GB2576484A - Floor constructions, and methods of constructing floor constructions - Google Patents

Floor constructions, and methods of constructing floor constructions Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2576484A
GB2576484A GB1809446.6A GB201809446A GB2576484A GB 2576484 A GB2576484 A GB 2576484A GB 201809446 A GB201809446 A GB 201809446A GB 2576484 A GB2576484 A GB 2576484A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
beams
insulating
flanges
covering layer
layer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1809446.6A
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GB201809446D0 (en
Inventor
Brown Wayne
Broadhurst Steve
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Expanding Solutions Ltd
Original Assignee
Expanding Solutions Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Expanding Solutions Ltd filed Critical Expanding Solutions Ltd
Priority to GB1809446.6A priority Critical patent/GB2576484A/en
Publication of GB201809446D0 publication Critical patent/GB201809446D0/en
Publication of GB2576484A publication Critical patent/GB2576484A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B5/00—Floors; Floor construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted therefor
    • E04B5/02—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units
    • E04B5/04—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units with beams or slabs of concrete or other stone-like material, e.g. asbestos cement
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B5/00—Floors; Floor construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted therefor
    • E04B5/16—Load-carrying floor structures wholly or partly cast or similarly formed in situ
    • E04B5/17—Floor structures partly formed in situ
    • E04B5/23—Floor structures partly formed in situ with stiffening ribs or other beam-like formations wholly or partly prefabricated
    • E04B5/26—Floor structures partly formed in situ with stiffening ribs or other beam-like formations wholly or partly prefabricated with filling members between the beams
    • E04B5/261—Monolithic filling members
    • E04B5/263—Monolithic filling members with a flat lower surface
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B5/00—Floors; Floor construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted therefor
    • E04B5/02—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units
    • E04B5/04—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units with beams or slabs of concrete or other stone-like material, e.g. asbestos cement
    • E04B5/046—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units with beams or slabs of concrete or other stone-like material, e.g. asbestos cement with beams placed with distance from another

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Building Environments (AREA)
  • Floor Finish (AREA)

Abstract

A floor construction 20 for a building, the floor construction comprising a plurality of beams 2b, a plurality of insulating blocks 23 and a covering layer 24. Each beam comprises first and second flanges 2a extending opposite sides of the beam and a central portion 2b extending vertically above the first and second flanges. Each insulating block is positioned between adjacent beams of the plurality of beams on opposite flanges of the adjacent beams. The insulating blocks extend further vertically above the flanges of the beams than the central portion. The covering layer 24 may comprise a gas barrier membrane 24a positioned on the insulating blocks 23, an insulating layer 24b positioned on the gas barrier membrane and a concrete screed layer 24c laid on the insulating layer 24b.

Description

Floor constructions, and methods of constructing floor constructions
Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns floor constructions for buildings, and methods of constructing floor constructions for buildings. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention concerns suspended floor constructions comprising a plurality of concrete beams with blocks positioned between the beams .
Background of the Invention
A known type of floor construction is shown in Figure
1. The floor construction 1 comprises a plurality of concrete beams 2, where each beam 2 has flanges 2a extending opposite sides of the beam 2 and a central portion 2b extending vertically above the first and second flanges 2a, so that the beams 2 are an inverted T-shape in crosssection .
Concrete blocks 3 are positioned between adjacent beams
2, resting on the flanges 2a of the beams 2. The beams 2 and concrete blocks 3 are sized so that the upper surfaces of central portions 2b of the beams 2 and the upper surfaces of the concrete blocks 3 are at roughly the same level, so that together they provide a roughly flat surface. Such floor constructions are often known as suspended floor constructions .
A covering layer of insulation boards 4 is then provided over the beams 2 and concrete blocks 3, and a concrete screed layer 5 is laid over the insulation boards 4, so that a completely flat surface to the floor can be provided such that the floor load is carried by the tops of the concrete beams. Commonly, the upper surfaces of the beams 2 and concrete blocks are grouted prior to the insulation boards 4 and concrete screed 5 being laid.
It may be considered advantageous to use blocks of expanded polystyrene (EPS) or other insulating material instead of the concrete blocks 3 between the beams 2. However, expanded polystyrene is more compressible than concrete. This has the effect that the majority of support for the covering layer 4 end up being provided by the upper surfaces of the beams 2. This can cause damage to the covering layer 4, as the upper surfaces constitute only a small proportion of the area of the floor. In particular, a large turning moment force can be present at the edges of the upper surfaces of the beams 2, which can cause the covering layer 4 to crack.
The present invention seeks to solve and/or mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively and/or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide improved floor constructions for buildings, and improved methods of constructing floor constructions.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a floor construction for a building comprising :
a plurality of beams, each beam comprising first and second flanges extending opposite sides of the beam, and a central portion extending vertically above the first and second flanges;
a plurality of insulating blocks, each insulating block being positioned between adjacent beams of the plurality of beams on opposite flanges of the adjacent beams; and a covering layer positioned over the concrete beams and the insulating blocks;
wherein the insulating blocks extend further vertically above the flanges of the beams than the central portions of the beams, so that the covering layer is positioned on the insulating blocks and an air gap is present between the central portions of the beams and the covering layer.
By having the covering layer positioned on the insulating blocks, and not supported by the beams given the air gap present between the covering layer and the beams (and as effectively occurs even if the upper surfaces of the beams and insulating blocks are initially at the same level), the covering layer is supported over a much larger area, and is less prone to damage and cracking. Rather than forces on/from the covering layer being transferred to the upper surfaces of the beams, instead they are transferred via the upper surfaces of the insulating blocks to the flanges of the beams.
The support over the larger area occurs even if the insulating blocks are compressed during or after construction .
The use of insulating blocks instead of concrete blocks has various advantages in terms of cost and availability of materials. Further, the insulating blocks provide better insulation than concrete blocks, meaning that a thinner layer of insulation can be used if desired in the covering layer, while achieving the same insulation properties for the floor construction as a whole. Further again, the use of insulating blocks makes construction easier and safer, as they are lighter and easier to handle than concrete blocks, and by having their upper surfaces above those of the beams the surfaces of the beams and insulted blocks do not need to be grouted prior to laying the covering layer, reducing installation time.
Preferably, the beams are formed of concrete.
Preferably, the insulating blocks are formed of an insulating polymer. Preferably, the insulating polymer is expanded polystyrene. Alternatively, the insulating blocks may be formed of any material from the group of extruded polystyrene, polyurethane or polyisocyanurate. The material may have a thermal conductivity of 0.050W/mK or below. The material may have a thermal conductivity of 0.040W/mK or below. Preferably, the material has a thermal conductivity of 0.036W/mK or below. Advantageously, the material has a thermal conductivity of 0.031W/mK or below. The material may have a thermal conductivity of 0.021W/mK or below. The material may have a compressibility of 200kPa. It will be appreciated that other suitable insulating materials and/or values could be used.
Preferably, the covering layer comprises an insulating layer. The insulating layer may be formed of an insulating polymer. The insulating polymer may be expanded polystyrene. Alternatively, the insulating layer may be formed of any material from the group of extruded polystyrene, polyurethane or polyisocyanurate. As with the insulating blocks, the material of the insulating layer may have various values as described above, and it will be appreciated that other suitable insulating materials and/or values could be used.
Preferably, the covering layer comprises a concrete screed layer. The concrete screed layer may be over the insulating layer. The covering layer may comprise a gas barrier membrane. The gas barrier membrane may be positioned between the insulating blocks and any insulating layer and/or concrete screed layer.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of constructing a floor construction for a building, wherein the floor constructions comprises a plurality of beams, each beam comprising first and second flanges extending opposite sides of the beam, and a central portion extending vertically above the first and second flanges, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning a plurality of insulating blocks between adjacent beams of the plurality of beams on opposite flanges of the adjacent beams, wherein the insulating blocks extend further vertically above the flanges of the beams than the central portions of the beams;
positioning a covering layer on the insulating blocks.
Preferably, the beams are formed of concrete.
Preferably, the insulating blocks are formed of an insulating polymer. Preferably, the insulating polymer is expanded polystyrene.
Preferably, the step of positioning the covering layer comprises a step of positioning an insulating layer.
Preferably, the step of positioning the covering layer comprises a step of laying a concrete screed layer. The step of laying the concrete screed layer may follow the step of positioning the insulating layer.
The step of positioning the covering layer may comprise a step of positioning a gas barrier membrane. The step of positioning a gas barrier membrane may precede the step of positioning the insulating layer and/or concrete screed layer .
It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention .
Description of the Drawings
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a known floor construction;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a floor construction in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 3 is a close-up view of an area of the floor construction of Figure 2.
Detailed Description
A floor construction in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, where Figure 3 is a close-up view of an area of the floor construction 20 shown in Figure 2. The floor construction 20 again comprises a plurality of spaced-apart concrete beams 2, each with flanges 2a and a central portion 2b, so that the beams 2 are an inverted T-shape in crosssection. As can be seen from Figure 2, the beams 2 are not all regularly spaced apart.
Between the beams 2 are positioned insulating blocks
23, which sit on the flanges 2a of the beams 2. The insulating blocks 3 are formed of EPS. As can be seen, the insulating blocks 23 are of the appropriate widths to fit in the spaces between the beams 2, and so are of different widths where necessary. The widths of the insulating blocks 23 may correspond to standard concrete blocks widths such as 215mm and 440mm, for example, and/or non-standard widths such as less than 400mm.
Further, some of the insulating blocks 23 are of rectangular cross-section, while others have recesses in their bottom edged into which the flanges 2a of the beams 2 extend, so that they have a T-shaped cross-section with a portion of the insulating block extending below the top of the flanges 2a. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments of the invention, other shapes and configurations of insulating block may be used.
As can be seen in particular from the close-up view of Figure 3, and as described in more detail below, the insulating blocks 23 are vertically sized so that they extend slightly above the upper surface of the central portions 2b of the beams 2, in other words so that their upper surfaces are above the upper surfaces of the beams 2.
The floor construction 20 further comprises a covering layer 24, positioned on the upper surfaces of the insulating blocks 23. The covering layer 24 comprises a gas barrier membrane 24a positioned on the insulating blocks 23, an insulating layer 24b of EPS sheets positioned on the gas barrier membrane 24a, and a concrete screed layer 24c laid on the insulating layer 24b. The concrete screed layer 24c may be of standard 65mm depth, for example.
It will be appreciated that in other embodiments of the invention the covering layer 24 may be of different construction, may include additional layers such as other protective or supportive layers, and may not include the gas barrier membrane 24a, insulating layer 24b and/or concrete screed layer 24c.
As discussed above, the insulating blocks 23 are vertically sized so that they extend slightly above the upper surface of the central portions 2b of the beams 2.
The beams 2 may be of a standard size, for example, where the upper surface of the central portion 2b of a beam 2 is 100mm above the upper surface of the flanges 2a. In this case, the vertical height of the insulating blocks 23 may be 105mm, so that a 5mm air gap 30 is present between the upper surfaces of the central portions 2b of the beams 2 and the lower surface of the covering layer 24 (i.e. the gas barrier membrane 24a). The air gap 30 can be seen in Figure 2, and in particular in the close-up view of Figure 3.
It will be appreciated that various other dimensions could be used to give the required air gap 30, in other embodiments of the invention.
Using the construction described above, the covering layer 24 is supported by the upper surfaces of the insulating blocks 23, and not by the upper surfaces of the beams 2, as could occur even if the upper surfaces of the beams 2 and insulating blocks 23 were initially at the same level, due to the compressibility of the insulating blocks
23. This means that the covering later 24 is supported over a much larger area, with forces being transmitted via the surfaces of the insulating blocks 23 to the flanges 2a of the beams 2, rather than via the upper surfaces of the central portions 2b of the beams 2, which provide a much smaller area. As a result, the covering layer is less prone to damage and cracking.
Further, as insulating blocks 23 rather than concrete blocks are present between the beams 2, a thinner insulating layer 24b can be used in the covering layer 24 while achieving the same insulation properties for the floor construction 20 as a whole.
Insulating blocks can also be cheaper, more easily obtained and allow for easier and safer construction of the floor construction than concrete blocks . Finally, when constructing the floor construction 20, no grouting of the upper surfaces of the beams 2 and insulating blocks 23 is required, reducing installation time.
While the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. The skilled person will in particular appreciate that the insulating blocks could be shaped in various alternative ways while still being in accordance with the invention.

Claims (14)

Claims
1. A floor construction for a building comprising:
a plurality of beams, each beam comprising first and second flanges extending opposite sides of the beam, and a central portion extending vertically above the first and second flanges;
a plurality of insulating blocks, each insulating block being positioned between adjacent beams of the plurality of beams on opposite flanges of the adjacent beams; and a covering layer positioned over the concrete beams and the insulating blocks;
wherein the insulating blocks extend further vertically above the flanges of the beams than the central portions of the beams, so that the covering layer is positioned on the insulating blocks and an air gap is present between the central portions of the beams and the covering layer.
2. A floor construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beams are formed of concrete.
3. A floor construction as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulating blocks are formed of an insulating polymer.
4. A floor construction as claimed in claim 5, wherein the insulating polymer is expanded polystyrene.
5. A floor construction as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the covering layer comprises an insulating layer.
6. A floor construction as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the covering layer comprises a concrete screed layer .
7. A floor construction as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the covering layer comprises a gas barrier membrane.
8. A method of constructing a floor construction for a building, wherein the floor constructions comprises a plurality of beams, each beam comprising first and second flanges extending opposite sides of the beam, and a central portion extending vertically above the first and second flanges, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning a plurality of insulating blocks between adjacent beams of the plurality of beams on opposite flanges of the adjacent beams, wherein the insulating blocks extend further vertically above the flanges of the beams than the central portions of the beams;
positioning a covering layer on the insulating blocks.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the beams are formed of concrete.
10. A method as claimed in any claim 8 or 9, wherein the insulating blocks are formed of an insulating polymer.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the insulating polymer is expanded polystyrene.
12. A method as claimed in any of claims 8 the step of positioning the covering layer of positioning an insulating layer.
13. A method as claimed in any of claims 8 the step of positioning the covering layer of laying a concrete screed layer.
14. A method as claimed in any of claims 8 the step of positioning the covering layer of positioning a gas barrier membrane.
to 11, wherein comprises a step to 12, wherein comprises a step to 13, wherein comprises a step
GB1809446.6A 2018-06-08 2018-06-08 Floor constructions, and methods of constructing floor constructions Withdrawn GB2576484A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1809446.6A GB2576484A (en) 2018-06-08 2018-06-08 Floor constructions, and methods of constructing floor constructions

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1809446.6A GB2576484A (en) 2018-06-08 2018-06-08 Floor constructions, and methods of constructing floor constructions

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201809446D0 GB201809446D0 (en) 2018-07-25
GB2576484A true GB2576484A (en) 2020-02-26

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GB1809446.6A Withdrawn GB2576484A (en) 2018-06-08 2018-06-08 Floor constructions, and methods of constructing floor constructions

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB472499A (en) * 1936-03-27 1937-09-24 Alister Gladstone Macdonald Improvements in or relating to buildings
US4682458A (en) * 1983-10-27 1987-07-28 Trent Jetfloor Limited Dry laid floors

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB472499A (en) * 1936-03-27 1937-09-24 Alister Gladstone Macdonald Improvements in or relating to buildings
US4682458A (en) * 1983-10-27 1987-07-28 Trent Jetfloor Limited Dry laid floors

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Publication number Publication date
GB201809446D0 (en) 2018-07-25

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