Menu
[:es]Forjado Postesado[:]

Construction innovation: post-tensioned slabs

Innovation has been in Blues Simon Group’s DNA since its origins, not only in the choice of materials, but also in the building processes themselves. For this reason, we do not hesitate to explore the latest construction trends, as in the case of post-tensioned slabs that have historically been used in civil construction works, such as bridges, and which we are now transferring to residential construction.

This type of slab, based on prestressed concrete, is produced using a technique whereby steel cables are tensioned after the concrete has set, taking great care to ensure that the concrete has reached sufficient strength to withstand the applied stresses. Obviously, this method requires the use of both concrete and high-strength steel.

[:es]Forjado Postesado[:]

From bridges to houses

Originally, the technique was mainly used in bridge construction, but it has gradually been transferred to other buildings. In markets such as the United States, it came to the fore in the 1960s. Previously, it has been necessary to overcome some incidences, such as deformations when the thickness of the slabs ranged between 20 and 25 centimetres, for example.

However, the technique evolved extraordinarily and one of the first additional applications was in car parks, later moving on to other large facilities such as sports complexes, indoor swimming pools, bus terminals or airports, etc.

Over the course of time, this construction technique can now be found in cinemas and theatres, hotels, hospitals or large industrial offices. The common denominator is the size of the building, which can accommodate large audiences in large open-plan areas.

Advantages over traditional slabs

Blues Simon Group, on the other hand, is committed to the technique for residential use, exploiting all its virtues, from the flexibility it provides when it comes to distribution to the play it gives to create very open floors, with large openings between the pillars. In addition, it allows an increase in free height between floors, as the slab depth is reduced by half compared to a traditional floor slab. In other words, the incompatibility that historically existed between obtaining large spans while reducing the thickness of the slabs has been completely eliminated.

From a structural point of view, their continuity means that the number of joints and the number of concreting and expansion joints are reduced, giving the construction greater structural integrity.

Practical application to a project

One of the disadvantages of the technique is that the assembly of the formwork requires more time than with the traditional system and more personnel involved simultaneously, but with proper planning this is not a difficult obstacle to overcome. On the other hand, it has the advantage that the shoring can be removed much earlier.

In addition, post-tensioned floors fit in perfectly with our philosophy of respect for the environment, as they require the use of fewer materials (up to 40% less concrete and 75% less steel), thus reducing the carbon footprint of the building (less greenhouse gas emissions, both in the production of the materials and in their transport to the construction site).

For all of the above, the technique is already a reality in one of our latest projects, the one carried out jointly with Ramón Gandía Brull (RGB Arquitectos), the Technical Architect, Joaquín Pérez (JJ Arquitectos Técnicos) and Royal Residence Lifestyle. Its low-rise design, but with a large surface area on each floor, made this house an ideal project to give free rein to our desire to innovate.

Related Posts