Precast concrete floor slabs

Part one of this booklet is intended as a quick and general guide to precast concrete floor slabs. In this book we will cover the features and benefits of precast concrete floor slabs, the general applications, some design guidelines, on-site considerations and some general information. Part two contains the more technical information.

Hollow-Core Slab System

Hollow-core was originally conceived and developed as South Africa’s alternative to insitu cast concrete floor panels for multi-storey buildings some 25 years ago. In today’s world of innovation and fast-tracking, the hollow-core floor slab is a viable and in many instances, preferable alternative to more conventional building methods. Besides the obvious advantages of simpler, faster construction, not to mention a more durable end product, the secret of applying the material successfully is in the pre-planning. Get one of the CMA member companies involved at the concept stage and their advice and design input comes at no charge. Set out in this manual are several examples demonstrating the versatility and multi-purpose functionality of the prestressed and reinforced hollow-core slabs. Applications covered include security walls, reservoir roofing, retaining walls and warehouse walling, multi-storey floor applications to residential, commercial and industrial buildings, as well as suspended ground floor slabs in clay areas. Also discussed are important sub-contracting aspects which apply when slabs are deployed in their more traditional guise as flooring.

Concrete Roof Tiles - Technical Manual

This manual has been compiled by the Concrete Manufacturers Association (CMA) to promote good roofing practice. Good roofing practice necessitates correct design and detailing, the use of good quality materials and proper installation procedures. Provided that these are done correctly, a concrete tile roof will provide years of maintenance free service enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the building. This manual has been compiled in compliance with the National Building Regulations, SANS 10062-2003 (Code of Practice for the fixing of concrete roof tiles) and accepted good building practice.

Concrete Retaining Block Walls

SCI P103: Electric lift installations in steel frame buildings

Lift installations in steel frame buildings are conventionally supported either directly by the steel frame, or by concrete floors which in turn transmit the loading onto the frame. Whilst the frame and lift installation are separate and distinct packages, the detail of each can have a significant effect on the cost, buildability, programming and performance of the other.
This publication is the result of a joint initiative from the UK lift and steel industries. It continues a programme of research initiated by the Steel Construction Review and carried out by The Steel Construction Institute into building interfaces. It incorporates the studies on the interface requirements of standard lift installations, carried out by The National Association of Lift Makers (NALM) through the NALM Forum.
The publication provides an overview of standard electric lift installations of the type normally used in steel frame buildings. It appraises and recommends various methods of attaching guide rails, landing doors and other items of lift equipment to the building. The document also recommends acceptable guide rail spans for lifts of various speeds, deflection limits for guide rails and their supporting structure and design loads for structural elements supporting the lift installation. It provides a basis for standardising key design details, and where necessary will assist building designers to develop structural components and construction details in advance of a lift supplier being appointed.
The publication is written for use by architects, engineers, steelwork contractors, lift engineers, site managers, clients and developers.

Concrete Masonry Homes: Recommended Practices

Concrete Masonry Homes: Recommended Practices was developed as a guideline for using concrete masonry in the construction of homes in the United States. This document was prepared in response to previous research efforts funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA), and the Portland Cement Association (PCA). The previous years’ research efforts focused on constructing two demonstration homes to help identify key issues builders face when constructing homes with concrete masonry, especially homes with above-grade walls in nontraditional masonry markets. The results of that study are documented in Building Concrete Masonry Homes: Design and Construction. The connection of various materials and products to concrete masonry walls was one key issue identified by the study, particularly in regions unfamiliar with concrete masonry construction.
This document focuses primarily on the attachment of common residential materials and elements to concrete masonry wall construction. The installation of certain materials or products commonly affects the installation of other materials or elements; in addition, tools and fasteners used for one type of application may be used for another. Needless to say, materials and elements may be installed in many possible combinations. In an effort both to present an abundance of information in a concise manner and limit the amount of cross-referencing between fact sheets, this document is divided into seven fact sheets as listed below. Each fact sheet focuses on a specific type of connection or attachment. The first three fact sheets primarily address structural connections, the fourth focuses on common finishes that may be used on CMU walls, the fifth deals with thermal aspects of CMU construction, the sixth concentrates on utility placement alternatives, and the seventh considers common tools and fasteners used to install the items discussed in the previous fact sheets.
FS·1, Foundation Connections
FS·2, Floor Connections
FS·3, Roof Connections
FS·4, Finish Attachments
FS·5, Insulation Placement
FS·6, Utility Placement
FS·7, Tools and Fasteners
To gain a greater understanding of residential concrete masonry construction and the various possible combinations for the installation of materials and elements, the reader is encouraged to read the entire document and determine, well before the design stage, which issues are of primary importance and how the selected priority items affect other elements of construction. For example, insulation is not shown in the illustrations found in Fact Sheets 1 through 4; the reason is that various alternatives concerning insulation placement, if required by local code, are covered in Fact Sheet 5. By combining the information presented in Fact Sheets 1 through 4 with that found in Fact Sheet 5, a CMU wall may be constructed to meet local energy code requirements, as applicable. In addition, by reading the information presented in Fact Sheet 6, the reader can determine how the choice of insulation placement determines the installation of utilities. Finally, by reading Fact Sheet 7, the reader can identify what tools and fasteners are needed during construction based on the required types of attachments.

Loadbearing brickwork crosswall construction