Intermediate floors and ceil ings Part 1 Intermediate floors Timber joist framing Calculations The use of deemed to satisfy tables in the Building ‘Regulations cen be misleading since spans will be selected that turn our to have excessive deflections. The former by-laws and LCC schedules gave deflection imits and without such aids calculations are needed, 1. Fig 2 shows the effect of ‘excessive deflection, which ‘caused considerable problems at ‘Milton Keynes when designers took joist sizes from the current Building Regulations without checking the deflections incurred Economic spans ‘The maximum avalable size for Buropean redwood is commonly 200 > 50 mm with length of 4800 mm (giving spans of round 4500 ram for domestic floors) By comparison Douglas firs available 225 and 250 x 50 mm and with lengths up to £6000 mm, its cost is 60 per cent ‘more than European redwood ‘which needs tobe set agtnst the special advantage of bridging spaces beyond 4500 mm. Douglas fir may, currently, be dificult to obtain being reserved for structural use: Spruce, pine and hemlock can be obtained in sections as large a8 75275 mam, With simple domestic construction, cler spans of £6000 mm may be considered for structures such as single-storey 807 A} 21 Oceber 1961 garage or extension, and where deflecting forms can be accommodated, with ne upper Ao. ‘Mos structural timber has to be Jmported so the cost is subject 0 the state of sterling versus the US dollar or European currencies, Beter value for ‘money can usually be obtained from the higher grade timbers such es Douglas fir or hemlock, which give larger spans and ‘better performance. That technical advantage will not be obtained by relying on by-law schedules, but only through calculation and preferably when linked toa famed systems of ‘construction rathe than traditional loadbearing forms ‘The use of stress graded timber also allows design to tighter limits. (Foran explanation of stress grading see ‘Specifying structural timber’, AT 27.8.80, pél2 CLS Yi.) ‘The same applies to the use of laminated josts and beams, and explains why such flooring frames ace standard for house shells in Norway or British CCohumbia but largely absent in UK domestic building. 1 The current growth of timber framing may sho up the structural and economic cave of saleulation. 2 Effects of excessive deflection in timber flor Ad Taoation Litey construction “The ttle sounds cumbersome but the purpose is straightforward, namely to illustrate ways floors above the ground bearing floor can bbe formed and how they can contribute o the structural arrangement both for stability and economy. We include consideration of the floor composite as a whole, and in the second part next week we deal wich suspended ceilings. For floor component selection see also "Products, in practice: horizontal structural components: part floors and decking units’ AJ 18.2.81 p317-27 CUSMB.G. Floor finishes are mainly dealt with elsewhere ‘Products in practice: floor finishes” AJ 7.10.81 705-21 ‘CUSHB ($3) ‘Products in practice: tiles? AJ 4.11.81 (CUS Sg and for industrial floors ‘Ground floors’ A 2.4.81 pi61-74, CUSIB (8-) ep. ‘The remaining main area is terrazzo which is Part2 of this week's article. Part 1 covers: timber joist framing, precast and in-situ floors, special floor framing and steel floors. The article is by ALAN BLANC. “The art of construction: eet faeeLimitations imposed by decking and ceiling finishes The former LCC By-laws gave clear guidance onthe spacing of joists in relation to decking and ceiling finishes and these are summarised in teble Tabled Joie spacing mas cones: Material mm) 2mmnomT&G — 450 25mmnomT&G 600 19mm TSG ply 600 10 mm plasterboard 400 12-5 mm plaster 450 ‘Strutting and stiffening ‘With masonry construction there is no reason for joists to be set on ‘a module greater than the above figures. Atsuch spacing herringbone sruts, metal struts ‘or solid bridging can be used, but ‘with wider spacing effective strutting is difficult to achieve, 5. Joists thinner than 50 mm tend to bow and may crack the ceilings they are also dificult to nail Iisa general rule to strut at spans over 3000 mm but itis worthwhile doing so at lesser spans because ofthe advantages of stiffening the floor skin and helping to minimise ceiling -movervent. At greater spans I prefer to use two lines of strutting s0 thatthe tendency to twist a bearings is negated, whichis particularly important if shoes or angles ae used instead ‘of conventional joist pockets, Bab. More than two lines of strutting can of course be used Bearings In brick construction the selection ofcourse level with 200 mm joists and 20 nominal Aooring will relate bed joints and floor levels, 7a, the beam filing being in brick or block to stiffen at bearings. Josts are never perfectly true and itis customary for intermediate floors tobe laid with crowning surfaces upward and, because of discrepancies in ‘masonry, a bedjoint will be needed using slate or tile packing, With modular blockwork laid to fine tolerances itis possible to dispense with this ‘uadition, which is preferable since some displacement of the packs is common, Tb Lapping of joists at spine walls ‘wll help with continuity of fixings tothe floor deck and spiking wil aid stiffening a the ‘beam filling line, With flooring ‘modules such as ongued ply on 1200 mn centres it is wise to run joists through without aps and to rely on metal railing plates to “The art of comeracon cms Noo sive end restraint at the bute joint. In this way jst ae kept in lie and can conveniently “underlie joints berween flooring sheets, 8. This point is crucial in skeletal timber frames, like Walter Sezal's houses, 9 Another method for accurate levelling isto use a bearer bar cogged tothe joists, 10. Framed Aoors give stiffness to masonry structures when builtin’, and the Building Regulations stipulate tics where joists run parallel o envelope walls, 11 With buildings above three storeys i is necessary to have tither a reinforced concrete ring ‘beam ora concrete floor at second floor level to give stability tothe envelope walls ‘With conversion work, steel angle bearings have the advantage thatthe end grain can Dekept clear of old damp walls however no silness is added unless stet tes are extended from the angle, or padstones secured tothe joist sides, etc. (As uidance the angle will need 10 ‘be 100 > 100 * 10 mm thick and caried on 10 mm ragbolts Tor domestic floor loading.) The ‘construction is far more expensive than pockets or shoes and therefore only relevant when dealing with existing buildings. Preservation of timber ‘The key to the problem isthe "sk ftom dey 201; such troubles arise ifthe moisture content ‘exceeds 20 per cent, which may ‘occur even while Building is ‘under construction, due to ‘weather penetration. (At lower moisture contents there is stil likely to be werping and twisting) ‘Subsequently the risk arises from infection through existing structures or from unattended Teaks. Ideally, ll softwood should be trested with 8 preservative, especially where new and old buildings are adjoining. Protection should always be given to any timber in ‘contact with outside walls (he inner leaf pockets), and ifthe cavities area risk of filling then {ele should be wrapped toll joint ends, 12, ‘Trimming layouts Ikis good practice to provide ‘rimming layouts, 13, for wood ioisted arrangements s thatthe carpenter can se out ro fixed ‘openings suchas tar wells, ducts or traps, remembering to increase timber thickness by 25 mm for trimming and trimmed members. In small ‘works I stil use rusk tenons but a range of metal anchors is available forall locations. However these ae only supplied AY Inertia Litary 3 Dimensions and fixing of herringbone stating 4 Layout of solid bridging. Sab Advantages of roo rows of strutting. Location nea the bearings is also useful where these ¥ “400 fon DPC are shoe or steel angles tehich do not restrain jit ends enough from rising fs illuserated in fig). {8 Coursing for joists and blockzork at floor lve A}21 October 961 60817 View of detail 6; us of packs is simpler than highly accurate building bu iss cracks at floor to ceiling junction. Sab Lapping at loadbearing walls creates a dogieg which can make 808 A} 21 Qeaber 1981 si oraane wets senate supporting flooring sees fines dificult. burt oom avoids his 19 Designing mbes to minimum size requires co-ordination of floor ‘covering, and jis alignmont. 10 Copging (rebating int) jos of AY Infra Litrsy aes: Ferry git 1 rage me 2 wpe bearer barat spine wall A bar could similarly be installed 12 Felt wrapped joie ends where inthe inmer laf ofthe perimater’ here rsh of moisture transfer tall. from cavity infil 11 Pying domestic floor to wall; 13 Typical jot plan, with fies at 1-8 m interoals up toto trimming layout storeys, 1-2 mabocein quantities to suit contractors erecting 20 or more houses. Specifying exact centres isa waste of ime unless the deck is ‘modular. But note as to the number of joists in each bay will help ordering and also facilitate ‘checking on ste, Double joists or bridging runs will cope with light non-loadbearing partitions, but calculated beams using Douglas fr, laminated timber or preferably steel must be retained for loadbearing walls carried over Aoors (se ‘Secondary beams’ below). (Cutting joists for services is lays a problem; the ideal is holes drilled at mid depth. Isite control isnot strict, increase jist sizes by 25 mm depth asa preceution and add an extra jist into each bay, which wil esult in spacings closer than 400 mm. Limits for drilling, and for notching near bearings are given in CPL12: Part 2: 1971 The structural use of timber. Secondary beams Roof and upper floor loads should not be caried down onto joisted floors untes settlements (025 mm and over are acceptable. This can be seen in sagging New England homes ‘with lear span cellars below a typically partitioned house, and explains why nineteenth century houses on che East Coast of America inevitably have inward sloping floors at all eves with ‘the gradual deformation and deflection of secondary timber beams. Steel beams can be selected 0 obviate deflection and laminated timber can be designed with ‘upward cambers: I prefér the former if finishes are ro survive ‘without movement, Norman ‘Shaw was the first UK architect 1o.use steel extensively fr this purpose andi is significant that his houses are remarkably fee from faults compared with his Americen contemporaries, Steel can give problems with rust staining on plaster surfices—figs 414,15, 16 show derail to isolate the finishes and also to prevent squeak at the wood:to-metal junction. Sound insulation ‘The stressed skin of board or ply and jst slike a ‘drum and its very nature means that sound insulation from above 10 below is not feasible unless there is total, separation. The principle isto provide a separating quilt and to run two sets of timbers, one for the floor deck andthe other for structural timbers, 1Taed. Costs will be 50 percent greater than traditional construction and itis ‘worth making cost comparisons with precast concrete plank Aoors witha floating deck and false ceilings. This has the advantage of weight—2 key factor with sound insulation~plus the possibility of clear spans of 5000-7000 mim, reverse cambers inthe conerete cancelling the deflection, 18, (An account ofthe performance of some timber party foots is given in BRE Current Paper 2181. DOE. Free) 414, 15, 16 Separation of steel rom plaster sufaces. 14 Spine ‘wall bearing. 15, 16 Secondary beams. Yiab Pugging with $0 mm of sand to give combined ceiling mass not ess than 120 yn’. Cling preferably reo layers of ‘plasterboard or plaster on expanded metal. Quit selected that sell not compress blows 10 mm at loading point. We Construction shar cam be acoustical effective but gives ‘rouble due to lack of support at edges. YFd Nineteenth century pattern of construction: simple wo construct, ‘and acoustically effective but not cheap (probably more expensive than concrete flrs). 18 Floating flor on precast blanks Precast floors Calculations and deflections Consulting engineers should be directed on loading and acceptable deflections. However, ifspecifying from manufacturers’ data a written response should be obtained regarding performance for loadings and deflections Remember that precast units bow differentially under load and this can only be reduced by using ‘The art of construction: teed ors east as ust or Grail nes cearg one 19ab Precast units or running services. Jn larger or potentially wel serviced onesies worthwhile installing precast unit sith extra service paces provide future fleiblty. AI Ioan Libary A321 Oster 96t 810structural screeds usually at requires considerable in-situ Jeast 30 mm with mesh work at joints, which makes @ reinforcement). This brings the precast structure uneconomic cost close to in-situ floors at 4500 State in directions that High 0 6000 mm spans. Alumina Cement isnot to be Precast units can be made with used in the manufacture of ccambers to counter sagging but components. precast reinforced concrete {sithout prestresing) eventually Bearings deforms at larger spans, so the Halfbrik bearings ae adequate design of partition heads end in domestic eonstruction; cold bates needs to be thought out in bridging can be avoided with relation to deflection movement construction a in figs 18 or 22, ‘up and down (for prestressed) and eventually downward (forall Trimming types of floor). recasting of two or three holes enuiimmer Service ducts are easy to arrange in the floor, perbaps 75 mm ‘within the widths ofunits with diameter, can be very useful both inating bu wide ming fr Rigo team eating ieee for wraps or stars will mean ‘through future services, es trimming beams, 18ab, 20, 21, a ‘Secondary beams Economic spans ‘The development of secondary The selfweight and lifting beam layouts should always be capacity of site cranes isthe ‘compared in cost with clear Timing factor and the following spans since the former reduces, bis sizes are given as guidance, but the dead load of the structure and ma. ‘manufactures’ leaflets must be assists with bracing all four sides studied in detail. For a ‘of the building envelope, 22abe, Comparative study se "Products 28,24 in practice: horizontal structure: Combining ste or insitu paft | floors and decking units’ reinforced concrete for the beams ena ‘AJ 18.2.8! p317-27, CUSIBG.) increases rigidity, and deflection ‘Sau 2m 2aa Precast re units Maximum and cracking problems are {6000 mm span with thickness of minimised by reducing spans. 200 mi. With complex buildings Prestressed units From 4500 mm involving stairs or extensive floor ‘pan at 100 mm thickness to openings the use of astel 77400 at 180 mam thickness. Framework gives flexibility for Prestressed units with structural subsequent alterations tothe topping or T-beum forms Upto structure, simply by stiffening 18000 mm spans. For the steel or by replacing elements span: depth ratios see table 13 of of the floor to suit high loadings, CPI: Part 2; 1969, Structural say new machinery ina mult Tanai Ra mth ts of reinforced concrete im storey factory ‘posit fe bung. aroun 60% of pote baus 1 equalise Selection of floor finishes and 20 Use of in-situ nfl and ey athe Foe EES Me OE ay ceilings structural topping for duct beeen Screeds on precast floors crack precast members. ‘under loading and flexible 21 Typical uppore at RSJ Finishes should be considered. If rrinomer to opening in precast the client requires perfect Sor. cracksree floor insta concrete 22abe Comparison of using may be the answer, but if primary and secondary beams. recasting isessemtial consider a Single span floor ith no tsing estructural topping. primary Beam, This would ned Direct plastering on precast work heavy beams (or sab) isa disaster Because differential Primary beams with precast bowing of precast units leads to wnts spanning Between, Better racksatjoints The choices spreading of oad oll sides of therefore between selEfnished Building and wider bay spacing for 4 ‘units, simple paint finish or columns—henc lighter weight of KE false clings, For construction of floor. Primary and secondary rate |) A cea orinccould be beams Thee give thinner lost tee |) obtained by using py on padded slabs ond spread oadig ith he : batens with dry hniagon ftrucure restrained in ach ; battens (othe soffit anda small direction. However, ith pine I ‘cornice mould to hide the ‘coltumns and wide grid, facade \ movement cracks at ceiling corns mayhave tobe adda 0 ar || edges ‘ring cladding panel size 10 uy | practical limi. Stability 28 Triple yor for an insu 3 ‘The connection between precast building. To eae bending é floorsand vertical elements moments a larger central bacon needs engineering design under beused. This may be used for core Building Regulations following element of offices, hotels the Ronan Point collapse this hospital, et. ie k 2 ALL AJ 21 Ocber 1961 A ffrmitionLiaey “The areofcontruction: nei FosSound insulation Refer to figs 18 and 22 for methods to give diferent standards of sound insulation through the flor ceiling zone. In essence, itis the weight of structure thats most effective in insolating against sound, which is clearly the opposite of good precast design. Therefore in Critical zones ofa building one ‘might look at insitu floors, reverting to precast for the remainder. Where precast units are used a topping may be needed to close gaps. In-situ floors Calculations Allow the same provisos as for precast floors. Remember that Sesign and supply specialists in reinforcement fabric sim at ‘minimum steel content and that, packaged deal contractors for n= situ frames have rats for ‘placed concrete’ and therefore look 0 the heaviest profiles to give easier profits Do nor economise on lstribution steel as this forestals shrinkage drying that will, otherwise occur at around 3000 mm centres. The other advantage of cross stel i to spread isolated loadings and to limit cracking. Carefully consider the acceptable tolerances for init work, because the Codes of Practice are too slack if really accurate profiles are needed. Finally, deformation of wide spans under load is normal and can only be countered by the expensive technique of arranging ‘camber in the shuttering, Economic spans The dead weight of in-situ work is the limiting factor and the following sizes are given as guidance for simple domestic floors—about 3600 mim being the maximum economic span. For more details see CP 114: Part 2: 1969 Structural we of enforced concrete in building, table 13, Hollow pot or wood wool cores are used to produce a ribbed bbeam floor and the folowing figures show their advantage, ‘with 6000 mm being about the economic limit ‘Slab thickness mm) Span (mm) 10 3000 0 3600 155 4500 ‘Two-way span floors with continuous bays in both directions will give furcher advantages but the bay proportion has to be approximately square to square anda half (2:3) and the envelope 2A Equalizing moments results in end bays ‘smaller’ than other. ‘Secondary beams near columns but not inline 50 ducts ar easy to orm. atleast three bays in each direction, the economic iit being around 9000 mm. Selection of floor finishes and ceilings ‘There is no general limitation on finish and ceilings but specify the type of holes needed to be formed for ceiling suspenders Direct plastering is feasible but check with engineers whether they advise cover slips with hollow pot and rib floors which provide similar suction across the Sofi for directly applied finishes. There have been many cases of failure with concrete ‘cover, and current practice sto insist on exposed concrete ribs "rather than sips so thatthe critical cover can be checked, 2Sab, 26. Stability No problems are robe expected provided that engineering design and supervision is competent. Cold bridging and condensation Cold bridging needs to be avoided with masonry cladding ‘or with loading walls, and care must be taken at cavity walls, 27, 28. A lesser problem may be patter staining with pots or 25a Poor consruction ands pret pel set EE cere, ‘4 castelated beams aid framing joint eam be ctumn (ice it i San eH ® suspended codeng system 08 | ersrerrir ly Dong 3