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Suspended Floors

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268 views

Suspended Floors

Uploaded by

ednaryiga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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It also eliminates the current day problems of “squeak and creaking” associated with many

timber floors. Low Maintenance: Of all foundation-types, slabs require the least amount of
maintenance, adding to their pricing value. There are 2 types of floor construction used in
construction today; these can be classed as either Suspended or Solid. A ground floor is the
floor of the lowest level of a building. When choosing a timber structural floor layer (and
timber joists and bearers as well), it’s important to consider the source of the timber.
Suspended floors
A suspended floor is a ground floor with a void underneath the structure. The floor can be
formed in various ways, using timber joists, precast concrete panels, block and beam system
or cast in-situ with reinforced concrete. However, the floor structure is supported by
external and internal walls. Supports underneath the floor are permanent and include
sleeper walls or timber props placed at regular intervals.

Unlike standard ground floor construction, suspended floors are not sitting directly on the
ground. This allows air flow and ventilation to prevent the mould and dry rot that would
otherwise occur over damp ground.
However this air flow can leave the problem of draughts and cold in the house if not
insulated correctly. Using insulated Thermofloor panels prevents these draughts and keeps
the temperature constant while maintaining airtightness.

Ways in which a suspended floor can be formed


1. Beam & Block Floor & Cavity Blockwork Wall
2. Beam & Block Floor & ICF Wall

3. Thermofloor & Cavity Blockwork Wall


4. Thermofloor & ICF Wall

5. Thermofloor & Timber Frame Wall


6. Timber Joists & Cavity Blockwork wall
7. Timber Joists and Timber Frame Wall

ADVANTAGES OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SUSPENDED FLOORS

1.DURABILITY

A properly constructed floor will outlast most of the other components of the building.

2. STIFFNESS

Concrete floors designed to carry the imposed loading will generally possess adequate
stiffness and will not deflect under the applied load so as to create problems in non-structural
elements, e.g. doors.

3. ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Concrete floors possess high thermal mass and this can be used to improve the internal
environment within the dwelling and reduce the energy demand for thermal comfort.

4. SPEED OF CONSTRUCTION
Concrete floors can be constructed quickly. The adoption of concrete floor speeds the
completion of the ground floor. Precast flooring systems have the added advantage of
reducing the amount of labor required on site.

5. DAMP RESISTANCE

Concrete floor is nonabsorbent and hence offers sufficient resistance to dampness. This is
used for water retaining floors as well as stores.

6. COST OF MAINTENANCE

Concrete floor is easy to clean and the maintenance cost of concrete floor is very less.

7. FIRE RESISTANCE

The concrete being non-combustible material, this flooring offers a fire-resistant floor,
required for fire hazardous buildings.

DISADVANTAGES OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SUSPENED FLOORS

1. Defects on concrete floors are not easy to rectify.


2. The concrete flooring cannot be satisfactorily repaired by patch work.
3. It does not possess very satisfying insulation properties against sound & heat.
4. Hardness: There’s no denying that concrete is hard underfoot, a quality that some
find uncomfortable. It’s also unforgiving — a dropped glass definitely won’t survive
— and it may be a concern if there are small children or elderly folks in the
household. Area rugs can help alleviate concerns.

5. Moisture: In below-grade basements, moisture migrating up from underneath the slab


may make concrete unacceptably damp and damage any surface treatments, such as
paint. Proper sealing of the concrete helps, as does mitigation of any outside problem
areas like leaky gutters and poor soil drainage.

6. Cracking: Like it or not, even expertly installed concrete may develop cracks over
time. That’s because the large expanse of a slab has to endure changes in temperature,
moisture and settling. Colored cement paste and patching materials help disguise
cracks.

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