THE PERMANENT SHUTTERING SYSTEM “ DOBELES PANELIS”
GENERAL
The permanent shuttering system “Dobeles panelis” has been engineered (under PLASTBAU technology) for the construction of monolithic concrete buildings. The system uses polystyrene-foam (expanded Polystyrene) elements, which function as shuttering during concreting, and after wards are included in cooling structures as thermal insulation, being in full compliance with the existing construction standard requirements LBN 002-01 (Enclosure thermal engineering). The exterior and interior sides of enclosures are finished with polystyrene-foam shuttering, plastering its exterior side and lining the interior side with gypsum panels.
The “Dobeles panelis” system uses three types of structure elements (see fig. 1.1):
- Shuttering for load-bearing exterior and interior walls –polystyrene-foam slabs having steel reinforced framing;
- Polystyrene-foam panels – shuttering for the floors above grade and roofs;
- Polystyrene-foam panels reinforced with perforated galvanized steel profile for partitions arrangement. All structure elements are easy and fast to erect.
Monolithic concrete is extensively used throughout the world, as it has a number of advantages over prefabricated concrete structures; the principal ones are the following:
- smaller dimensions of structures’ cross-section and lower
Concrete consumption;
there is no need in embedded parts and joints to fasten c structures, which results in metal savings
- there is no necessity for structure reinforcement to support transport and erection loads;
- there is the possibility to manufacture structures of various dimensions and shapes, as well as different degrees of complexity.
The shuttering is usually dismantled after concrete sufficiently hardens. The design of such shuttering is rather complicated, as it has to provide the bearing capability, strength, smoothness and dimensional stability of the structure being concreted. The knock-down shuttering is relatively expensive and, as the shuttering is required only for load-bearing structures construction only, it is often leased. After such shuttering is dismantled, the structure has yet to be wrapped, which additionally makes the construction and building as a whole more expensive. All these problems are removed when the permanent shuttering system is used.
The permanent shuttering system “Dobeles panelis”, manufactured by TENAX Ltd and used for the construction of houses, public and industrial buildings, fully comply with requirements of the Latvian civil construction standard LBN 006-00 “Major requirements for buildings”:
- mechanical strength and stability;
- fire safety;
- hygienic, harmless for human beings and environment;
- safety of use;
- noise protection
- Savings in energy and thermal insulation.
The “Dobeles panelis” system includes permanent shuttering for walls and floors, as well as ready-made elements for partitions, hence the building can be designed as a whole, or individual elements can be used in combination with other construction materials. For example, walls can be constructed using the ‘Dobeles panelis” system, and floors made of prefabricated reinforced concrete or wood: walls can be of masonry, and floors above grade made using “Dobeles panelis” system. If the construction is wholly based on the “Dobeles panelis” system, the procedure starts with walls permanent shuttering erection and is followed with additional reinforcement assembly in compliance with erection requirements, and finally the shuttering is filled with concrete mixture (see section 7).
The “Dobeles panelis” system can also be successfully applied to foundations construction. Once foundations and walls are constructed, partition elements are erected – the permanent shuttering, reinforcement is fit up and concrete is deposited.
Similarly the roofing is erected and concreted.
It’s notably convenient and easy to erect partitions using the “Dobeles panelis” system: horizontal sections are fixed to the floor and the ceiling. Then partition polystyrene-foam panels with technical utilities ducts are attached the erected sections. The panels can be fished with mesh plastering or gypsum sheets lining.
As the polystyrene-foam shuttering is very light, the system can be conveniently used for buildings reconstruction. Lately, the necessity often arises to increase the number of stories of the existing buildings, change old partitions and construct new ones. If we use light permanent shuttering of the Dobeles panelis” system for this purpose, we drastically reduce additional load on the existing building in comparison with traditional building procedures. The crane is not needed for partition erection and prefabricated elements are easy to move both horizontally and vertically. It also means that construction can be carried out in narrow space.
