Construction World July 2016

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

free surface; and has to carry large imposed loads over its entire surface, including across joints, corners and sides. “It must also be aesthetically pleasing with minimal surface defects and cracking. The concrete used for the floor needs both plastic and hardened properties to perform and so the mix designs for these concretes are more constrained and require greater attention to detail. Concrete floors and industrial hardstand- ings are also often constructed under adverse conditions. The large surface-to-volume ratio of a floor makes the floor very vulnerable to hot, windy and dry conditions during construction. “When problems occur with floors, it typically happens because of incorrect or lack of design specifications, wrong construction practice, as PROBLEMATIC INDUSTRIAL FLOORS The Concrete Institute (TCI) has to deal with more appeals for advice and assistance regarding concrete floors than any other concrete structure, says John Roxburgh, lecturer at the TCI’s School of Concrete Technology.

Roxburgh says industrial floors on the ground typically appear simple in design and construction. “But don’t be deceived by this perceived simplicity. The Concrete Insti- tute can testify that when it comes to the various concrete elements in a building, the industrial floor is by far the most problematic in meeting specifications and performance requirements. In many ways, the standard of the concrete floor on the ground can make or break a ware- house or factory. Without a well-designed, fit for purpose and low maintenance concrete industrial floor, any factory, warehouse, storage facility, retail area or hard-standing area will never operate at optimum efficiency. Like a house needs a strong foundation, these facilities also need a floor that will perform according to requirements. “Although a concrete floor is constructed on the ground with minimal reinforcement, it still has to have the correct thickness; to be level, flat and at the right height; have a hard-wearing dust The ‘Industrial Floors on the Ground’ course will be presented on 28 June in Cape Town, 19 July in Durban and 19 September in Midrand. For further information, contact Rennisha Sewnarain on tel 011 315 0300 or email: rennishas@theconcreteinstitute.org.za >

John Roxburgh, lecturer at the TCI’s School of Concrete Technology.

well as the incorrect implementation or lack of maintenance. These problems often manifest themselves in cracking, joint failure, curling, dusting, scaling, surface wear, sealant failure and excessive lateral movement of pallet jacks.” Roxburgh warns that an underperforming floor will slow down fork lift trucks, pallet jacks and reach trucks. Maintenance costs on all packing, stacking and lifting machinery could also be drastically increased along with more frequent and costly maintenance on the floor. Increased maintenance on the floor and machinery will mean more downtime – all resulting in a less efficient operation. “To assist the concrete industry, the School of Concrete Technology offers a one-day course, ‘Industrial Floors on the Ground’, presented by TCI MD, Bryan Perrie, an inter- nationally recognised authority on concrete floors, in which all the design principles and concrete practice needed to produce a good floor are covered. All engineers, contractors and clients involved with industrial floor would greatly benefit from attending this course,” Roxburgh advises.

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POWERFUL DRILLING AND CHISELLING Achieving precise and fast drilling in hard surfaces such as concrete, ceramic, metal and masonry now requires minimum effort, thanks to the Bosch GBH 2000 Professional drill. The compact tool’s short length head provides steadiness, accuracy and convenience to contractors working on site. >

the rotation stop provides enhanced versatility for common chiselling tasks.” The GBH 2000 Professional drill boasts a 600 Wmotor for heightened performance, and has a drilling capacity of 20 mm in concrete. The auxil- iary handle, with a soft grip, has a depth gauge designed for comfortable handling and prevents fatigue. The overload clutch guarantees better protection in cases of jammed drill bits, while the forward/reverse operation allows for easier loosening of jammed drill bits and screw driving. With the GBH 2000 Professional drill, adjusting the speed according to need is easy, owing to the variable speed control feature. The user can also turn the chisel without taking it out and lock it into position. The robust tool’s multi-position side handle enables overhead applications, while ensuring stability when drilling into concrete. Furthermore, the mechanical safety clutch prevents the drill from burning out or wrenching the arm.

The Bosch Power Tools SA senior brandmanager Juergen Lauer notes that the tool is ideal for anchoring, chiselling and drilling into any type of material. “The superior tool has three drill functions for drilling, hammer drilling and chiselling. Its three jaw chuck adapter is perfect for drilling straight shank drill bits in wood and steel, while

The GBH 2000 boasts a 600 W motor for heightened performance.

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2016