Versatile, smart and efficient construction with steel sheet-concrete floors

Considerable weight savings, minimal concrete use, better construction connections and perfectly coordinated logistics and assembly. But also: shorter lead times and lower overall project costs. Not for nothing are the steel deck concrete floors of Tullingh & Partners eagerly found in transformation, renovation, new construction and expansion projects.

"In most projects, the steel plate-concrete floor is calculated based on the desired span and bearing capacity. Thereby, unfortunately, the details, connections, logistical processes and assembly method are still insufficiently considered," Charles van Oldenbarneveld knows. "Tullingh & Partners does this differently. Based on the structural (basic) design or specifications, the desired execution and the logistical (im)possibilities, we are happy to calculate and select the most suitable floor structure for each project. Including corresponding plate types, profiles, profile heights, steel plate thicknesses and concrete quantities. What loads, fire requirements, thermal and acoustic values apply in a project? How can we achieve the desired spans? And how can we make beautiful connections? But also: how are the products transported to and on the construction site? Can a crane be used on the construction site? Or should all parts be brought in by hand and through a normal door? These issues, among others, result in a customized execution design, on the basis of which the main supporting structure can also be optimized. A win-win for the client."

A characteristic of steel plate concrete floors is that the profiled steel plate forms the lost formwork and (mostly) flexural reinforcement. "The steel plate is filled with (reinforced) concrete," said Van Oldenbarneveld. "By applying additional reinforcement, a cantilevered floor with high fire resistance can easily be realized." Compared to, for example, hollow-core slabs, steel-plate concrete floors are much lighter, he says. "For example, in the case of indoor modifications or building additions, this is an absolute advantage, because in many cases the additional permissible load on the foundation can be used. Moreover, significantly less equipment is required for assembly, which in turn offers advantages in inner-city and other hard-to-reach project locations. For each project and each floor field, we like to search for the most optimal design. In doing so, it may even be the case that several types of steel deck concrete floors are used in one project."

Tullingh & Partners is a valued partner in transformation, renovation and expansion projects. Sheet steel-concrete floors are also regularly used in the new construction of parking garages, apartment buildings and offices, says Van Oldenbarneveld. "Very special was the expansion of the office of Royal FloraHolland in Aalsmeer. Against the existing building of 2,763 m2 a semi-circular new building of 2,288 m2 was built, with a transparent facade. In cooperation with our client, we selected a steel plate-concrete floor, of which both the heights and widths were perfect. Thanks to our design, the second floor could be assembled in 2.5 days. From the third through fifth floors, we even completed one floor field per day. Most extraordinary, however, is that the round building could be fully equipped with straight steel-plate-concrete floors."

Another great reference project is the transformation of the St. Jozef Church in Hillegom into a residential care building. "A challenge in this project was that the steel plate-concrete floors had to be made to height," said Van Oldenbarneveld. "All of our steel plates, rebar and concrete had to be brought in and elevated by hand. As an optimization of the structural design, we proposed to include a strut under the floors, which allowed us to use a lighter and lower profiled steel plate, with less concrete. In addition, we perfected the connection details. Based on our execution design, the steel structure was revised, which also allowed this project to be executed better, faster and cheaper." 

Features and characteristics of Tullingh & Partners' steel plate concrete floors:

- Profile heights from 16 to 205 mm.
- Steel sheet thicknesses from 0.5 to 2 mm.
- Versatile application.
- Minimal concrete use.
- Relatively low own weight.
- Spans up to approximately 6 m.
- High allowable loads.
- Recording disk operation.
- Collaboration with underlying steel structure using dowels.
- Fire resistance up to 120 min.