Recommendations
Expansion Joints
Expansion joints in factories, distribution centres and retail warehouses must be particularly robust and able to withstand high point loads arising from racking as well as being able to resist loads from pallet and forklift trucks. The provisions of Eurocode EN-1991-1-1: 2002 should be considered when specifying expansion joints for warehouse floors. It is recommended that FL3 loading capacity be considered as the minimum acceptable. FL3 equates to a forklift truck of 69kN (6.9 tonnes) fully laden weight.
Similarly, in these types of project expansion joints must provide smooth transit for pedestrians and most particularly those with disabilities. They should meet all current disability legislation requirements through the entire movement cycle of the jointing system. Vexcolt’s jointing systems have been designed meet current European and USA Disability Legislation (ADA).
Jointing systems used in pharmaceutical plants and the food industry must use joints with a 316-grade stainless steel covers to meet the relevant legislation to cope with the rigorous cleaning regimes employed in these industries.
Control Joints
Factories, distribution centres and retail warehouse floors are often ground supported and finishes tend to vary little comprising polished concrete with or without dry shake additives and hardeners or alternatively concrete with paint or thin resin coatings.
Stress relieving saw-cuts are formed in the concrete slab while it is still green, and these joints typically arise at 6 metre intervals forming 6 metre x 6 metre bays. In such environments it is strongly recommended that control joints with metal side plates are inserted into sawn joints in concrete floors. Typically, these control joints have stainless steel side plates which protect and support the edges of the sawn concrete from spalling over time as forklift and other traffic pass over the joint.
