VSL Sitemap | Contact us | VSL on the Web | Download HOME | THE COMPANY | CONSTRUCTION PARTNER | BUSINESS LINES | SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | CAREERS HOME BUSINESS LINES CONSTRUCTION SLAB ON GRADE SLAB ON GRADE VSL Slab on grade is the ideal cost-effective joint-free solution for industrial structures - highly durable, with very low maintenance. Nestlé Distribution Plant VSL pours the world's largest joint-free surface.. Chile - 2002 read more .... GROUND ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION Bridges Buildings Slab on grade LNG & LPG Containment structures Nuclear containment structures Offshore structures Heavy Lifting Formwork (Buildings & Bridges) REPAIR, STRENGTHENING & PRESERVATION SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGIES Have you read it ? MORE+ Video Creating solutions together VSL's corporate movie → WATCH MORE + VSL's Offer Technology Applications The lightweight solution for the construction of economic and durable slabs VSL’s Slab on grade is a versatile method for producing slabs in industrial and commercial structures using the principles of post-tensioning to compensate for excess tensile stresses. An industrial floor slab should be durable, free of excessive cracking, suitably flat and able to withstand traffic loads. The VSL Slab on grade greatly diminishes the risk of failures and so is widely used in the construction of such structures. The system uses post-tensioning technology in the design and construction of flooring and pavements. There are expensive consequences to the failures that occur with conventionally reinforced concrete slabs or slabs with steel fibre reinforcement. Symptoms such as delamination and spalling, cracking, curling and abrasion increase the need for maintenance and repair, leading to higher service-life costs as well as the loss of production during any repair operations. These issues are avoided by the use of the VSL Slab on grade system. Compared with conventional reinforcement, post-tensioning provides a longer service life and higher loading capacity. It requires almost no maintenance and retains a high resale value. The system has been used successfully worldwide in various types of logistics and manufacturing facilities, workshops and other structures including tanks and hangars. Building a durable industrial or commercial structure requires consultation between the slab designer, owner, geotechnical specialist and builder. Many factors have to be considered before construction, such as the environmental and site conditions, traffic requirements, loads, slab thickness and reinforcement, joint locations and spacing as well as the method of slab construction. Each of these considerations affects one or more of the others. MORE+ VSL's systems and services VSL carries out the design, supply and construction of large joint-free reinforced post-tensioned concrete slabs. The slabs use axial compression forces in the concrete to counteract tensile stresses that would otherwise cause cracks. VSL’s services cover: Full slab design Earthworks Subgrade preparation, including a sand base and plastic layer Supply and installation of post-tensioning Concrete works Surface finishing Advantages of VSL’s services Supporting any load: The VSL Slab on grade can be designed to accommodate any loading requirement. Crack control: Post-tensioned slabs reduce the risk of cracking more effectively than other reinforced slabs because of the compressive forces that are applied by the post-tensioning cables. Fast-track construction: Post-tensioned slabs can be constructed much faster than conventional reinforced slabs. Time is also saved by using fewer joints and narrower footings with less excavation and less concrete. Large pours of more than 2,500m² are a common feature of post-tensioned slabs on grade. Providing the ultimate choice in surface coatings: VSL Slab on grade produces the best possible base for surface finishes and gives the customer the ultimate freedom of choice in coatings. The eventual finish of the slab can be selected for appropriate texture, hardness and colouring, making it not only serviceable but also attractive. Up to 30,000m² without joints: Large concrete areas can have their joint spacing increased to minimise the costs of the joints as well as the long-term maintenance and operational costs. Use of the slab-on- grade solution also reduces the wear and tear caused by moving equipment, extending the life of the joints. Reduced maintenance: The use of fewer - or even no – joints significantly reduces the need for future maintenance. Studies have shown that the major costs over the life of a structure involve joint maintenance. With a post-tensioned slab, the costs of joint and crack repair are reduced as too is the damage to plant caused by the breakdown of joints. More flexible slabs: A thinner slab is more flexible. In the event of a large overload that may induce cracking, the prestressing ensures that the slab returns to its previous state when the load is removed. In contrast, a weak point is more likely to remain in the substructure with a conventional reinforced slab, leading inevitably to deterioration. Flatter slabs: The risk of slab curling is greatly reduced with fewer joints and greater joint spacing. This produces a smoother ride and less maintenance for vehicles. Deflection control: Expansive soils, which expand when wet and shrink when dry, can cause foundation movements and cracking. Post-tensioning increases the slab’s flexural and tensile capacities, making it more resistant to problematic soils. Austrack project Ballerina project Contributing to sustainable solutions In a project featuring the VSL Slab on grade system, sustainable practices and economic success go hand-in-hand as there are advantages over traditional reinforced concrete slabs: A reduction in concrete volumes by up to 30% Reduced energy demand Reduced emissions of greenhouse gases (CO2). The VSL Slab on grade system offers further advantages with regards to sustainable development: Lower maintenance and repair costs throughout the life of the slab due to the inherent crack-inhibition properties of using prestressing Lower whole-life costs due to the extended longevity of the system compared with plain reinforced concrete slabs Reduced volume of end-of-life demolition and waste disposal with corresponding reductions in costs. Awards MORE+ SEND TO A FRIEND Top of page Project references MORE+ Related brochures View: Download: MORE+ Press releases | VSL News magazine | Project references | Brochures | Videos THE COMPANY | CONSTRUCTION PARTNER | BUSINESS LINES | SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | CAREERS | CONTACT US | DOWNLOAD Press releases VSL News magazine Project references Brochures Videos © 2013 Welcome to VSL International Ltd. / CH-053.3.001.465-2 | Disclaimer | Accessibility