Suspended Ground Floor Construction

Suspended timber floor as a requirement of the building regulations the structure should be protected against the growth of weeds and other plant life.

Suspended ground floor construction. They are normally pre fabricated offsite and transported by truck. Suspended timber floors need to have spaces underneath ventilated via air bricks through the outer walls and gaps in any internal walls so that the air can move across the building underneath the floors to prevent the build up of moisture in the timber which could lead to fungal attack. The construction of suspended concrete floors is similar to that of timber but can span greater distances and offerings better sound insulation properties. Suspended ground floors shall be designed and constructed to ensure the safe support of the intended loads and be reasonably level.

Durability strength and stability resistance to ground moisture fire safety resistance to. Different types of ground floor suspended flooring. 5 1 18 laying the ground bearing floor slab. At the turn of the 18th century when construction techniques moved from boarded floors installed directly on the ground to suspended timber floors over a ventilated chamber the innovation solved a significant problem.

We explain how hollow or suspended floors are made and what the key building regulations that affect them are. Whether building a ground floor suspended timber floor or a first floor hollow floor we explain the different options and techniques that you can use in its construction. When selecting a floor construction there are a number of functional requirements that need to be considered. Suspended concrete floor construction is increasingly the most common flooring system specified in residential construction.

The ground should have a layer of concrete poured across and there should be a ventilated gap of at least 150mm between the underside of the timbers and the concrete to prevent moisture. Unlike standard ground floor construction suspended floors are not sitting directly on the ground. Previously floor timbers had been prone to damp and rot thanks to their direct contact with the moist ground. Some slabs have hollow channels running through them these hollow core slabs are used to help reduce weight and also to allow cabling and piping to be run through the slab.

Suspended timber ground floors consist of the finished timber floorboards being attached to floor joists which are suspended above the subfloor of the foundation. Building and understanding a suspended or hollow timber floor. Supports underneath the floor are permanent and include sleeper walls or timber props placed at regular intervals. Suspended slabs are made of concrete and steel mesh the same as a ground slab.

5 2 7 construction of suspended concrete ground floors. 5 1 17 ground floor slab and concrete.