Issued by: CF 13/08/13

Approved by: DA 13/08/13 Bison Precast Flooring

Reference: HCS-01 Specification
Page: 1 of 4 Manufacturing Ltd
Engineering Department

1.0 SCOPE OF THE SPECIFICATION

1.01 Floor types: This specification covers the design, manufact

manufacture
ure and associated site work for
the following floor types
types;

• Hollow core floors

• Composite hhollow core floors
• Solid composite
omposite floors

1.02 Description of floors

• Precast concrete floors are designed and manufactured as prestressed precast

units which when assembled and joints filled with concrete provide a one-way one
spanning floor plate
plate.
• Hollow core units are nominally 1200mm wide, of rectangular cross section with a
series of longitudinal cores through the section to provide a weight saving to
improve structural performance
performance.
• Composite Hollow Core floors consist of the same units but the load capacity of the
finished floor is enhanced by the provision of a structural concrete topping which is
cast on site.
• Solid Composite floors consist of solid prestressed planks without cores and with a
structural topping which is cast on site.

2.0 MATERIALS

2.01 Standards: All materials and finished products are to be designed to approved standards
set down in the contract, the appropriate British Standards, and this specification.

2.02 Concrete: The compressive strength classes generally used in the design and manufacture
of the units are as follows:
follows:-

• The compressive strength at 28 days is C45/55

• The concrete
oncrete strength at transfer is C25/30.

2.03 Admixture: Only a

an admixture complying with BS EN 934-2
2 may be included in the
concrete.

2.04 Reinforcement: Reinforcement is generally 5mm diameter high

h tensile wire or 12.5mm
strand complying with the requirements of BS 5896.

3.0 DESIGN

3.01 Code: Unless otherwise agreed the

he design of Bison units is in accordance with the requirements
and recommendations of BS 8110:1997 ““The Structural Use of Concrete”

3.02 Service Class: The design of Bison units is to BS 8110 Serviceability classification, Class 3 with a
limiting crack width of 0.1mm. Design to other classifications is as agreed in the contract.
contract

3.03 Durability: The standard B

Bison hollow
ollow core slab is designed to comply with the durability
requirements of BS 8500.
Issued by: CF 13/08/13
Approved by: DA 13/08/13 Bison Precast Flooring
Reference: HCS-01 Specification
Page: 2 of 4 Manufacturing Ltd
Engineering Department

3.04 Fire: Fire resistance is based upon the tabulated data contained within BS 8110: Part 2, Section 4.
Sections are available for fire periods of 1 hour or 2 hours witho
without
ut additional finishes. These periods
of fire resistance may be further enhanced by the application of appropriate finishes.

3.05 Sound: The requirements of the Building Regulation

Regulations and details of compliance are contained in a
separate data sheet,, which can be supplied on request.

3.06 Horizontal and vertical ties:

ies: Ties necessary to satisfy the requirements for accidental damage
should be specified by the Engineer with the responsibility for the design of the overall structure in
accordance with the relevant Codes of Practice. Tying details achievable with our hollow core units
are contained in a data sheet which is available on request

3.07 Composite design: Where Bison hollow core/solid plank units are designed to form part of a
composite floor construction, the completed composite floor requires a structural concrete topping.
The structural topping, grouting between precast units and distribution reinforcement to be provided
and placed by others to our recommendation.

3.08 Insitu Floor make-up

up areas
areas:

Strips between units

We shall provide precast units in combination of standard 1200 mm widths, and standard part-width
units. To make up the complete floor area it may be necessary where unavoidable to supplement
these with insitu strips between units inclusive of reinforcement. These are to be provided and
placed by others to our recommendation.

Miscellaneous Areas
Floor areas or plan shapes which are small and irregular occasionally fall outside the manufacturing
capability for Hollowcore and require an insitu make-up slab. These will be identified on Approval
drawings for validation of design by the Structural Engineer.

3.09 Thermal insulation: Our hollow core units can be supplied with polystyrene insulation glued to their
bottom soffit. This is to provide the n
necessary thermal transmittance (u-value)
value) in accordance with the
Building Regulations, Part L.

4.0 MANUFACTURE

4.01 Method of manufacture: Bison floors are manufactured by the long lin
line
e prestressed method using
slip-form
form or extrusion techniques. The units are cast and cured on steel beds within an enclosed
factory environment.

4.02 Ends of units: Bison units are sawn to length on the manufacturing bed and are supplied as
standard with plain sawn ends, with open cores or reduced ends.

4.03 Dimensions: Bison units are manufactured in nominal widths of 1200mm

Solid planks: Depths 60 mm, 75 mm and 100 mm
Hollow core: Depths 150, 200, 250, 260
260, 300, 350, 400 and 450 mm

4.04 Permitted deviations: Tolerances are set out in clause 6.2.8.3

3 of BS 8110:1997. Length tolerances
are + 20mm.

4.05 Camber: Bison units will have an upward camber due to the prestressing force as described in
clause 6.2.8.4 of BS 8110:1997. Due allowance should be taken when specifying screeds, finishes,
partitions etc for upward camber together with differential camber between adjacent units. The
Issued by: CF 13/08/13
Approved by: DA 13/08/13 Bison Precast Flooring
Reference: HCS-01 Specification
Page: 3 of 4 Manufacturing Ltd
Engineering Department

camber will vary between adjacent un

units and can give rise to a “piano key” effect. It maybe possible
to reduce the camber between units by loading prior to the joint between tthe
he units being grouted.

4.06 Finishes: Unless stated in Bison’s quotation, cconcrete

oncrete surface finish to soffit is a Type A finish as
described in clause 6.2.7.3 of BS8110:1997. The standard of finish referred to is as per the sample
panels located at our product
production facilities.
• The soffit is suitable for the direct application of a textured (high build) paint finish where this
is applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• A caulking layer to the soffit may be required for other types of paint finish.
• Where a plaster finish is intended it may be necessary to use a bonding agent in accordance
with the instructions of the plaster manufacturer. Plaster finishes are not recommended on
longer spans.
• Sides and top surfaces are ‘as extruded’ as descri
described
bed in Table 5.5 of BS 8110:1997.

To achieve a reasonably level surface to accept the resilient layer, it may be necessary to use a local
levelling to accommodate the manufacturing and construction tolerances.

4.07 Infill Strips: Except where noted otherwise, our quotation allows for the design and provision of the
floor areas indicated. We shall maximise the use of our standard flooring products, but to achieve
complete areas it may be necessary, in certain instances, to use in isolation or in combination
comb
special cut width units or insitu strips. The width of such cut width units or insitu strips shall be at
Bison’s discretion. With hollow core or solid plank units 100 or 150 mm nominal wide strips of Bison
special precast infill pieces may also b
be used.
To achieve complete areas it may also be necessary in certain instances for us to design full slab
depth insitu strips to be reinforced and provided by yourselves. Such insitu strips will be shown on
our working drawings.

4.08 Edge of Unit: Edges

s are shaped to form a grout joint giving a shear key to distribute load to
adjacent units. Where special cut width units are provided the edge will be rough cut from a
standard unit.

4.09 Cantilevered Balconies: Where quoted, flooring behind cant cantilevered

ilevered balconies is designed as
composite construction using a combination of precast flooring and structural concrete topping. We
shall provide the complete composite construction
construction. Requirements for temporary propping will be
identified on our drawings.

4.10 Holes and Cut-outs: All factory formed holes and cut-outs will be of rough appearance and are
formed subject to the design capacity of the slabs. Due to manufacturing techniques, holes and cut-
outs may be larger in the transverse width of the slab tthan
han specified. Manufactured hole sizes will be
shown on the drawings. Holes may be either rectangular or circular depending on the manufacturing
techniques employed.

5.0 SITE WORK

5.01 Standard: All site work is to be undertaken in accordance with the best current practice and
an Health
& Safety legislation.

5.02 Drainage Points: Water may accumulate within the cores due to exposure during the construction
programme. Unless otherwise instructed Bison will provide drainage points in slabs with factory
formed reduced / troughed / solid / capped ends only only.. Water may seep out of the unit for a
considerable time after installation and the drain holes may not be neatly formed. The Customer is
responsible for opening out drainage points, keeping them clear during construction and for
subsequent infilling / making good as required. Water trapped in the cores mayma present a risk to
operatives from the alkaline state of the water
water.
Issued by: CF 13/08/13
Approved by: DA 13/08/13 Bison Precast Flooring
Reference: HCS-01 Specification
Page: 4 of 4 Manufacturing Ltd
Engineering Department

5.03 Notching: Where slabs are notched around stanchions or similar obstructions, these will be of rough
appearance (see also clause 4.10)
4.10). Unless expressly stated in Bison’s quotation, any resultant
r
infilling between
en slab and stanchions, columns or similar obstructions within the depth of the slab is
to be carried out by others.

5.04 Anti-Crack Provision: It is recommended that a light mesh reinforcement be provided by others in
the insitu screed over all supporting steel beams, in order to minimise the possibility of latent
cracking in finishes.

5.05 Thermal Insulation: It is recommended that thermal insulation should be provided on roof areas
and the breaks should be made in plaster at junctions between our works and other materials.

5.06 Trimmer Angles: Any steel angle provided by Bison to trim large openings is to be fire protected by
others.
5.07 Bearings: Level and structurally adequate bearings for Bison precast units are to be provided by
others. Bearings should generally be 100mm for masonry or 75mm for concrete or steelwork, but
may be reduced in accordance with clause 5 5.2.3 of BS 8110:1997 or after consultation with our
design office.

It is Bison’s Customers responsibility to ensure that all bearings have been designed appropriately to
take into account of temporary loads during erection.

5.08 Shelf Angles: In cases where tthe Bison slabs fit under the top flange of steel beams or columns,
columns it
is assumed that the dimension from the top of the slab down to the flanges will not exceed 25 mm. If
Bison slabs are supported on shelf angles, the bearing legs of these should be 100 mm wide or a
dimension of half the flange width plus 25 mm for 600 mm wide slabs and plus 50 mm for 1200 mm
wide slabs, whichever is the greater. Special consideration may be required for plated or broad
flange steel beams. Additional bearings will be req
required
uired where slabs trim stanchions etc., and for
providing the minimum bearing in accordance with BS 8110:1997.

5.09 Temporary Bearings/Propping: Where propping is required, unless expressly stated in Bison’s
quotation, Bison’s Customer is responsible and liable for the temporary works design and the
provision of necessary labour, plant and equipment in respect of such propping. Such temporary
works design is to be undertaken by a competent technical authority and is to be made available to
Bison.
Unless
ss the design specifically allows for units to seat onto temporary bearings (i.e. head trees and
bearers, etc.) this practice shall be avoided wherever possible. In cases where such measures are
unavoidable, fixing must not progress until permission has b
been
een obtained from a competent technical
authority. Permission must also be obtained from Bison’s Engineering Department.
5.10 Holes and Cut-outs: Small holes up to 60mm diameter may be drilled on site through the hollow
cores, care being taken to avoid damage to the reinforced
orced ribs. Larger holes may be cut subject to
the design capacity of the slabs
slabs.. Requests for larger holes to be referred to Bison’s Engineering
Department for design verification
verification.
2
5.11 Grouting of Joints: Joints between units should be grogrouted with 30N/mm concrete using a 6-10
mm nominal aggregate size. These joints should be “double” brushed and tampered down
do to ensure
good compaction. Deferential settlement of the grout in the joint may occur due to shrinkage and
movement of the floor area during the grouting operation.

5.12 Lifting sockets: All sockets formed for lifting purposes or any raised areas of displaced concrete are
to be filled and made good / removed by others, when erection is complete.
Issued by: CF 13/08/13
Approved by: DA 13/08/13 Bison Precast Flooring
Reference: HCS-01 Specification
Page: 5 of 4 Manufacturing Ltd
Engineering Department

5.13 Soffit fixings: We do not cast timber battens into the soffit of our units. Several fast and cost
effective proprietary systems are available for direct fixing to concrete and we shall be pleased to
provide details on request.

6.0 QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

6.01 Quality Assurance.. Reference: All Bison manufacturing facilities are members of the B.S.I.
B.S.I
Registered Firm Scheme for Quality Assurance to BS EN ISO 9001:2008 for the design, design
manufacture and erection of precast hollow core floors.
6.02 Quality Assurance.. Scope: Membership of the scheme ensures that all procedures and disciplines
relevant to the design and manufacturing processes are subject to independent approval and
periodic review by the British
itish Standards Institution.
6.03 Quality Assurance.. Manufacture: All Bison manufacturing facilities have been assessed by the
British Standards Institution (BSI) and awarded certificates of Assessed Capability under the scheme
covering Quality Assurance for tthe manufacture of precast concrete floors.