Technical Manual: Eurodek™
Technical Manual: Eurodek™
Technical Manual
EuroDEK™
EuroDEK™ is an advanced composite floor slab profile now available and manufactured
in Malaysia. Formed from hot dipped zinc plated thin gauge steel sheet, the EuroDEK™
profile has been carefully designed to optimize performance when acting as permanent
shuttering to support wet concrete slabs. The profile design, with its repetition module of
152.5 mm allows thinner gauges of EuroDEK™ to be specified than with wider spaced
ribs on similar profiles.
EuroDEK™ is not only a convenient shuttering system as it also bonds with the concrete,
both chemically and mechanically, to act as all or part of the structural reinforcement in
the composite floor slab. This composite action is achieved without the need for any end
anchorage in the form of shear studs due to the regularly spaced embossments along
the top of the profile and its re-entrant shape which prevents vertical separation of the
concrete from the steel.
Extensive fire testing of the profile has been carried out in the UK to assist in the
development of unified design rules. These tests were instrumental in the development
of BS 5950 : Part 8: 1990 which all fire designs now follow.
Available in a range of gauges from 0.8 mm up to 1.2 mm, EuroDEK™ is the composite
floor decking profile of choice for international design offices around the world. This
Technical Manual is offered as an introduction to the design and use of EuroDEK™ for
Engineers and Specifiers. Additional assistance is available from European Profiles
Contracting Sdn Bhd at their Head Office in Rawang.
EuroDEK™
EuroDEK™
Technical Manual
COMPOSITE FLOOR DECKING
The full benefits of steel framed building design are realised when composite floor
decking is used in unpropped construction. Using this construction method allows
the contractor maximum flexibility in programming works and minimises the number
of obstructions to following trades. It is therefore the construction stage, when the
decking profile is supporting wet concrete and construction personnel, that dictates
the choice of decking gauge for most design applications.
Composite floor decking is fast to install and uses a minimum of labour. This can
contribute towards overall economies on the total building cost, whilst reducing the
risk of accidents associated with labour intensive operations. For high rise
construction with unpropped decking consider the following sequence :
1) Deliver deck for Level 1 and load bundles on to the frame. This operation is most
efficiently performed before beams for Level 2 are installed as they may obstruct
the crane access.
2) Deliver deck for Level 2 and load bundles on to the frame.
3) Deliver deck for Level 3 and load bundles on to the frame.
4) Spread out the decking at Level 3 and secure in place. This will provide a
protective layer for the workplace below, providing protection from falling objects
as well as shelter from sun and rain.
5) Spread out the decking at Levels 1 & 2 whilst erecting steel and delivering deck
bundles for Levels 4, 5 & 6. The decking at Level 3 allows these operations to
proceed at the same time.
Construction Stage
• DEFLECTION is limited to span / 130 after the full effects of ponding are taken
into account.
• For continuous sheets the NEGATIVE BENDING MOMENT is calculated and, if
applicable, reduced to a residual level on formation of a plastic hinge.
• For both single and continuous sheets, the POSITIVE BENDING MOMENT is
calculated and checked against the known sheet capacity.
• WEB BUCKLING is checked where the sheeting passes onto both end and
intermediate supports.
• Combined effects of BENDING and BUCKLING are checked at intermediate
supports. The bearing stresses have the effect of reducing the resistance of the
sheet to applied loading when compared with a pure bending situation.
• Immediately adjacent to both end and intermediate supports, the WEB SHEAR
capacity is checked.
Composite Stage
In the composite slab analysis, all slabs are considered as simply supported.
• DEFLECTION due to IMPOSED LIVE LOADS is limited to span / 350.
• DEFLECTION due to TOTAL IMPOSED LOADS is limited to span / 250.
• POSITIVE BENDING is checked against the capacity of the fully composite
section. In addition, the effects of SHEAR BOND on the horizontal interface
between concrete and decking must be analysed as the full moment capacity can
seldom be mobilised.
• VERTICAL SHEAR through the concrete in the troughs of the composite slab is
checked adjacent to the supports.
Where circumstances dictate that the sheeting be used in single span configurations, the
maximum permissible spans will be reduced due to the greater flexibility during
construction.
The construction stage so dominates the design that the final composite slab is often
capable of carrying far greater loads than required. In the following table it can be seen
2
that load carrying capacity in excess of 15 kN/m is common.
1. The spans indicated are from centre to centre of supports which are assumed to be
of minimum width 100 mm.
3 3
2. Concrete density is taken to be 2400 kg/m during construction, 2350 kg/m after
curing.
2
3. During construction, a live load allowance of 1.5 kN/m has been included to account
for construction personnel and lightweight equipment.
EuroDEK™
Technical Manual
PROPPED CONSTRUCTION
W here unpropped construction is not possible or soffit deflections are to be
minimised during construction, then temporary props may need to be considered. It
is recommended that temporary props be left in position until the concrete has reached at
least 75% of its intended design strength. Early removal of props can be detrimental to the
overall performance of the composite slab as the vital shear bond between concrete and
decking may be weakened due to deflection of the immature slab. This deflection can
also cause cracking of the concrete where it passes over support beams. Prop removal
will always allow deflection to take place and will lead to a slight dishing effect on the top
surface of the slab. For this reason, it is recommended that some forms of finishes are
applied to the slab after props are removed.
4. In calculating deflections during construction, the effects of ponding are taken into
2
account in an iterative procedure. A temporary live load of 0.5 kN/m is included in
deflection calculations to account for non recoverable deflections caused by the
construction personnel.
5. Deflections are limited to span/130 in accordance with BS 5950:Part 4:1994.
6. A span to depth ratio limit of 35:1 is imposed.
7. Concrete is grade C30.
8. Composite slabs are designed as simply supported with nominal crack control fabric
over the supports.
EuroDEK™
Technical Manual
FIRE ENGINEERING DESIGN
Design of composite floor slabs in the fire limit state is covered by BS 5950: Part 8:
1990. This code of practice uses fire engineering techniques to design fire resistance
into the slab and dispense with the need for soffit protection. By following the guidelines
in the tables that follow a significant saving on project costs may be achieved.
Design principles
Insulation
To ensure temperatures on the top surface of the slab do not rise excessively due
to fire below the soffit
Integrity
Compartmentalisation. To ensure that the slab does not allow the penetration of
smoke and flames from one compartment to another.
Stability
To ensure that the structure remains standing without endangering the lives of people
during the period of evacuation and firefighting.
To satisfy the insulation requirement without the need for any soffit protection, the
total composite slab depth when using EuroDEK™ should not be less than the
nominal figures given in the table below. Two sets of figures are given in the
table, one for each of the two design methods described below. W hen using
Method A, note that the slab thickness is increased compared to Method B for a two hour
fire rating. Method A has not been proven to be applicable beyond 2 Hours.
1
Fire Rating Period (Hrs) 1/2 Hr 1 Hr 1 / 2 Hr 2 Hr 3 Hr 4 Hr
Fire Tests
During the development of both the EuroDEK™ profile and the British Standard code of
practice for design, a number of full scale fire tests have been carried out at UK and
European Fire Test Centres. Listed below are the most significant of these tests
together with a brief description of their performance.
This method is consistent with BS 5950:Part 8:1990 and is supported by full scale
tests carried out at Warrington Fire Research Centre in the UK. It is applicable to
fire ratings up to 2 hours maximum.
Method A
Fire rating for EuroDEK™ Slab achieved with top mesh only.
No other reinforcement.
1 Hr 1-1/2Hr 2 Hr
Imposed Slab
Load Depth A6 A7 A6 A7 A7 A8
kN/mm 2 mm m m m m m m
Notes to Table A
• The fabric sizes refer to the wire diameter in millimeters.
• All 'A' type fabrics consist of wires welded on a 200 x 200 square grid.
• The fabric should be positioned in the top of the slab with typically 25 mm of concrete
cover above the wires over support beams. Draping of the mesh is permitted but is not
compulsory.
• Lapping and end anchorage of the fabric should follow conventional practice.
EuroDEK™
Technical Manual
Method B
This method can be applied universally, either on its own or in combination with Method A for
isolated or exceptional spans. In addition to the crack control fabric, reinforcing bars are designed
and detailed in to the soffit of the slab to act in tension under positive bending conditions. Method B
Method B
Fire rating for EuroDEK™ Slab achieved with top
mesh plus reinforcing bars in every or alternate
troughs.
Notes to table B
• Bar size/spacing combinations are arranged in ascending order of cross-sectional of
steel provided.
• All reinforcement is assumed to consist of high yield deformed bars with a minimum yield
2
strength of 460 N/mm .
• Imposed loads include all live and dead loads other than slab self weight which can be
ignored when reading the tables. Load factors are taken as 1.0 throughout.
EuroDEK™
Technical Manual
Maximum permissible span for Fire Engineering Method B designs
1 HOUR
1 ½ HOUR
2 HOUR
Reinforcing Bars (Diameter / Spacing)
Imposed Slab
Load Depth 8mm 10 mm 8mm 12 mm 10 mm 16 mm 12 mm
@ 305 @ 305 @ 152 @ 305 @ 152 @ 305 @ 152
125 2.00 2.48 2.83 2.97 3.48 3.87 4.11
140 2.14 2.65 3.03 3.17 3.74 4.14 4.42
5.0 150 2.22 2.75 3.14 3.29 3.89 4.30 4.60
170 2.36 2.92 3.34 3.49 4.14 4.59 4.92
200 2.54 3.13 3.59 3.75 4.44 4.91 5.31
125 1.81 2.25 2.57 2.70 3.16 3.51 3.73
140 1.95 2.41 2.76 3.40 2.89 3.77 4.03
6.7 150 2.02 2.51 2.87 3.00 3.55 3.93 4.20
170 2.16 2.68 3.06 3.20 3.79 4.20 4.51
200 2.34 2.89 3.31 3.45 4.09 4.53 4.89
125 1.56 1.94 2.22 2.32 2.72 3.02 3.22
140 1.68 2.09 2.39 2.50 2.95 3.27 3.49
10.0 150 1.76 2.18 2.49 2.60 3.08 3.41 3.65
170 1.89 2.34 2.68 2.79 3.31 3.67 3.94
200 2.06 2.54 2.91 3.04 3.60 3.98 4.30
EuroDEK™
Technical Manual
METAL DECK DETAIL
Staggered Studs at
EuroDEK™ butt joint
Typical cantilevered
EuroDEK™ detail Typical edge detail