ifwla - Warehousing and Logistics International

50 Twintec AdvertorialTwintec Advisory Paper 1:21st Century Warehouses& Storage FacilitiesDarryl Eddy, Director, Twintec UKA modern 21st century warehouse is a very differentplace from its predecessor of the 1980s and 1990’s.Developments in logistics technology and software alongwith advances in storage systems and mechanicalhandling equipment (MHE) have allowed manufacturersand distribution companies to become dramatically moreefficient.Racking systems are becoming higher, aisles narrowerand automated systems commonplace, providingoperators with efficient stock retrieval and faster deliveryto the customer. These facilities are increasing in size interms of footprint and height. These facilities place muchgreater demands on the flooring system including muchmore aggressive surface wear, much higher loads beingimposed on the floor slab and an increase in the flatnesstolerances required.Another consideration that needs to be addressed insuch a fast moving industry is ‘future-proofing’.Continuing improvements in technology have led someconsultants to suggest that changes to the logistics systemsin a modern warehouse are needed every 5 – 10 years.This presents an additional problem for clients, tenantsand third party logistics (3PL) companies and has a directbearing on the type of floor specified and constructed ina new facility. Most of the maintenance problems inindustrial concrete floors result from unevenness anddisruptions of the surface, particularly at joints.For the operator of a modern distribution facility, downtime to repair the floor slab, or MHE damaged by a poorquality floor slab can be very disruptive. In addition, thecurling and breakdown of sawn joints in a traditionalsystem can cause major disruption for MHE in terms ofpicking speed. A further potential problem is the need torespect the designer’s criteria regarding proximity ofracking legs to floor joints; the more joints there are, thegreater the likelihood that conflicts could arise.Building owners are increasingly aware of suchproblems associated with saw-cut joints; therefore‘joint-free’ industrial flooring systems such as steel fibrereinforced concrete (SFRC) are becoming more frequentlyspecified and have proven to be a successful solution.A SFRC ‘joint-free’ slab is designed to eliminate theneed for saw cut induced contraction joints. The design isa well proven method with a thirty year track record.Eliminating the saw cut joints has a significant benefit tothe end user in terms of increased flexibility of use,improved toughness and durability and reducedmaintenance costs for both floor slab and forklifts.Adopting a SFRC ‘joint-free’ system will not onlyminimise the problems identified above, but also improvethe flexibility of the building in terms of ‘futureproofing’it.ConclusionThe quality and durability of a modern industrial floorslab is key to the success and efficiency of a modernlogistics facility. UK Concrete Society Technical Report No34 section 2.1 says that “an ideal floor would beperfectly flat and level and have no joints”. This is moreachievable with SFRC than with lightly reinforced floorslabs as it allows the elimination of saw-cut joints, andtherefore ensures better long term flatness.However, once building owners, consulting engineers,architects and general contractors have decided to opt fora ‘joint-free’ SFRC slab, they must take precautions inchoosing the right specialist contractor for the job bycarefully reviewing the following items:• The contractor’s track record in ‘joint-free’ SFRC floors• Visit ‘joint-free’ reference floors and ask the opinion oftheir users• Check the site quality control procedures proposed bythe concrete contractor• Ensure that adequate site conditions will be in placebefore, during and after the works• Ensure early co-ordination takes place with thecontractor to optimise the detailed design andparticularly adjoining interfaces• Limit the number of split responsibilities within thecontract• Be aware of and accept the possibilities of controlledcracksIf these factors are carefully considered, if theplanning and design process is integrated carefully withthe building and the logistics systems and if the correctcontractor and supply chain is selected, then the end resultwill be that everyone gets exactly what is best for theproject.Twintec Limited, Prospect Park, Valley Drive, Rugby,Warwickshire. CV21 1TFTel : 01788 567722 ▪ Email: mail@twintec.co.ukWebsite : www.twintec.co.ukIssue No. 3www.warehousinglogisticsinternational.com