Replacing timber floors with hollow core.

elcamino70

Hi all ,
I hope someone can shed some light on this subject for me , there doesn't seem to be much information online about this . Basically I was wondering can timber floors be replaced in a building with hollow core floors without demolishing the building . As far as my research as shown this is the only way to be fire compliant.
Or is there a more cost effective way to bring the existing floors up to the standard required .
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

sydthebeat

elcamino70 wrote: »

Hi all ,
I hope someone can shed some light on this subject for me , there doesn't seem to be much information online about this . Basically I was wondering can timber floors be replaced in a building with hollow core floors without demolishing the building . As far as my research as shown this is the only way to be fire compliant.
Or is there a more cost effective way to bring the existing floors up to the standard required .
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

That would be a highly intruSive and costly way to upgrade.
There are many methods to increase fire protection but it really depends on your speciFic situation and the required outcome.

Drift

There are proprietary products that can be used to provide certain degrees of fire resistance to timber floors. They're often used in heritage buildings where concrete floors are not an option. Of course there's a limit to what you can do with them. (And then there's a limit to what the Fire Officer will let you do too!) What sort of fire resistance are you looking for OP?

Also it's worth noting that some types of hollowcore don't have sufficient cover to the prestressed strands to provide high levels of fire resistance. You'll often find a cast in-situ slab with greater cover works better in areas like boiler houses.

Either way it would be VERY difficult to replace timber floors with hollowcore and there's probably an easier solution. What type of building is it?

gman2k

There is no problem making timber floors fire resistant, just careful detailing.
How would you get precast slabs into a building without removing the roof?

Drift

P.S. A point I forgot to mention is that even if it was a building where this was possible (like a warehouse or factory with large roller doors and a mezzanine) you would have to be confident that the foundations are capable of taking the increased load from the hollowcore.

elcamino70

Thanks for all the responses . They have been very helpful. I realise now that hollowcore flooring is not an option due to crane access as taking off the roof is not an option. The other option t beam and block but the span is too wide for that to work . I need fire resistant for one hour as it is appartments . The original builder out in a floor not suitable and that doesn't meet fire regulations. Is fire proofing the existing floor an option ? Or world it be a matter of concrete floors or nothing at all ?

elcamino70

It's a new build. Not protected in any way.

sydthebeat

elcamino70 wrote: »

Thanks for all the responses . They have been very helpful. I realise now that hollowcore flooring is not an option due to crane access as taking off the roof is not an option. The other option t beam and block but the span is too wide for that to work . I need fire resistant for one hour as it is appartments . The original builder out in a floor not suitable and that doesn't meet fire regulations. Is fire proofing the existing floor an option ? Or world it be a matter of concrete floors or nothing at all ?

fire proofing existing timber floors is a common occurance

1 hour rating is not hard to achieve

Rabbo

Its not all that uncommon to upgrade existing timber floors to 60 minute but it can be difficult to achieve a continuous compartment barrier where existing internal walls meet ceilings, etc.

landcrzr

Hi,
There are standard details available from Lafarge and Gypsum, I can't post a link unfortunately, boards won't let me, but check lafarges website and look for teh floor and ceiling pdf.

As others have said, the devil is in the detail and the local Fire Officer may have particular requirements/preferences.
You need professional advice, ideally a Fire Engineer that has dealt with the Fire Officer in your area.

galwaytt

Google robust detail EFT-6 which is one way - it was used ina new 2-storey school recently.

As mentioned, 1hour rating is relatively straightforward to achieve.