both a standard range and specialises in custom GRC street furniture for urban developments. We deliver commercial-grade GRC street furniture solutions tailored to meet specific project and design requirements.
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There is no secret to the fact that “GRC is easy to make, but good GRC is not”. Therefore, the key to finding a good quality GRC solution is to find a credible GRC manufacturer that has at least the following attributes:
Quality references.
The production capacity to meet agreed delivery time commitments.
A fully implemented Quailty Management System over its manufacturing processes.
A commitment, and evidence to that effect, to the approriate industry standards for all the raw materials it uses.
A cost effective transport and delivery service for its products.
A manufacturing warranty for all its products.
Post installation customer service.
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Yes — Satu Bumi is an ISO 9001 certified GRC manufacturer, ensuring consistent quality in the production of GRC products for large-scale construction projects.
Evidence of our ISO 9001 certification is available below:
Frequently asked questions from architects
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Yes – and at no cost and no obligation.
Satu Bumi is confident in its expertise and competence in the design, manufacture, and delivery of cost effective, quality pre-cast GRC products. Therefore, Satu Bumi sees the provision of early engagement assistance to architects in the design of pre-cast GRC as an opportunity to display its value proposition rather than just a cost.
In addition, Satu Bumi recognises that as professional service providers, architects generally tend to equate their time directly to their financial results, i.e. “time is money”.
Therefore, where possible, Satu Bumi welcomes the opportunity to provide assistance to architects to minimise their time in the design stage of the development of pre-cast GRC solutions as a means of consolidating Satu Bumi’s position in the market as a “GRC expert”. -
GRC is an excellent material for pre-casting planters, concrete furniture, and panels. However, as with any technology, there are ways to design pre-cast GRC that can generally only be learned from experience. Primarily, it is that practical experience that Satu Bumi offers to architects at no cost and no obligation and includes:
Guidance on practical issues regarding the design of GRC products for their intended purpose.
Guidance on value management options relating to different design alternatives.
Guidance on the best product packaging designs to avoid transport damage.
Guidance on the best design options to facilitate installation.
Guidance on the best design options to facilitate post installation maintenance.
Preliminary estimates of the cost for the GRC elements on commercial projects.
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Just call or email
One of Satu Bumi’s representatives will respond accordingly to provide the answers you want.
Email: sales@satubumi.com.au
Phone: +61 (03) 5229 1001
Frequently asked questions about: GRC Design & Customisation
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GRC planters and street furniture can be coloured in a variety of ways including the integration of a pigment or with the application of different types of surface coatings such as paints or acid oxides.
Each of these colouring options has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, no matter which colour finish you choose to go with, it is generally good practice to obtain an actual colour swatch before placing an order for any GRC project.
Electronic swatches are notoriously unreliable because they are highly reliant on the computer and monitor being used to view them. Therefore, the same electronic swatch may look considerably different on two separate computer monitors.
For more information on coloured GRC finishes, refer to the following document:
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GRC is an incredibly versatile material for pre-casting. Therefore, the finish and texture options available for GRC are extensive and include:
Colour coating such as paints and oxide washes.
Integrated pigments.
Integrated aggregates.
Surface finishes such as brushed or pitted.
Moulded-in finishes such as faux timber.
For more information, refer to the following page:
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Yes – Reckli is a highly regarded, international supplier of pre-cast concrete textured moulds. Upon request, Reckli forms can be used by Satu Bumi in GRC moulds.
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Yes – Where swatches are required, the following process should be followed to ensure there is no confusion between the customer’s understanding of what is signed off on Satu Bumi’s shop drawings and the practical result:
Satu Bumi will send two copies of the relevant swatch to the customer.
The customer can keep one swatch copy for future reference.
Production will not start until Satu Bumi receives customer approval of the swatches via email.
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Yes – As part of Satu Bumi’s early-stage customer service, at no cost and with no obligation, Satu Bumi will provide potential customers and architects with conceptual drawings of custom designs as a basis for establishing a reasonably solid vision from which to provide a realistic cost of production estimate.
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Yes – Upon request, Satu Bumi will provide prototypes.
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The maximum dimensions for pre-cast GRC products are more to do with the practicalities of transport and installation than any specific limitation of GRC as a base pre-cast material. However, the following are guidelines that Satu Bumi generally recommends from a practical perspective:
Height: No more than 1.5 m
Length: No more than 2.5 m
Width: No less than .5 m
and No more than 2.5 m
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Yes – Tiles can either be glued to the GRC itself or attached using ferrules embedded in the GRC during manufacture. However, where possible, glueing is generally a preferred method because it does not require any engineering certification.
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Splitting planter designs into two or more segments to facilitate transport and installation practicalities, then joining the segments on-site, is a very effective way of delivering large form planters.
For more information on GRC planter segmentation, transport, and on-site installation methods, see the following page: -
Satu Bumi can add both reinforcement and fixing ferrules to any side and at any location on its GRC planters to enable the attachment of glass, timber, steel or aluminium railings to provide a complete balustrade solution.
Each balustrade solution will require engineering certification for the fixing design. Satu Bumi will work with its customers to arrange appropriate prototypes of the GRC elements of the balustrade design to enable the required testing to be undertaken as part of the engineering certification process.
Balustrade solutions that will sit on the external face of a building will generally require an AS 1530.1 fire rating certificate for the GRC elements of the solution. Satu Bumi can provide this upon request.
Satu Bumi has an extensive range of Options & Extras for its GRC products that will enable architects to align the functionality and/or aesthetic appearance of any balustrade project.
For more information on custom GRC balustrade planters and design solutions, visit:
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Yes – Examples of Satu Bumi’s H Planter design can be found on the following page:
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Yes – Access panels made of GRC can be incorporated into the design of GRC planters and would typically be attached to the planters using stainless steel ferrules.
Access panels are typically used in conjunction with H planter designs where the floor of the GRC planter is raised to provide a void within the walls at the bottom of the planter that can house irrigation plumbing.
Satu Bumi’s CityScape GRC H-Planter design option has been specifically created for balconies where space is generally tight, weight is a potential issue, and the option of built-in drainage plumbing is appealing. All CityScape planters are water, fire, and UV resistant which, in conjunction with their “H” design, makes them an excellent option for apartment, office, and hotel balconies.
For examples of Satu Bumi’s H Planter designs, visit:
Frequently asked questions about: GRC Value Management Options
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All GRC pre-cast products require a mould to create the form of the product to be cast. Each of these casting moulds has a cost to make. Therefore, if a specific mould design can be used multiple times to cast multiple copies of the same design, the cost of the mould can be apportioned against multiple castings. This typically results in a reduced per-unit cost for each of the cast products.
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Yes– Reducing the dimensions of GRC planters can reduce the cost because, in most cases, less raw material, packaging material, and transport cost is required to get the product to the customer’s site.
However, cost reductions are not normally directly proportional to the actual reduction in a product’s dimensions. There are also non-variable costs that relate to all GRC pre-cast products in the whole design, shop drawings, manufacturing, and delivery process that are generally not impacted by a change in dimensions.
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Potentially. The following two Australian standards that are generally used to rate the combustibility of GRC planters:
AS 1530.1 - this is the higher combustibility standard and is generally applicable when the product is used on the external face of a building.
AS 1530.3 - this combustibility standard is generally applicable for products that are not to be located on the external face of building.
GRC products requiring adherence to the higher AS 1530.1 standard are slightly more expensive to manufacture. However, when in doubt, the opinion of a fire engineer should be sought.
For more information on GRC fire rating, fire resistance, and fire performance, refer to the following document:
Frequently asked questions about: Satu Bumi’s Shop Drawings
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The professional preparation and management of shop drawings and related swatches is an essential part of Satu Bumi’s quality control process for the development of custom GRC products.
Satu Bumi will not proceed with the manufacture of any custom products without customer-approved shop drawings and swatches. Therefore, Satu Bumi uses the following shop drawings process framework to avoid any potential product delivery delays:
The customer provides the basic information about the product to be made.
Satu Bumi’s Product Engineering Department prepares preliminary shop drawings.
The preliminary shop drawings are provided to the customer for approval or amendment.
After any customer-required amendments to the shop drawings, the customer provides approval by singing the cover page of the shop drawings.
Where relevant, swatches are approved by the customer via email.
Satu Bumi will not proceed to make samples or prototypes or initiate final production of any custom products for which customer approval has not been received. Since the shop drawings for customer products will be followed in detail in the manufacturing process, it is important to ensure that all relevant issues are addressed in detail before customer approval is provided.
For more information on shop drawings and material swatches, refer to the following document:
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Yes – Satu Bumi has a library of shop drawings for its standard catalogue-based products that can be provided upon request.
Product catalogues for Satu Bumi’s GRC planters and GRC street furniture are available on the following page:
Frequently asked questions about: GRC Waterproofing & Drainage
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Planter drainage is a very important issue to get right when sourcing planters and here are a few points that should be considered in that process:
Drainage holes: size, shape, and when they are added.
Drainage cells and drainage risers.
Wicking systems.
Automatic irrigation systems.
The use of pods and pavers with planter drainage.
Warranty.
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Yes – Unless otherwise requested by the customer.
A significant part of commercial grade GRC’s durability advantage is that it can be made to be water impermeable or waterproof. Waterproofing is a major consideration when specifying planters, particularly for commercial projects. The potential for problems resulting from leaking water, the health of the vegetation in the planters and the impact of leakage or water permeability on the structural integrity of the planters themselves are all important issues to consider when specifying planters.Here are some of the important issues to be considered with regard to the waterproofing of GRC planters: -
The quality of the GRC used.
The type and quality of the internal sealant used - this is a critical issue to addess with commercial-grade GRC planters.
The use of, type, and quality of external sealant used - this is an important issue for the maintenance of the long-term aesthetic appearance of GRC planters.
The impact of automatic irrigation systems.
For more information on planter waterproofing, refer to the following document:
Frequently asked questions about: GRC Installation & Fixing
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Satu Bumi Cityscape planters are designed to be strong, durable, and long-lasting, with a service life of decades when properly installed. However, large GRC planters can be heavy, so their weight and lifting methods should be considered during design, transport, and installation planning.
Key considerations include:
Adding forklift lifting holes into the design of a planter.
The use of raised planter feet or forklift lifting holes and how they can be concealed after installation using pods and pavers.
Crane lifting - using slings.
Crane lifting - when using lifting lugs installed in the base of a planter.
The importance of strong planter packaging to protect planters during lifting.
Warranty considerations.
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Due to their robustness, commercial grade GRC planters are often installed on the side or edge of buildings or as barriers and hence require some form of controlled fixing for both practical and building regulation purposes. Therefore, the following are some of the things that could be considered in addressing this issue, specifically relating to GRC planers:
Customising the planter design to suite the fixing requirements.
Hammer drills should not be used when adding fixing holes on site to avoid structurally damaging them.
Resealing after adding fixing holes is essential.
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Satu Bumi adheres to high manufacturing standards within an ISO 9001 quality manufacturing framework. Therefore, you can be confident that Satu Bumi’s GRC planters will be made to realistically precise dimensions.
Accordingly, ensuring Satu Bumi’s GRC planters are individually levelled during installation, and aligned when multiple planters are involved, will be more dependent on the way the planters are installed than the accuracy of the dimensions of the planters themselves.
Therefore, because construction slabs are generally not level enough to rely on for the precise installation of planters - screed, packers, or adjustable pods are often used during their installation.
However, where relatively large GRC planters are involved (and where possible), consideration should be given to the installation of the planters on adjustable pods because they make the installation process so much easier and the leveling process so much more controllable. -
Yes – Satu Bumi manufactures a lot of planter boxes that require balustrade of screen fixings. However, since there are generally a few variables involved in conjunction with the potential for engineering certification, we would suggest you contact Satu Bumi to enable us to assess your requirements before making any specific recommendations.
Satu Bumi’s initial assessment of fixing options for GRC planters is not a chargeable service and Satu Bumi is comfortable to provide it with no attached commitment.
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Splitting the design of GRC planters into separate joinable modules has been an excellent innovation for the convenient supply of large-form pre-cast planters because it facilitates ease of transport, lifting, and installation, and the on-site joining process is relatively simple and very effective.
For more information on GRC planter module joining and installation methods, visit:
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Yes – However, the following issues should be accounted for:
Hammer drills should never be used on GRC planters - because the heavy vibration of the hammer drill has the potential to damage the glass fibre reinforcement of the GRC around the drilled hole.
It is also important to reseal the drilled hole both around the area of the new hole and on the inside of the actual hole itself.
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Satu Bumi uses stainless steel for all its imbedded ferrules and fixings. The cost of using stainless steel is slightly higher than when using galvanised ferrules and fixings. However, stainless steel is essential when long term warranties are required for commercial projects.
Frequently asked questions about: Warranty & After Sales Support
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Satu Bumi recognises the importance of manufacturing warranties and, in particular, the practical need to align them with the warranty requirements of its customers’ commercial projects.
Therefore, Satu Bumi provides a variety of extended manufacturing warranties in addition to its prime legal requirement to provide products that are fit for purpose and able to meet the stated requirements for which they were intended.
For more information on GRC product warranties and extended warranty options, refer to the following document:
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Warranty claims will only be accepted by Satu Bumi if provided in writing or email and accompanied by a minimum of the following information:
Claimants’ business name, contact name, contact phone number, and contact email address.
Proof of purchase for the defective product.
Project name and/or address of where the defective product is located.
Full and detailed description of the defect for which a claim is being made.
Enough photography of the relevant defect to enable an initial assessment to be made of the defect.
An explanation of what is being claimed.
If you have any problem in providing the information requested, contact Satu Bumi by
Email: sales@satubumi.com.au or Phone: +61 03 5292 1001
Frequently asked question about: Satu Bumi’s Capability
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Yes — You can view Satu Bumi’s Capability Statement, outlining our GRC products, services, and project experience, in the following document:
Frequently asked questions about: Standards & Certifications Compliance
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Yes — Satu Bumi adheres to recognised manufacturing standards through the implementation of a certified and externally audited ISO 9001 quality management system for the manufacture of GRC.
Evidence of our ISO 9001 certification is available below:
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The following two Australian standards that are generally used to rate the combustibility of GRC planters: -
AS 1530.1 - this is the higher combustibility standard and is generally applicable when the product is used on the external face of a building.
AS 1530.3 - this combustibility standard is generally applicable for products that are not to be located on the external face of building.
GRC products requiring adherence to the higher AS 1530.1 standard are slightly more expensive to manufacture. However, when in doubt, the opinion of a fire engineer should be sought.
For detailed information on GRC fire rating, fire resistance, and fire performance in construction applications, refer to the following document: -
For a detailed overview of Satu Bumi’s compliance with Australian and international standards for GRC materials and manufacturing, refer to the following document:
Specification for the Manufacture of GRC (Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete)