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uk

SUSPENDED BEAM
& BLOCK FLOOR

The Supreme Beam and Block Flooring System saves

time and cost on site. The floor is quick to install without
the need for specialist skills. Site preparation is reduced
Two beam sizes are available; 120mm wide for standard
and no hardcore or oversite concreting is required. Also,
span and load applications and 170mm wide for heavy
internal foundations can be reduced. duty and longer span requirements, for example in
Once installed the system is rot and draught proof commercial construction. Both beams are the same height
creating an excellent base for the addition of thermal and can be used together ensuring the most economical
insulation. The floor provides an immediate working construction options.
platform allowing building works to continue without
delay. The Supreme Beam and Block Flooring System is
75mm 125mm
ideal for a wide range of uses ranging from housing to
flats and offices.
155mm 155mm

120mm 170mm
DECLARATION OF
PERFORMANCE Standard Wide Tee
www.supreme-ce.co.uk Tee Beam Beam
SUPREME COMPLETE GUIDE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

SUSPENDED BEAM & BLOCK FLOOR

Ensure that the ground beneath the floor is cleared of top Ensure that all mortar and debris is removed from the
soil and vegetation. No oversite concreting is required. bearing points and they are level and true. Generally a DPC
should be placed over all bearings before laying a ground
Ventilation
floor. Beams should have a nominal bearing of 100mm on
Provision should be made for a void beneath the floor, the the masonry.
depth of which should be at least 150mm but may vary
depending on site conditions. To meet Local Authority and Please adhere to starting beams on our working drawings
NHBC requirements, the void should be ventilated. and set beams out bay by bay. Take note of critical partition
Ventilation openings should be placed to enable the free walls etc. Ensure all beams are parallel and that there is a
flow of air to the complete under floor area. Ventilators nominal 18mm bearing for the block.
should be placed frequently enough to the perimeter of Install closure blocks after laying infill blocks.
the building to give suitable ventilation. Supreme supply
plastic telescopic void ventilators with a range of coloured The floor should be completed as soon as possible by
plastic air bricks. brushing in a wet grout mix of 1:3 cement and sharp
washed sand, a stiffer mix of the same proportions should
Installation be used to fill any double or multiple beams, these joints
It is essential that the floor beams be handled and stacked should be "hard packed". The floor should be cleaned and
the correct way up, they should be lifted as close to the wetted prior to grouting to enable grout to penetrate and
ends as possible and no damaged beams should be used to provide a firm construction. Prestressed floor beams
in the installation. It is important that all mortar in the have an upward camber. The camber should be
preceding work is adequately cured, having enough considered especially on larger spans and / or when
strength to give support to the floor being installed. non-screed finishes are specified. A levelling screed
could be incorporated.

Infill blocks Supreme T beam Ends filled in with

precast closure blocks
Ventilation void to
Local Authority approval DPC
Grout brushed in

Subsoil after removal of topsoil,

vegetation etc. & treated with
approved weedkiller Foundation brickwork or
Vapour barrier of 1000g blockwork (or trenchfill)
poly sheet weighted down
with sand
 www.supremeconcrete.co.uk

1 2 3
Beams supported Two beams Beam adjacent
on inner leaf of grouted together to support wall
cavity wall. Closure to support block and grouted solid.
block bedded. partition.

4 5 6
Coursing Slip with Closure Block on Shared bearing
block out from internal support. on internal
beam into support wall less
adjacent support than 200mm thick.
wall bedded on
coursing slip.

Note! Closure blocks should not be used

to space the beams; they should be
installed using mortar when all blocking
out is complete.

Domestic Garage Use 1

4
When a beam and block floor is used
in a domestic garage or similar
application where high concentrated
loads are evident, a reinforced screed
must be applied directly to the top of
the beams and blocks. The screed
should have a compressive strength 5
of 21N/mm2 with light steel mesh
reinforcement, such as an A98 steel
mesh.
2
Beam Properties & Structural
Calculations
Where the design layout drawings
have been produced by Supreme then 6
full structural calculations can be
provided upon request.

Beams on angles supplied to site at

standard lengths. To be cut to suit
by others.

Plan shown here using standard face 3

size 440 x 215 infill block.
(with cuts when required as shown)
All measurments in mm
SUPREME COMPLETE GUIDE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

FLOOR SELF-WEIGHTS EFFECTIVE CENTRES

Centres Blocks @ 650kg/m3 Blocks @ 1350kg/m3 Blocks @ 2000kg/m3
S 520 1.19kN/m2 1.768kN/m2 2.31kN/m2
S 407 1.35kN/m2 1.893kN/m2 2.41kN/m2
S 295 1.61kN/m2 2.107kN/m2 2.58kN/m2
D 640 1.69kN/m2 2.160kN/m2 2.60kN/m2
D 527 1.92kN/m2 2.340kN/m2 2.74kN/m2
D 415 2.26kN/m2 2.613kN/m2 2.95kN/m2
T 760 2.04kN/m2 2.428kN/m2 2.80kN/m2
T 647 2.28kN/m2 2.621kN/m2 2.95kN/m2
T 535 2.62kN/m2 2.892kN/m2 3.15kN/m2

INFILL 440 x 215 x 100 (650kg/m3) 440 x 215 x 100 (1350kg/m3) 440 x 215 x 100 (2000kg/m3)
BLOCK Thermal Block Medium Weight Aggregate Dense Concrete
LIVE LOAD 1.5kN/m2 DOMESTIC LIVE LOAD 1.5kN/m2 DOMESTIC LIVE LOAD 2.5kN/m2 4.0kN/m2
EFFECTIVE FLOATING 65mm 75mm BEAM FLOATING 65mm 75mm BEAM 65mm 65mm
BEAM FLOOR SCREED SCREED CENTRES FLOOR SCREED SCREED CENTRES SCREED SCREED
CENTRES Figures below are MAXIMUM permissible CLEAR SPANS in millimetres (ie between supports)
CASE 1 NO PARTITIONS
520 5800 4950 4750 520 5650 4550 4400 520 4100 3500
407 5800 5500 5300 407 5800 5100 4950 407 4600 3950
295 5800 5800 5800 295 5800 5550 5650 295 5350 4600
640 5800 5800 5700 640 5800 5800 5400 640 5100 4400
527 5800 5800 5800 527 5800 5800 5800 527 5550 4800
415 5800 5800 5800 415 5800 5800 5800 415 5800 5350
760 5800 5800 5800 760 5800 5800 5800 760 5650 4900
647 5800 5800 5800 647 5800 5800 5800 647 5800 5250
535 5800 5800 5800 535 5800 5800 5800 535 5800 5700
CASE 2 STUDWORK PARTITIONS @ 1.0kN/m2
520 5200 4300 4200 520 4750 4050 3950 520 3700 3250
407 5750 4800 4650 407 5300 4500 4400 407 4200 3650
295 5800 5500 5350 295 5800 5200 5100 295 4850 4300
640 5800 5200 5100 640 5800 5000 4850 640 4650 4100
527 5800 5650 5500 527 5800 5400 5300 527 5100 4500
415 5800 5800 5800 415 5800 5800 5800 415 5650 5000
760 5800 5800 5550 760 5800 5450 5350 760 5150 4550
647 5800 5800 5800 647 5800 5800 5700 647 5550 4900
535 5800 5800 5800 535 5800 5800 5800 535 5800 5350
CASE 3 3.0kN/m RUN LIGHTWEIGHT BLOCK PARTITION AT 90 DEG TO SPAN, MID BEAM SPAN
520 5100 4100 4000 520 4600 3850 3750 520 3500 3050
407 5750 4650 4500 407 5200 4350 4250 407 4000 3500
295 5800 5450 5300 295 5800 5150 5000 295 4750 4150
640 5800 5150 5000 640 5750 4900 4750 640 4550 3950
527 5800 5600 5450 527 5800 5350 5250 527 5000 4400
415 5800 5800 5800 415 5800 5800 5800 415 5600 4950
760 5800 5650 5500 760 5800 5450 5300 760 5100 4450
647 5800 5800 5800 647 5800 5800 5700 647 5500 4850
535 5800 5800 5800 535 5800 5800 5800 535 5800 5300
CASE 4 3.0kN/m RUN LIGHTWEIGHT BLOCK PARTITION PARALLEL TO SPAN, FULL SPAN
520 3150 2900 2850 520 3050 2800 2800 520 2700 2500
407 3250 3000 3000 407 3150 2950 2900 407 2850 2650
295 3300 3150 3100 295 3250 3050 3050 295 3000 2850
640 4250 3900 3800 640 4100 3800 3700 640 3600 3350
527 4300 4000 3950 527 4200 3900 3850 527 3800 3500
415 4400 4100 4100 415 4300 4050 4000 415 3950 3700
760 4900 4500 4400 760 4800 4400 4300 760 4200 3850
647 5000 4600 4550 647 4900 4500 4450 647 4350 4050
535 5100 4750 4700 535 5000 4650 4600 535 4550 4250
CASE 5 DOMESTIC GARAGE IMPOSED LOAD 2.5kN/m2 OR 10.0kN CONCENTRATED LOAD
650kg/m3 1350kg/m3 2000kg/m3
520 4000 3750 3550 520
The table to the left gives Where clear spans for floating floors are
407 4300 4050 3850 407
maximum clear spans for garage shown, no allowance for the weight of any
295 4700 4500 4300 295
load case applying a 75mm thick screed has been incorporated.
640 4900 4650 4450 640
reinforced screed with differing The clear spans shown for the domestic
527 5150 4950 4750 527
density infill blocks shown. The garage loading conditions rely on a light
415 5450 5300 5150 415
reinforced screed must be mesh reinforced screed which should
760 5500 5350 5150 760
directly bonded to the beams have a minimum compressive strength of
647 5800 5650 5450 647
and infill blocks. 21N/mm2
535 5800 5800 5800 535
 www.supremeconcrete.co.uk

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Beam Manufacture The beam and infill block are only two elements in
Beams are manufactured by the slip form method the make up of the floor however the chosen infill
providing a textured finish to facilitate improved blocks will have bearing on the U value and/or level
bonding performance. The characteristic T-profile of of additional insulation required. For example, when
the Supreme floor beam also lends itself to a strong using dense concrete infill blocks, a layer of insulation
bond being established between the beam and the over the structural floor but below the finish of either
in-fill grout. They are designed and manufactured in screed or timber would suffice. The thickness of
accordance with EN 15037-1:2008. insulation would vary depending on U value required
to be achieved. However, the thickness of insulation
Produced to a concrete strength class of C50/60. could be reduced if the infill blocks in the floor were
The raw materials used comply with EN Standards. of aerated concrete.
Ground Floor (Application) Upon request, Supreme Concrete can produce
Supreme beams are 155mm deep, and manufactured bespoke designs for projects where polystyrene infill
in two widths with the same side profile. They are panel floors are preferred to conventional infill blocks
120mm and 170mm wide. Note! Wide beams are for their thermal properties. Your floor can be
available at lengths over 4000mm only. They can designed in conjunction with panels from leading
be used with any suitable infill block by any suppliers in the market.
manufacturer, subject to design requirements and
specification. Safety
Until the floor is grouted, shuttering board or scaffold
The infill block may be selected to suit budget, planks should be used as a spreader over the beams
strength or thermal and sound recommendations as and blocks to take any barrow or other wheeled loads
required. Aerated blocks sometimes have a larger at all times. Any loads placed on the floor should not
face size than standard blocks. Care must be taken exceed the load for which the floor was designed;
when the infill block is bedded into a load bearing these loads should be short term and kept to the
wall as the floor blocks must be of the same crushing minimum.
strength, or stronger, than the requirement of
the wall.

Upper Floor (Application)

Supreme T Beams are also suitable for upper floors in
domestic dwellings where for example a dense floor
is required to create a "quiet home" or the first floor
partitions are to be of block work, which can be
supported by the floor.

Compartment Floors between Dwellings

Specific performance specifications are required in
accordance with the building regulations in respect
of infill blocks and directly applied screeds.

Thermal Considerations
Building Regulations Approved Document Part L
(The conservation of fuel and power). The document
gives advice on limiting heat loss through the fabric
of the building and gives methods of assessment to For more specific advice
show compliance. ? please contact the Supreme
Technical Department on
The choice of materials used in the construction of
01795 433580
the ground floor will obviously have an effect on the
U value of the floor.
SUPREME COMPLETE GUIDE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

WIDE BEAM LOAD / SPAN TABLES

FLOOR SELF WEIGHTS

Centres Blocks @ 1350kg/m3 Blocks @ 2000kg/m3
S 570 1.92kN/m2 2.41kN/m2
S 458 2.06kN/m2 2.52kN/m2
S 345 2.30kN/m2 2.70kN/m2
D 740 2.33kN/m2 2.71kN/m2
D 628 2.52kN/m2 2.85kN/m2
D 515 2.78kN/m2 3.04kN/m2
T 910 2.60kN/m2 2.90kN/m2
T 798 2.78kN/m2 3.04kN/m2
T 685 3.02kN/m2 3.22kN/m2

WIDE BEAM LOAD/SPAN TABLE (155mm DEEP X 170mm WIDE)

MAXIMUM CLEAR SPANS IN millimetres
DOMESTIC APPLICATIONS WITH MEDIUM WEIGHT INFILL BLOCKS 1350kg/m3
Allowance of 1.0kN/m2 Domestic Garage Application
Open Areas
Centres Centres For Timber Stud Partitions with Centres with 75mm
with 65mm Screeded Finish
65mm Screeded Finish Thick Reinforced Screed
570 5950 570 5300 570 5150
458 6500 458 5800 458 5650
345 6550 345 6550 345 6200
740 6550 740 6300 740 6150
628 6550 628 6550 628 6550
515 6550 515 6550 515 6550
910 6550 910 6550 910 6550
798 6550 798 6550 798 6550
685 6550 685 6550 685 6550

The clear spans shown for the domestic garage loading condition rely on a reinforced screed directly applied to the top of
the beams and blocks. The screed should have a compressive strength of 21N/mm2 with light steel mesh reinforcement.

NON-DOMESTIC APPLICATIONS WITH DENSE CONCRETE INFILL BLOCKS 2000kg/m3

ALL WITH 65mm THICK SCREED
2.5kN/m2 Imposed load with 65mm Screed 4.0kN/m2 Imposed load with 65mm Screed

Allowance of 1.0kN/m2 Allowance of 1.0kN/m2

Centres Open Areas Centres Open Areas
For Timber Stud Partitions For Timber Stud Partitions

570 5400 4900 570 4650 4300

458 5950 5400 458 5150 4750
345 6550 6150 345 5850 5450
740 6550 5950 740 5650 5250
628 6550 6400 628 6050 5650
515 6550 6550 515 6550 6200
910 6550 6450 910 6150 5750
798 6550 6550 798 6500 6100
685 6550 6550 685 6550 6500

In our design process the wider beam Wider beams mean faster installation All clear spans are greater than shown
can be fully interchangeable with the due to: in original brochure
standard beam in the same floor.
Fewer units to lift This table to be used for replacement
The wider beam provides a superior values only - shown bold
Simpler layouts
design for larger span floors replacing
the need for double or triple beams. Less grouting Only one formula to remember
Wider Beams = Cheaper Floors!
 www.supremeconcrete.co.uk

ASSOCIATED FLOORING PRODUCTS

PLASTIC VOID VENTS CEILING CLIPS COURSING SLIPS
Designed for ventilating the void Used with battens to facilitate fixing Manufactured in accordance
below suspended ground floors. of ceiling, clips can be fixed after the with EN 771-3:2011. Concrete slips
Manufactured from high density flooring blocks have been laid but L x W x H (in mm): 390 x 100 x 40.
polypropylene, the unit is non- prior to grouting. The loops are then These slips save a split brick
corrosive and telescopic. Vertical and bent under the batten and nailed course at side bearing or between
horizontal extension sleeves are upwards against solid support of end bearing.
available, please call for details. T-Beam.

Designed to meet requirements of

the NHBC, Local Authorities and Gas
Company regulations, and being a
sealed unit there is no danger of the
ventilator becoming blocked when
cavity wall insulation is carried out.

AIR BRICKS
Air bricks to be used in conjunction
with the telescopic void vent.
Available in four colours: Terracotta, CLOSURE BLOCKS
Buff, Blue-black and Brown.
Manufactured in accordance
Safe working load
T Beam for Floor
and Block securely fixed with EN 771-3:2011. Designed and
TECHNICAL NOTE!
clips = 22kg per clip. manufactured in two sizes to fit
Airbricks when used with void vent
Patent No. 205 1941. between the beams on the
will provide a minimum of 6600mm
bearing ends. This saves cutting
free air flow.
Straps welded to 10mm thick x bricks or blocks when building the
BUTT PLATE
underside of plate 180mm wide
and fixed to wall
maximum 1000mm
bearing plate
(Jumbo Butt Plate)
wall through the ends of the
Designed
centres to increase bearing locally beams using standard centres.
where 100mm
beams clash on 100mm or
/ 150mm Load bearing blockwork wall

150mm thick supporting walls at

upper floor levels. Available for 98mm
140mm
standard 120mm wide beams to suit 42mm

both 100mm and 150mm wide walls. 436mm

24mm
75

200 135

98mm
140mm
75

Spot Tray
42mm
welds Wings

100 100 210mm

(or 150) 24mm

BRICK SLIPS
JUMBO BUTT PLATE Manufactured in accordance
Bespoke wall plates to give bearing with EN 771-3:2011. L x W x H (in
for more than one beam up to the mm): 171 x 100 x 39 & 172 x 140 x
full length of the bearing wall. 40 slips for finishing the floor onto
load-bearing walls, parallel edges
T Beam and Block Floor
and between the end of beams.
In all cases floor blocks of
suitable strength should be
bedded on top.
Straps welded to 10mm thick x
underside of plate 180mm wide
and fixed to wall bearing plate DECLARATION OF
maximum 1000mm
centres
(Jumbo Butt Plate)
PERFORMANCE
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100mm / 150mm Load bearing blockwork wall