R

Bubble

Deck

The Lightweight Biaxial Slab

The engineering solution that radically improves building design
and performance while reducing the overall costs

Design Freedom

flexible design adapts to irregular and curved

plan layouts, longer spans and fewer supports.
Downstand beams and bearing walls eliminated.

Reducing Overall Costs

reduced material consumption and faster construction.

The increased flexibility will secure lifelong savings
concerning envelope, internal work,
interior design as well as continueous usage.

Process Optimized

tailormade semi-fabricated elements; fast erection

with large elements up to +40 m2; easy concreting
and fast placing of services due to the beamless flat soffit

Environmentally Green and Sustainable

reduced energy & carbon emissions. Recycled plastic balls.

All components are re-usable. Savings in CO2
up to 40 kg/m2 (reduced amount of concrete in slabs)

Earthquake

the light, biaxial slab/column system is regarded the probably

best construction method for Earthquake resistance

Quality products for quality constructions

Improve the building and enjoy the benefits, both as a owner and a user

Carrying Capacity
A solid slab can only carry app. one third of its own weight, and have
problems with long spans due to its high weight. BubbleDeck solves this
problem by eliminating 35 % of the concrete, while obtaining the strength.
Hence, a BubbeDeck slab has the same applied load capacity with only
50 % of the concrete required for a solid slab, or with the same slab
thickness has twice the load capacity using 65 % of the concrete.

In % of a
solid deck

BubbleDeck vs. solid deck

Same
strength

Same
bending
stiffness

Same
concrete
volume

100

105

150 *)

90

100

300

66

69

100

Strength
Bending
stiffness
Volume of
concrete

Shear capacity is more than 65 % of a solid deck with same height.

In calculations are used a factor 0.6
In critical areas (around columns), balls can be omitted
to achieve full capacity.

*) On the condition of the same amount of steel.

The concrete it self has 220 % greater effect.

Moment Strength and Span

(fck = 20-30 MN/m2, fy = 500-550 MN/m2)

19

Moment strength

[kNm/m]

350

17

300

15

250

13

200

11

150

100
Span

50

Moment Strength

0
170

5
230

280

10-16 / 100

12-18 / 125

340

390

450

16-22 / 175

18-25 / 200

Deck height [mm]

Steel:

8-12 / 75

14-20 / 150

[mm]

Simple Site Installation

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Temporary supports - propping on parallel beams at 1.8 to 2.5 m spacing

Placing elements
- tailormade semi precast elements lifted into position
Joint reinforcement - loose bottom splice bars and tie top mesh across joints
Shear reinforcement - across columns if needed
Edge reinforcement - edge bars and hairpins around slab perimeter
Perimeter shuttering
Preperation
- seal joints, clean and moisten precast concrete layer
Concreting
- pour, vibrate and float
Temporary works
- remove, typically after 1-2 weeks, according to specific site advice

Span [m]

400

Green credentials
Compared to a solid slab with same thickness,
Bubbledeck saves 35 % of concrete in the slab, and
saves 50 % with the same bearing effect. This will lead to
further reductions through the entire structure.
The production of one ton of cement causes emission
of about 800 kg of CO2. One m3 of concrete causes
CO2 emissions close to 300 kg. This figure does
not even include emissions due to quarrying, transport, etc.
Other GHG and natural ressources (water, sand, stone)
are reduced proportionally.
BubbleDeck uses recycled plastic balls, and all materials
can be reused upon demolition.

BubbleDeck is ideal for

incorporating other technologies
Post tensioning
A PT solution can easily be
incorporated in the slab to
comply with megaspans.
Heating/cooling
An energy saving way to heat
and/or cool a building, is to use
thermoactive slabs. Piping are
placed either at the precaster
or onsite.

Thoughout the structures life-time, the envelope and all

internal work can be removed, and the original frame
simply refitted for a new purpose.
The biaxial nature of BubbleDeck allows for any internal
layout to be reconfigured.

Earthquake resistance

Explosions safe

Seismic forces impacting a building are proportionally to

the horizontally accelerated mass, which has to be
absorbed by the vertical structure.
BubbleDeck with its reduced dead load, will consequently
reduce these forces.
BubbleDeck, the biaxial flat slab system with columns and
shear walls, is an effective concept for
earthquake resistant concrete constructions.

BubbleDeck, the biaxial flat slab

system and columns is ideal for
structures with high resistance
against explosions.
Get rid of heavy facades and rigid
walls, surpressing an airpressure
which in worst case leads to
collapse of the structure.

BubbleDeck can be supplied in

3 types of manufactured elements:

Optimise the life-cycle costs

Type A - Reinforcement modules, comprising prefabricated

bubble-lattice sandwich elements to be placed on
traditional formwork
Suitable for suspended ground floor slabs and
alteration / refurbishing projects.
Type B - Filigree elements, where the bottom of the
bubble-lattice sandwich includes a 60 mm thick pre-cast
concrete layer acting as permanent formwork.
Suitable for the majority of new-build projects.
Type C - Finished panels, complete precast slab elements.
These requires supporting beams or walls.
Often used as balconies.

Commercial tenants change on

average every 5 years.
The ratio between
initial investment sum and
costs for operation and modification
equates to about 1 : 5
BubbleDeckss flexible slab/column
system maximises the owners
investment.
BubbleDeck is fully tested,
and can be calculated in the
same way as a solid slab, with
respect to international (Eurocodes)
and national codes.
Confirms with ISO-standards.

Description

Calculation

The BubbleDeck floor system is a hollow deck with span in two

directions, in which plastic balls serves the purpose of eliminating
concrete that has no carrying effect.

Calculations are performed as for solid slabs following Eurocodes

Compared to a solid deck of same height, the weight of the

finished floor is 35 % lower, but still with the exact same strength.
An indication of span is 40 times the deck-thickness in both
directions; cantilevers app. 10 times the deck thickness.

Composition
BubbleDeck is a reinforced concrete deck, consisting of factorymade bubble lattice - balls integrated with reinforcement-meshes.

In % of a
solid deck

BubbleDeck vs. solid deck

Same
strength

Same
bending
stiffness

Same
concrete
volume

100

105

150 *)

90

100

300

66

69

100

Strength
Bending
stiffness
Volume of
concrete

Deck types:
BubbleDeck can be delivered in 3 versions:

*) On the condition of the same amount of steel.

The concrete it self has 220 % greater effect.

Reinforcement modules in form of pre-fabricated 'bubble-lattice'.

To be concreted on traditional formwork on site.

Shear capacity is more than 70 % of a solid deck with same

height. In calculations are used a factor 0.6. In critical areas
(around columns), balls can be omitted to achieve full capacity.

Filigree-slabs, where the bottom side of the 'bubble-lattice' unit is

furnished with a pre-cast concrete layer which replaces the
horizontal part of the formwork on the building site.

Fire

Finished slabs, delivered to the building site as pre-cast factorymade slab units.

Classification:
Fire resistance:
Smoke:

Materials:
Steel: FeB 550 / 460
Concrete: Standard Portland cement. No plastifiers needed.
Balls: HDPE (high density polyethylene / propylene), recycled

Sound

Additional:
Extra steel is incorporated in slabs.
Hairpins and shear reinforcement according to the constructor.
Joint reinforcement is delivered with slabs.

Sound insulation
dimension
Type
BD 230
BD 340

Characteristics
Form: See illustrations
Data:
Type

Finished deck not flammable.

Depending on concrete cover. 60-180 minutes.
Resistance is 1.5 times the fire resistance.
Depth of smoke < 10 m1 on both sides.
Balls:
Balls simply carbonize. No toxic gasses.
Examinations carried out in accordance with ISO 834.

Rw (C;Ctr) [dB]
55 (-2 ; -7)
57 (-2 ; -7)

Standard impact
sound level
Lc,w (C1;C50-3150) [dB]
78 (-11 ; -12)
76 (-13 ; -13)

In accordance with ISO 140 and 171.

Thickness

Balls

Span

Mass

Concrete
on-site

mm

mm

kg/m2

m3/m2

230
280
340
390
450

180
225
270
315
360

7 - 10
8 - 12
9 - 14
10 - 16
11 - 18

370
460
550
640
730

0.10
0.14
0.18
0.20
0.25

Implementation

The exact height is optimised according to project requirements.

Max. size of units:
Width: 3 m
Length: 9 -14 m (depending on producer)

Delivery: on site from factory.

Carrying out:
Temporary supports: The filigree elements are supported by
temporary supports according to the producers plan.
Distance max. 1.8 - 2.5 m.
Placing elements: By crane, lifting in the girders. Abutment on
walls, 60 - 80 mm, on columns 40 - 50 mm, depending on detail.
Placing joint reinforcement: Rebars, meshes, hairpins and
extra shear reinforcements if necessary.
Placing edge shuttering
Concreting: Normally with B25 or B35.
Removal of temporary supports: According to the constructor.
Finishing: Depending on demands.

Applicability

Commercial factors

Functional applicability: Residential living, offices, utility and

industrial buildings. Used in offices, apartments, villas, hotels,
schools, parking, hospitals, laboratories and factories.
Economical applicability:
35 % less weight than a solid deck of same thickness, results in
longer spans, less reinforcement and fewer columns.
A total weight reduction of 50 % in the building is possible.
No beams are necessary, giving minimal construction height,
free pipe layout and max freedom for interior arrangements.
Reduction of building time - fewer building elements and
easier finishing.
Environmental applicability:
Substantial reduction in materials and transportation.
Less emission and energy consumption.
Every component can be recycled. Easy demolition.
Regulations: Used in accordance with Eurocodes.

Price:
Depending on project.
Terms of delivery: Standard terms of delivery.
Delivery:
On site from factory.
Delivery time:
In accordance with producers, app. 8 weeks.
Area of delivery:
Worldwide.
Guarantees:
Following the producers' guarantees.
Technical service: Product documentation, technical advice,
plans and calculations.

BD 230
BD 280
BD 340
BD 390
BD 450

Contact
BubbleDeck International
Rsevangen 8
DK 3520 Farum

Phone:
Fax:

E-mail: Info@BubbleDeck.com
Website: www.BubbleDeck.com

+45 44 95 59 59
+45 44 95 59 59