The benefits of using Dincel for load bearing walls
16 May 2019
The traditional column-slab and in-fill wall
system, which is still used to build most
apartment buildings, involves
infill walls that are usually made of stud and plasterboard; masonry and
brick; or autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC).
By law, these infill walls are made to meet acoustic and fire prevention
requirements. However, they are non-load bearing. That important job is
performed by load bearing columns, as well as the concrete slabs that
constitute the apartment floors.
For that reason, where this traditional technique is used, apartment
buildings require a lot of concrete and a lot of steel. Both the load
bearing columns and the concrete slab must be thick and well reinforced.
Dincel Structural Walling
Dincel Structural Walling offers builders an alternative to this
traditional method. It not only allows them to reduce the amount of
materials they need in the construction process, but also dramatically
cuts construction time and costs.
Made by Sydney-based manufacturer Dincel Construction System, the
product makes it possible to build load bearing walls by simply pouring
concrete into panels that are placed vertically in position and
connected together by a simple snap-lock mechanism prior to the pour.
Dincel is available in four different profiles - 110 mm, 155mm, 200mm,
275mm – each of which is suitable for constructing load bearing walls in
buildings of different heights. For example, the relatively narrow 110mm
profile is suitable for constructing load bearing walls in
buildings up to 7 storeys.
At the other end of the scale, the 275mm profile (the largest) can be
used for buildings up to 60 storeys, while the 155mm and 200mm cater for
building heights of 20 and 30 storeys respectively.
Cost reductions
Like conventional in-fill walls, Dincel Structural Walling exceeds all
BCA acoustic and fire safety requirements. However, unlike those
traditional walls, they are also load bearing. Therefore, there is no
need for load bearing columns and slabs thickness can be significantly
reduced.
Using a column-slab and in-fill wall system, minimum slab thickness is
200mm and mesh reinforcement cannot be used. In contrast, with Dincel
the minimum slab thickness is just 150mm and mesh reinforcement is
permissible.
Transfer slabs (beams used to transfer the floor loads to the support
post and pillars) are also important considerations in apartment
buildings. Using Dincel, if party walls are placed at right angles to
the building’s aisle way, there is no need for transfer slabs.
All of this translates to cost reductions of up to 25 per cent where
Dincel is used instead of a column-slab and in-fill wall system.
Time savings
The other major benefit of using Dincel to construct load bearing walls
is the time savings it delivers. Overall, it can reduce construction
time by 30 - 50 per cent.
This is possible because the system’s panels with their snap-lock
technology make the construction of load bearing walls a simple, neat
task. The panels themselves are light and easy for anybody on a building
site to carry and handle.
The fact that mesh reinforcement can be used in the floor slabs is also
significant. It eliminates the need for heavy steel reinforcement and
means that slabs can be 50mm thinner than is the case when using the
traditional technique. On top of that, the installation process is
simpler. Dincel Walls and floor slabs can be installed simultaneously,
while the traditional method requires columns to be installed first,
followed by the floor slabs, and then finally the infill walls.
Plus, the detailing required for a Dincel wall is less elaborate than
the detailing for, say, ACC walls. While both can be relied upon to meet
acoustic and fire safety requirements, the simple process of installing
Dincel panels and filling with concrete, means there are fewer
structural restraints for builders to fit. These are simply not
required.
The innovative system offers maximum strength where earthquakes or
cyclones are concerns. Its protective outer skin is not only waterproof,
but also protects against corrosion, concrete cancer and the like. By
simplifying the construction process, it reduces labour hours, lightens
the materials handing task, and reduces the amount of a clutter on
buildings sites.
Put simply, Dincel is the way of the future for constructing load
bearing walls and is quickly being adopted as the partner of choice for
commercial, residential and industrial applications.
--ENDS--
Source: Dincel Construction System - www.dincelconstructionsystem.com
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