Steel Designers Manual - TheBestFriend.org

This material is copyright - all rights reserved. Reproduced under licence from The Steel Construction Institute on 12/2/2007
To buy a hardcopy version of this document call 01344 872775 or go to http://shop.steelbiz.org/
Steel Designers' Manual - 6th Edition (2003)
106 Industrial steelwork
(1) (2)
(5,6)
Fig. 3.6 Typical sections of floor construction
________ IIIIuI
IU ii !U
Open grid flooring is used inside for similar functions as solid steel plate, but with
additional functional requirements where the flooring is subjected to spillage of
liquids or where air flow through the floor is important. It is also used for stair treads
and landings. Consideration should be given to making, say, landings and access
strips from solid plate at intervals to assist in promoting a feeling of security among
users. It is also in common use externally due to its excellent performance in wet
weather.
Concrete floors are in use where heavy-duty non-removable floor areas are necessary.
It is not normally advisable to use beam-and-pot-type floorings in any heavy
industrial environment due to the damage that can be suffered by lightweight thinwalled
blocks. For similar reasons, where precast concrete floors require a topping
for finishes or to act as a structural diaphragm, it is advisable to use a fully-bonded
small aggregate concrete topping with continuous mesh reinforcement, with a
typical minimum thickness of 75–100 mm.
A particular advantage of both precast flooring and metal deck permanent formwork
is that in many industrial structures the floor zones are irregular in plan and
elevation and therefore cheap repetitive formwork is often not practicable.
Even where formwork can sensibly be used, the early installation of major plant
items as steel frame erection proceeds can complicate in situ concrete formwork.
Floors must be able to accept holes, openings and plant penetrations on a random
layout, and often must accept them very late in the design stage or as an alteration
after construction. This provides significant problems for certain flooring, particularly
precast concrete. In situ concrete can accept in a convenient manner most types
of openings prior to construction, but it may be prudent deliberately to allow for
(4)
(7)