Mind the gap

Traditional joint systems utilise straight steel top strips to reinforce slab panel edges. When the slab panel has cured and shrinkage has taken place, a gap occurs between these two steel strips.

TR34 4th edition recommends that the gap should be sealed to reduce the point of impact and to prevent detritus from entering the full slab depth. This gap must be traversed by MHE during normal operations. As the MHE wheels jump the gap, an impact takes place and a shock load is transferred to the slab panel edge.

Over the long term, it is expected that a degree of isolated concrete repairs will be required with traditional joint systems. Typically, floor joints account for less than 3% of the total floor cost, yet repair costs can exceed £120 per metre. Joint sealing is also costly and during the life of the floor the joint sealant will need to be replaced several times. 

ShieldJoint is a leave-in-place joint system which is said to exceed the demands placed on today’s industrial concrete floors.

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ShieldJoint’s top plates have a trapezoidal split line rather than straight edges. It is this design that ensures the MHE wheels remain in contact with both sides of the joint thus eliminating any impact. Since there is no impact, the joint and concrete is not repeatedly exposed to shock loads and so costly concrete repairs either side of the joint are eliminated. Additionally, ShieldJoint is sealant-free.

ShieldJoint’s top plates are supported by opposing intermediate plates which close off the gap between the adjacent slab panels. Therefore there is no full slab depth gap when the joint opens, resulting in no joint sealant costs and no potential rodent runs, as seen with other competitors joint systems.

The company says: “ShieldJoint is an ideal solution for heavily trafficked locations such as dock loading areas and entrance doorways. Clients wishing for complete versatility and a future-proof floor should choose to install ShieldJoint throughout their facility. Racking layouts can be re-positioned at a later date without the normal joint layout considerations being necessary.”

Around the world, end-users, structural engineers and architects want lower whole-life costs and are seeing the added value of specifying ShieldJoint in their floor slab designs. ShieldJoint (patents pending) is an impact-free and sealant-free joint system designed and manufactured by Isedio.