Timber Frame Floor System Industrial Application with TECSLAB™

Case Study: Industrial - Bowens Timber and Building Supplies Head Office

Client: C M W Design & Construct
Architect: Warren Jowers - W.H. Jowers & Associates
Engineer: Burns Hamilton & Partners
Project: Bowens Timber and Building Supplies Head Office
Location: 48-50 Hallam South Road Hallam

C M W Design & Construct has been the first commercial builder to implement the TECSLAB™ system in an industrial application. The new 1078 square metre extention to the Bowen's Head Office in Hallam showcases the TECSLAB™ product that is creating a lot of buzz in the building industry.

"We use concrete all of the time and therefore wanted a strong rigid floor with a concrete feel, a system that was easy to work with and has great acoustic properties. The fact that the services can be integrated through the system is just another benefit to add to the list. We found that the TECSLAB™ system was easier to walk on underfoot, allowing us to utilize the on site trades and enabling a quicker build."

Brian Haydon
Site Construction Manager
C M W Design & Construct

Introduction
The TECSLAB™ lightweight flooring system was specified for this project as it offers a lightweight and superior strength alternative to conventional pre-fab systems currently on the market. Even though it is lightweight construction, it feels like a solid concrete slab underfoot. The 300mm high TECBEAMs span 6 metres and support 75mm TECSLAB™ Hebel panels laid directly on top.

Challenges
The main challenge for this build was to have a quicker working platform than would have been possible with traditional concrete wet pour systems that require 10 days for curing, with no work carried out during this period. The TECSLAB™ system has enabled construction time to be compressed, as once the system was laid trades were able to work both beneath the floor and on it as no time is needed for curing.

Solutions
Upon review, TECSLAB™ has proven to be invaluable not only for this project but also for the client. It has paved the way for a more efficient construction methodology in the industrial sector. CMW Design and Construction uses concrete all the time so the shift to the TECSLAB™ System has proven that there doesn't need to be any lag time on site, it still feels like a solid concrete floor and actually is easier to walk on underfoot, provides a practical solution for the concealment of services and performs well acoustically.