Beam and block concrete flooring is a useful method of constructing floors in any form of building since it is highly durable, adaptable, and cost-effective. Continue reading to learn more about this practical flooring option.
What is a beam and block floor?
In some places, beam and block is also known as rib and block or lintel and block. The technique has gained popularity in residential construction for creating in-situ, suspended concrete floors (ground or higher) in concrete or masonry buildings.
Precast and prestressed concrete beams are laid across or between walls at carefully determined distances in traditional beam and block flooring (the maximum distance that can be left unsupported is 4.2m). The floor structure is then brushed over with a 4:1 dry mix of sharp sand and cement to fill the gaps. Because this is an entirely dry process, in that no mortar or adhesive is required, as soon as the slab is laid, it forms a instant working platform, ready for your follow-on trades.
This diagram by Kingspan shows how high-quality insulation can be combined with beam and block floors in a screeded setup to maximise the efficiency of underfloor heating
This type of flooring is commonly utilized in residential and industrial structures to provide high-quality ground and higher floors. The concrete T-beams can be trimmed to different lengths depending on the needs of each individual project, making it a highly versatile flooring solution. Each installation will be tailor-made to suit the project by the supplying company. The system will provide complete plans that indicate the layout and orientation of the beams, as well as the block specifications and other pertinent construction details.
Why use beam and block?
For any construction project, there are numerous advantages to using beam and block flooring. One of the key advantages is that they are remarkably quick to construct, especially when compared to wet poured concrete floors, because they are made using pre-prepared concrete T-beams. Despite the slightly higher cost of the materials, the labor reductions make it very cost-effective.
Furthermore, beam and block flooring is exceptionally resilient and long-lasting, making it ideal for busy warehouses and yards with heavy machinery and traffic. It is also unaffected by cold or damp conditions, so it will continue to function properly even in extreme heat or cold and will not mold or rot.
Beam and block concrete floors also offer a high level of sound and thermal insulation, as well as fire resistance, so they will not only help keep your building environmentally friendly and quiet, but they will also help increase safety.
