LONG-STRIP CONSTRUCTION PREFERRED

FOR SLABS ON GROUND

By Concrete Construction Staff

Q.: We're building a slab on grade for a large warehouse. The

engineers want us to place 5,000 square feet maximum for each

pour and use a checkerboard sequence. We're able to place 10,000

to 15,000 square feet daily if we're allowed to use the long-strip

method. Is there any literature that we can use to convince the

engineer that our method will produce as good a floor?

A.: There's a widely held belief that checkerboarding eliminates

or minimizes shrinkage cracking because earlier placements

shrink before infill panels are placed. This supposedly reduces

shrinkage stresses, shrinkage cracking, and joint widths. But

according to the Portland Cement Association, the reasoning

behind this idea is incorrect. Shrinkage of earlier placements

occurs too slowly for the method to effectively reduce shrinkage

and joint widths. Because drying shrinkage takes place over a long
period, lengthy delays would be required between casting of

adjacent bays to gain much benefit from checkerboarding. The

American Concrete Institute's Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab

Construction (ACI 302.1R-89) recommends using long-strip

construction. Checkerboard construction is not recommended.

Long Strip Pour

Summary

Long Strip Pour - The long strip pour method is the slowest,
most accurate placement method for a concrete floor slab.

Technical Information
A floor constructed by the long strip method lends itself most to
use in a VNA warehouse as very high flatness levels can be
achieved without the need for grinding. When it is used for this
purpose, the racking is usually placed over the formed joints
between strips; allowing for maximum flatness to be achieved
within the aisles.
Typically up to 300m2/day can be placed using this method.

Formed joints are created between strips and induced joints at

periods (maximum 6m) along the strip. The induced joints are
necessary to ensure that the aspect ratio of each panel is below
the acceptable limit to accommodate shrinkage (around 1.2).

The strips are usually screeded manually. The formwork on either

side of the strip is used to guide the height of the rollers making
the screeding very accurate.

The normal construction process for this method is as follows:

1m wide strips are created at either end of the floor area.

Strips 4-6m wide are cast alternately using either temporary

formwork or joint armour, leaving gaps of a strip’s width between
each pour.

New strips are cast in the gaps between the ones cast earlier. If
temporary formwork was used, the edges of the old strips act as
formwork for the new strips.

This method does not require a major initial investment by the

contractor (laser screed purchase etc.) and if it has been done to
a good standard, no remedial grinding will be required to achieve
superflat floors. However, the process is very labour intensive
compared to other slab construction methods.
Ground Supported Slabs

Bearing directly onto a sub-base, typically mesh

reinforced and with formed joints at nominal
40m ctrs and sawn restrained-movement joints
at nominal 6m centres. Jointless, steel fibre
reinforced design options can also be provided.
Ground floor slabs can be constructed using a
variety of methods; large pour, wide bay or
long-strip.
Pile Supported Slabs

Where ground is poor, the slab is laid over a

grid of dedicated support piles at nominal 3.5m
ctrs. The slab would typically be of ‘jointless’
construction reinforced with steel fibres at a
dose of 45kg/m³. Formed joints would typically
be installed at 35m ctrs, with no sawn
restrained-movement joints.
Face Consultants can work with the Contractor
to optimise pile spacing to ensure that the most
economical solution is found.
Chiller / Freezer Slabs

As the temperature in Chiller / Freezer

chambers can be as low as -29°C the
construction is split into three defined zones. A
base slab is laid at formation level, with a rigid
insulation placed over this prior to casting of the
wearing slab. Design of the construction details
is particularly important, due mainly to the
insulated wall panels passing through the
Wearing slab and onto the base slab.
 Specialist Storage / Retrieval Systems

As technology progresses, there is a natural

trend to move towards more complex storage
systems. Face Consultants Ltd have extensive
experience with such systems and keep
informed with the latest industry developments.
These include :
 Automated Storage and Retrieval (ASRS)
 High Bay Warehousing
 Adjustable and Mobile Pallet Racking
 Live Storage Systems
 Drive-in and Push-back Racking
 Clad Rack Structures
 Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV’s)
External Slabs

Typically ground supported, laid in either strips

or large-pour. Special consideration must be
given to thermal expansion and contraction that
is not usually a factor in an Internal slab.
Detailing of the joints and interfaces with other
construction elements and services is vital in
external slabs.

Bonded Topping Slabs

With a minimum depth of 100mm, the topping is
mechanically anchored to the base slab with
shear connectors. These bars are installed to
sit over the mesh reinforcement, providing a
fully bonded and fully restrained topping slab
Bonded topping slabs can be installed over
existing ground floor slabs or over multi-level
elevated slabs. Where the structure is often
provided by pre-cast concrete units.