GB2172622A - Floor construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A floor construction comprises principle structural elements 11 and interconnecting grillages 13. Floor decking 18 constructed from individual slabs is supported on the upper surfaces of the principle structural elements and grillages, whilst trays and/or ceiling panels 17, which carry services, are suspended beneath. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Floor construction The present invention relates to buidlings and, more particularly, to a floor construction for buildings which provides a free below - or interfloor space for the accommodation of electrical and other services and which readily permits downward access to this space from the floor decking.

Current methods of constructing false or raised floors, for providing space to accommodate the running of cables, wire and other services have concentrated on building an additional floor above that of the main structural floor. The main structural floor is thus made redundant insofar as concerns its principle use, that is, as a floor, The present invention consists in a floor construction for a building, comprising at least one structural grillage which supports a flooring deck constructed from a plurality of slabs, tiles, plates or the like and from which is suspended channels, trays and/or ceiling panels for carrying services to the floor above and/or the floor below. Hence, the invention floor on a main structural floorforthe accommodation of services.

The structural grillage may be constructed from steel sections or joists, reinforced or prestressed concrete, other structural material or combinations thereof, and takes the place of a normal structural floor with a continuous deck. The grillage is contructed in such a way as to give full structural integrity to the whole building. It may be decked with an arrangement of solid load-bearing slabs or tiles of such thickness dimensions and bedding as to be easily lifted by hand and which provides an occupier with the flexibility to access any of the below floor services without removing an excessively large area of decking. The grillage may be fitted underneath with trays for carrying wires, pipes and other services, and these trays may be integral with a suspended ceiling system for the floor below.Such a suspended ceiling may be of conventional construction and may have added fire resistance, where required, to provide a fire break.

The arrangement of grillage, floor decking above and tray and/or ceiling beneath, obviates a need to construct a false raised floor above the main structural floor in order to accommodate the services below floor level.

The grillages may be prefabricted off-site to factory standards and be installed on the main structure in large assemblies in order to speed the construction work. Alternatively, the grillage may be constructed in situ. For example, it may be formed on-site in reinforced concrete using specially designed moulds to provide the grillage openings.

One use of the invention is in office buildings where there is a requirement for underfloor services and where, otherwise, the plethora of over-floor wires from office computers, for example, would cause danger and inconvenience to occupiers.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 respectively illustrate a sectional view and a perspective view (with the decking partly removed) of one embodiment of the invention in which the griliage is fabricated with steel sections or joists, Figures 3 and 4 respectively illustrate a sectional view and a perspective view (with the decking partly removed) of a second embodiment of the invention in which the grillage is fabricated from reinforced concrete elements, and Figures 5 and 6 respectively illustate a sectional view and a perspective view of a third embodiment in which the grillage is fabricated from reinforced concrete elements.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the structural grillage 1 comprises a framework or latticework fabricated from I-section steel beams. The cross beams 2 are continuous and span the floor space whilst the stringers 3 are fabricated from short lengths of steel section secured between adjacent cross beams 2, for example, by gusset plates 4. The top flanges of the stringers 3 are flush with those of the cross beams 2 and the cross beams are of greater depth than the stringers. Supported on the upper surface of the grillage is the floor decking which is assembled from a plurality of load-bearing slabs 5 of a suitable flooring material.

The floor construction illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a grillage 6 cast from reinforced concrete.

The cross beams 7 and stringers 8 of the grillage of similar depth and the grillage supports of floor decking assembled from a plurality of suitable load-bearing slabs 9.

Both embodiment of grillage 1,6 described above are of such dimensions as to provide regular square or other rectangular openings, for example, of a minimum 300mm square, and are supported on the main structure of the building in the usual way to that of a normal steel or concrete floor. The grillages are transformed into working floors by the addition of the load-bearing slabs or tiles 5, 9 which may be fabricated from timber, glass reinforced plastics material, lightweight concrete, aluminium or combinations of these material. These slabs may, for example, be 500mm square and 40mm thick or may be of some other standardised size, or other dimensions to suit the precise requirements of a particular constructions and may receive a floor finish of, for example, carpet tiles. They may incorporate electrical and other outlets and can be interchangeable.

Each of the grillages, 1,6 support a ceiling system (not shown) for the lower floor level and also trays (not shown) for wiring and pipework, as required for the particular building, using a standardised hanging system generally available which depends from the stringers and/or cross beams.

Each of the above-mentioned floor slabs 5 may be provided with locating lugs or depressions on each edge, which enable adjoining assemblies to be fitted together over a whole floor area in an exact manner with not gaps, each assisting the other in structural integrity, so that no movement is possible between each slab, either vertically or horizontally. Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, the slabs 9 may be recessed into the concrete grillage, as shown at 10. The upper part of each slab 5,9 may be provided with a horizontal top sheet which holds and locates a carpet tile and can be provided with fire protection qualities to fire regulation standards. Additionally, the suspended ceiling system can also incorporate fire resistance.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention in which the floor construction comprises principle structural elements 11 erected between piliars 12 and walls (not shown) of the building and interconnected by structural grillages 13 of cross beams 14 and stringers 15. The principle structural elements and griliages are cast from reinforced concrete and have mutually flush upper surfaces. The depth ofthe grillage elements is less than that of the principle structural elements 11 and their design is such as to comply with the relevant code of practice and the floor span. Cast into the undersides of the floor elements 11, 14 and 15 are the rod hangers 16 of a standard suspended ceiling system to which the ceiling panels are connected in a conventional manner to form the ceiling 17 forthe floor below.For example, the lower ends of the hangers 16may engage in channel members 18to which the ceiling panels are affixed. The arrangement is such that the ceiling 17 forthe floor below.

For example, the lower ends of the hangers 16 may engage in channel members 18 to which the ceiling 17 is suspended below the elements 11, 14, 15 to permit laying of wiring, pipework, etc, throughout the whole interfloor space without interference from these structural elements. If necessary, the ceiling 17 may be formed as a fire break and have tray or channel facilities arranged on its upper side for carrying cables and other services.

Supported on the principle structural elements and grillages is a floor deck 18 comprising metal trays 19, for example, steel trays 40mm deep, containing filler material 20, and which are covered by carpet or carpet tiles. The deck may also be constructed to form a fire break, if required.

Hence, an occupier of a building constructed with a floor system as described above may readily lift a slab or series of slabs 5,9,19 to insert or alter wiring, pipework or other services running beneath the floor deck on the suspended trays or ceiling and make connections to these services through preformed outlet panels or plugs in the slabs themselves.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A floor construction for a building, comprising at least one structural grillage which supports a flooring deck constructed from a plurality of slabs, tiles, plates or the like and from which is suspended channels, trays and/or ceiling panels for carrying services.

2. A floor construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grillage is fabricated from steel sections or joists.

3. Afloor construction as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the grillage is prefabricated.

4. A floor construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grillage is fabricated on-site in reinforced concrete.

5. Afloorconstruction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grillage comprises cross beams and stringers or different depths.

6. A floor construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the channels, trays and/or ceiling panels are suspended from hangers projecting below the grillage.

7. Afloor construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flooring deck is formed from trays containing filler material which forms a floor surface for receiving a covering such as carpet or carpet tiles.

8. Afloor construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including principle structural elements provided between walls and/or pillars of the building and interconnected by a plurality of the structural grillages.

9. A floor construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 and 4 or Figures 5 and 6 ofthe accompanying drawings.