5.2 Suspended ground floors
MATERIALS STANDARDS
| 5.2 - M1 | Materials standards |
| 5.2 - M2 | Concrete and reinforcement |
| 5.2 - M3 | Proprietary systems |
| 5.2 - M4 | Timber |
| 5.2 - M5 | Damp-proofing and thermal insulation materials |
(a) meet the Technical Requirements
(b) take account of the design
Materials that comply with the design and the guidance below will be acceptable for suspended ground floors.
Materials for suspended ground floors should comply with all relevant standards, including those listed below. Where no standard exists, Technical Requirement R3 applies (see Chapter 1.1 'Introduction to the Standards and Technical Requirements').
References to British Standards and Codes of Practice include those made under the Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) and, in particular, appropriate European Technical Specifications approved by a European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).
CONCRETE AND REINFORCEMENT
(a) achieve sufficient strength to support floor loads safely
(b) be sufficiently durable to remain unaffected by chemical or frost action
For guidance on the specification and use of in-situ concrete, additives and reinforcement, reference should be made to Chapter 2.1 'Concrete and its reinforcement' (each section).
PROPRIETARY SYSTEMS
Proprietary concrete flooring systems should be designed in accordance with BS EN 1992-1-1. Where a system incorporates elements which cannot be designed to this standard, eg polystyrene infill blocks, the floor should be assessed in accordance with Technical Requirement R3.
TIMBER
Materials should be selected in accordance with the relevant parts of Chapter 6.4 'Timber and concrete upper floors' (Design and Materials).
DAMP-PROOFING AND THERMAL INSULATION MATERIALS
Items to be taken into account include:
(a) damp-proofing materials
Damp-proofing materials should be selected in accordance with Chapter 5.1 'Substructure and ground bearing floors' (Design and Materials).
(b) thermal insulation materials
Thermal insulating materials used below cast in-situ suspended floor slabs should be selected in accordance with the relevant recommendations given in Chapter 5.1 'Substructure and ground bearing floors' (each section).
Thermal insulating materials for use with timber floors should be:
- expanded polystyrene boards (grade EPS 70) to BS EN 13163
- mineral wool to BS 5803 : Part 1
- other materials which have been assessed in accordance with Technical Requirement R3.
For thermal insulation used above concrete floor slabs, materials should be selected in accordance with Chapter 8.3 'Floor finishes' (Design and Materials).
