Hollowcore Floor Systems: The Benefits of Hollowcore Floors

Hollowcore August 2019
Floor Systems
A hollowcore floor slab is a prestressed precast concrete element incorporating continuous voids to
reduce self-weight whilst providing an efficient structural section manufactured by slipform, extrusion or
wetcast
THE BENEFITS OF HOLLOWCORE FLOORS

Long Span
Hollowcore floors can achieve long spans, providing flexible open space with fewer beams,
walls and supporting columns.
Time Saving Construction

Time consuming site operations such as propping and shuttering wet concrete are virtually
eliminated. Hollowcore slabs are cut to specified lengths prior to leaving the factory,
resulting in safe and speedy construction, whilst also reducing costs.
Design Flexibility
Prestressed hollowcore floors can be designed to suit a very wide range of buildings and
meet most project criteria.
No Formwork or Propping
In most cases propping is not required with hollowcore flooring, saving time and money.
The area below the floor remains free from congestion allowing other trades to progress
unhindered.
Working Platform
Once in position and grouted, hollowcore slabs provide an immediate working platform for
all follow-on trades. This reduces site delays to a minimum.
Finishes
Hollowcore floor soffits generally have an ‘Ordinary Finish’ (BS EN 13670) which is suitable
for exposed finishes in structures such as car parks and industrial buildings, and for a wide
variety of applied finishes in other types of building. The top surface of hollowcore
flooring is designed to receive a levelling screed or other approved flooring system.
High Load Capacity

Hollowcore floors can be designed to support the heavy loads required in most factories,
warehouses and storage buildings.
Fire Resistance
All slabs have 1 hour fire resistance. This can however be enhanced up to 2 hours.
Holes for Services

Holes to accommodate services can be pre-formed during manufacture dependent on size
and location. Contact the manufacturer for further details.
The Old Rectory, Main Street, Leicester, LE3 8DG

Tel: 0116 232 5170, email:
[email protected]
www.precastfloors.onfo
DESIGN OF HOLLOWCORE FLOORING
Slab Widths
Hollowcore slabs are generally manufactured 1200mm wide, but can be cut narrower to
suit particular applications.
Slab Depths
Slab depths typically range from 100mm to 500mm as shown below.
Slab Profiles
NOTE: Typical examples are shown; sections may vary in detail depending upon the
manufacturer.
Structural Performance
Table 1 gives general guidance on the performance characteristics of hollowcore flooring
and allowable characteristic live loads. Spans are stated in linear metres with an
allowance having been made for the self-weight of the unit plus a dead load of 1.5kN/m²
for finishes.
Table 1 - Typical maximum spans in metres

Imposed Plank Depth (mm)
Load
(kN/m2) 110 150 200 250 300 350 400
1.5 5.0 7.4 9.4 10.8 13.5 15.0 16.0
2.5 4.9 7.4 9.2 10.8 13.5 14.7 16.0
4.0 4.4 6.8 8.4 9.8 12.4 14.0 15.0
5.0 4.1 6.4 7.9 9.3 11.8 13.2 14.3
7.5 3.6 5.8 7.0 8.2 10.7 12.0 13.0
Domestic Office Storage
NOTE: Load/span capacity can vary between manufacturers. Consideration must also be
given to the exposure conditions, location and size of openings, effects of camber,
deflection and vibration. For loadings other than domestic, it is recommended that the
reader consults the manufacturer.
Structural Design
• Hollowcore slabs are designed in accordance with Part 1-1 (General rules and rules
for buildings) and Part 1-2 (General rules - structural fire design) of Eurocode 2:
Design of concrete structures. In addition, hollowcore slabs are manufactured to
conform to BS EN 1168.
• Hollowcore slabs are designed to have effective shear key joints between adjacent
slabs such that when installed and grouted the individual slabs become a system
that behaves similarly to a monolithic slab.
• Prestressed hollowcore slabs will inherently exhibit an upward camber, the degree
of which will depend upon the span and the amount of prestressing force applied.
Due allowance must be made for this in determining finishes and overall floor
thicknesses. Further guidance should be obtained from individual manufacturers
where necessary.
• Diaphragm action is sometimes required from a floor slab in order to transmit

horizontal force to the primary supporting structure. Hollowcore slabs may be used
efficiently to produce a diaphragm either with or without a composite structural
topping. Various connection details are available to provide the interaction
between the floor and primary structure.
• Hollowcore slabs may be used in conjunction with a structural topping where

enhanced performance is required e.g. heavy point loads, complex structural
integration, heavy service penetration etc.
CONNECTION DETAILS
Prestressed hollowcore floors are suitable for a range of construction types and are
commonly used with steel, masonry or concrete beam supports in a variety of residential
and commercial applications.
Bearings
The amount of bearing required for a precast floor element is relative to a number of
considerations including span, loading and type of support. Within the conventional range
of designs the following general guidance is appropriate:
• 100mm nominal bearing on masonry supports

• 75mm nominal bearing on steel supports
• 75 mm nominal bearing on in-situ or precast concrete with minimum grade of C30
More detailed requirements of bearings for hollowcore slabs are contained in Clause 10.9.5
of Part 1-1 of Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures.
Where slabs span on to a wall from both sides a minimum wall thickness of 215mm is
recommended. Where a wall thickness of 215mm cannot be achieved a tie should be
provided at the support (N.B. the wall thickness should never be less than 140mm in this
situation). In order to satisfy the tolerance for this situation a narrow support should only
be used at one end of the slab.
Note: A shared bearing can be achieved by the use of a metal ‘butt plate’ as well as the
tie detail shown.
Typical Bearing Details for Masonry Construction
Typical Bearing Details for Steel Frame Construction
Simple Support
The slabs are designed simply
supported and independent of
the steel beams.
Advantages:
Ease of manufacture and
construction.
Shelf Angle Support

The steel beam is not
considered to be composite
with the hollowcore slab.
Advantages:
A reduction in the overall
construction depth plus
increased fire resistance to the
beam by virtue of containment
of the top flange and the
vertical leg of the shelf angle.
Slimfloor Construction
A steel beam is provided in a configuration which
allows the precast floor slab to bear on the
bottom flange of the beam.
Advantages:
Minimum overall structural depth achieving a
virtually flush soffit line, providing an
unobstructed route for services and a minimum Infill concrete at reduced end
floor to floor height. Additional reinforcement
may be required depending on design conditions.
Published with the support of A product group of British Precast Working with

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Hollowcore August 2019

THE BENEFITS OF HOLLOWCORE FLOORS

Time Saving Construction

High Load Capacity

Holes for Services

The Old Rectory, Main Street, Leicester, LE3 8DG

Table 1 - Typical maximum spans in metres

Domestic Office Storage

• Diaphragm action is sometimes required from a floor slab in order to transmit

• Hollowcore slabs may be used in conjunction with a structural topping where

• 100mm nominal bearing on masonry supports

Shelf Angle Support

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