cohesion in design

WHEN A business depends on consumer recognition as much as The Warehouse does through its chain of stores, the importance for contractors to fulfil the client's brief to the letter is paramount.

BBR Contech was commissioned to design and construct a post-tensioned floor for the new The Warehouse at Sylvia Park that its customers would readily associate with the company's brand. This resulted in a vast, jointless 10,000m² slab spanning the entire store.

To achieve this, the space under the floor needed to be prepared before the concrete was poured. A post-tensioned floor of this size involved 40 tonnes of high-strength steel strand, stretched to near breaking load and buried within the concrete so that as the concrete shrinks, it is held together and moves from the outside in.

Post-tensioning minimises the risk of cracking or having open joints within the middle of the floor, explains BBR Contech Northern regional manager Keith Snow, and is a vital component of the flooring process. "The Warehouse recognised at an early stage that the joint-free nature of post-tensioned floors offered benefits well beyond those provided by conventional floors. The aesthetics, low maintenance and general overall impression when walking into one of their larger stores are enhanced by the joint-free layout."

BBR Contech has been at the forefront of post-tensioning technology for over 40 years. It works closely with its clients to configure the floors and has partnered with construction company Naylor Love and The Warehouse on a large number of developments.

"Our proven track record and experienced personnel mean Contech is able to offer a complete and economical design and construct service for any project."

For more information, contact BBR Contech (Construction Techniques Limited), 6 Neil Park Drive, East Tamaki, PO Box 51-391 Pakuranga, Auckland, phone (09) 274 9259, fax (09) 274 5258 or visit the website: www.contech.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas