Uniclass EPIC
L3422 C251:X221
Topfloor from Tarmac
fastfloor beam and block flooring – technical information
Contents
The Beam & Block Advantage . . .p1
• Design Service • Production
• Fire Rating • Installations
• Quality Standards • Delivery
Product & Construction Details . .p2
General Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . .p4
Health & Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . .p4
• On Site Stacking • Manual Handling
Fast Floor Loadspan Tables . . . . .p5
Product Extras . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p6
Delivery/Installation . . . . . . . . . .p7
The Beam & Block Advantage
Tarmac’s Beam & Block flooring system –
FastFloor – can be installed in suspended ground
and many upper floors with minimum fuss and
maximum effectiveness. It is quick to install and
provides an immediate safe working platform.
It is draught-proof, rot-proof and fire-resistant.
On top of that, it can eliminate problems
associated with backfill, clay heave, shrinkage
and what’s more it’s also squeak-free.
Estimating and Design Service:
Tarmac Topfloor offer a fast, efficient and
comprehensive estimating and design service.
This includes the Topcalc software which enables
the Building Designer to carry out project specific
designs using all our products. Topfloor’s layout
drawings and schedules show the length and
position for each beam, arrangements of the
infill blocks and the ancillary components. The
floor must be assembled in accordance with the
layout drawing. Any variations must be agreed
with Tarmac Topfloor, in writing.
Topcalc design CD
available on request
Production: Beam & Block flooring is available
nationwide. Production techniques are constantly
being updated and developed to increase
efficiency, achieve higher quality and assist
building designers in realising innovative
building designs.
Fire Rating: Fastfloor beams have a rating of
either 1/2 hour or 1 hour, depending on size
of beam (information available on request).
Increased fire resistance periods for upper floors
can be achieved with the addition of suitable
soffit treatments.
CI/SfB
(23.4) Ef2
Installations: Tarmac Topfloor are structural
flooring specialists and so in addition to the
provision of flooring solutions, the company
offers comprehensive site installation services.
With directly employed installation gangs and
a regionalised network of contracts management
teams, you can rely on a professional and
safe service.
Quality Standards: Quality assurance is
present at every stage of the process,
from laboratory tests of raw materials to
pre-despatch inspection of every unit.
Tarmac’s Beam & Block units are designed
in accordance with BS 8110.
Delivery: Following receipt of your written
order and approval of the working drawings,
beams can be despatched within a matter of
days. A lorry mounted crane can be provided to
aid off loading upon request. For supply only
orders it is the responsibility of site staff to
off-load the materials and ensure that joists
are placed or stacked correctly.
• Flexible delivery available, please advise on any
specific delivery requirements
• Suitable hard access to and on site is essential.
• Beams should be placed carefully on to the
bearings as closely as possible to their final
position.
• Only suitably trained fixing operatives should
be used for installation works.
1
Product and Construction Details

280 2870 100 2200 215 1590 100 3105 280

1900

2225

2400

280
280

1
3075
2400
1800
3075

2400
1800
3
2060

3075

2400

3010
1800
3075
3355

2400
1800
3075
100

9 1775

3700 CUT ROW 2 1800

1775

3200

3200
3200

3200

3200

3200

3200
3200
1800
3700

215
1775

3700
4
100

3700 5000
1775 5000

5000
3700 5000
1775
4875

3700 5000
1775 5000

5000

3810
3700 5000
1775

6
3700
81775
5000
5000 GARAGE
1775
5155

5000
3700 5000

1775

3700 5000
5000
1775
5000

280
3700 5000
280

5
3700
910
5000
5000
1295

5000
3700 5000
327

3700
280

1900
498

7
280 3500 100 1570 215 4860 215

2
 1 2 Standard centres use 3 4
Grout against wall Multiple beams carrying
blocks spanning 440 heavy partitions, eg masonry.
or 215. Cut blocks are Beam arrangements must
used to achieve fill be central to partition.
(Unless detailed otherwise)

Fully bedded block on Fully bedded block

slip on slip 2 beams side by
Narrow or cut block side filled solid
with concrete

5 6 7 8 9
Grout
against wall

Typical single skin

garage wall detail 200mm
minimum
Typical garage/dwelling Typical staggered bearing Infill blocks sharing
shared bearing on wall on wall less than 100mm wall-50mm
200mm wide min 190mm wide bearing each

NOTE: All blocks/slips bearing on the perimeter wall of a bay must be bedded 1 3 6 9

3
Health & Safety

Guide to stacking materials on fully grouted floor

Max 2 stacks per span.
12 blocks per stack
Place blocks on planks or
spot boards not closer than
1.2m centres measured
along the supports.
Stacks placed
Place blocks on planks or between joists.
spot boards not closer than
1.2m centres measured
along the supports. Max 1 stack per span. Min 1.2 c/c
12 blocks per stack.

Position lower Position lower

blocks this way. blocks this way.

Span/4 Span/2 Span/4

Span/2 Span/2
150 beams – 3.0m max span 150 beams – 3.0m max span
225 beams – 6.0m max span
225 beams – 6.0m max span

Please refer to our designers for advice on stacking blocks

greater than 100mm wide and on loading longer spans.

Guide to on site stacking

250mm maximum overhang
Manual handling: Tarmac will strive to achieve Full risk assessments are carried out for any
and maintain the highest standards of safety manual handling activity undertaken by our
and health for all employees, contractors and staff. Following risk assessment we aim to
members of public and will seek to eliminate reduce the risk to the lowest level possible.
injury or ill health resulting from its activities.
At Tarmac, safety and health are line
management responsibilities of prime
importance. The management is responsible
for ensuring that appropriate arrangements
are made for the fulfilment of this policy
and monitoring its implementation and
effectiveness.

Uneven ground, small bottom bearings,

bearers out of line = DAMAGE

4
Typical Beam Layouts

SINGLE 520 SINGLE 295 3

Solid 1480 kg/m blocks
520 295
Beam Weight 31 kg/m
1
SINGLE 408 DOUBLE 405 150
/2 hr Fire Rating
408 405

Fastfloor Load/Span Table

Beam Beam Self Configuration Block Density Self Weight Clear Span (m) for Live loads
Type weight(kg) (kg/m3) (kN/m2) (kN/m2) as noted
1.5 2.0 3.0 Garage

150 DBT 31 S520 1480 1.81 4.21 4.00 3.66 3.63

S408 1480 1.90 4.72 4.49 4.12 3.91
S295 1480 2.07 5.47 5.21 4.79 4.27
D518 1480 2.21 5.76 5.50 5.07 5.27
D405 1480 2.42 6.00 6.00 5.65 5.87
150 DBW 52 S570 1480 2.02 5.22 4.98 4.57 4.76
S458 1480 2.15 5.76 5.50 5.06 5.26
S345 1480 2.38 6.50 6.22 5.74 5.75
D621 1480 2.52 6.50 6.48 6.00 6.23
D508 1480 2.76 6.50 6.50 6.50 6.50
225 DBT 49 S520 1480 2.15 6.55 6.25 5.74 5.99
S408 1480 2.34 7.28 6.96 6.41 6.67
S295 1480 2.68 7.50 7.50 7.38 7.50
D528 1480 2.85 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50
D415 1480 3.23 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50

1.5 kN/m2 has been allowed for finishes in addition to floor self weight

Beam Beam Self Configuration Block Density Self Weight Clear Span (m) for Live loads
Type weight(kg) (kg/m3) (kN/m2) (kN/m2) as noted
1.5 2.0 3.0 Garage

150 DBT 31 S615 630 1.03 4.23 3.98 3.59 3.77

S520 630 1.10 4.56 4.30 3.89 4.04
S295 630 1.47 5.83 5.53 5.03 4.62
D518 630 1.69 6.00 5.78 5.28 5.52
D405 630 1.98 6.00 6.00 5.84 6.00
150 DBW 52 S665 630 1.26 5.24 4.96 4.50 4.71
S570 630 1.37 5.60 5.30 4.82 5.04
S345 630 1.86 6.50 6.50 5.97 6.16
D621 630 2.08 6.50 6.50 6.20 6.45
D508 630 2.41 6.50 6.50 6.50 6.50
225 DBT 49 S615 630 1.32 6.58 6.22 5.62 5.90
S520 630 1.45 7.06 6.69 6.06 6.35
S295 630 2.08 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50
D528 630 2.34 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50
D415 630 2.80 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.50

1.5 kN/m2 has been allowed for finishes in addition to floor self weight

Configuration Key - S = Single, D = Double

Infill blocks should be deemed suitable for use in beam & block flooring by the block manufacturer.
For further information or technical information on blocks please contact Topblock on: 0845 606 2468.

3 3
Blocks with a density of 1480 kg/m = 440 x 215mm, Blocks with a density of 630 kg/m = 535 x 440mm

5
 Product Extras
Floor Finishes

Membranes
Damp proof, methane and/or radon barriers can Flooring grade tongue and
be laid directly on completed beam and block groove chipboard and rigid
floor subject to manufacturers installation thermal insulation*
instructions. Weight of finishes = 0.16kN/m2

Screeds
Ground floors can be finished with a sand/
65mm screed on rigid thermal
cement screed laid directly onto the beam and
insulation*
block floor. Unless the floor finish is particularly
Weight of finishes = 1.50kN/m2
moisture sensitive, a damp proof membrane
is not necessary.

Where a screed is laid over an insulation board,

the screed depth should be 65mm minimum, 50mm min concrete screed reinforced

and it should be laid on a separating layer of with mesh for garage floors and

building paper or polythene. other high load applications

Weight of finishes = 1.2kN/m2

Domestic garage floors should have a minimum

of 50mm thick structural topping of grade
25 concrete using a maximum 10mm
aggregate incorporating a layer of A142
* Where dry finishes are to be used a levelling screed may be necessary
steel mesh reinforcement. Similar finishes
may be necessary where heavy non-domestic
loads occur.

Wood & Chipboard finishes

Where a floor is finished with a board, a vapour
barrier should be installed above any insulation.

(& blocks) forward to

the upstand leg of
Optional extras the angle.
Angle Straps

Angle Straps: Openings through the floor

that are too large to be accommodated by
removing a block can be trimmed. We are
able to supply and install angle straps to suit
the floor supplied. Where necessary these
items are galvanised.

Slips: We are able to supply a range of coursing

slips for use where infill blocks are built into Slip
walls.

Butt Bearing Plates: Where beams from

Slip and block on thin
adjacent bays share bearing on a 100mm or mortar beds
140mm wall they are usually staggered. In certain
circumstances beams may clash and, where it is
not possible to enlarge the wall locally, a Butt
Bearing plate may be supplied and fixed.

6
Void Ventilators: In accordance with good practice,
the void beneath a ground floor should be a minimum
of 75mm deep (150mm in Scotland), when measured
from the soffit of the beam. Where clay heave or
accumulation of gases is anticipated the void should
not be less than 150mm. In situations where this void
must be ventilated e.g. to disperse harmful gases, a clear
path of not less than 1500mm2 per metre length of
external wall should be provided. Care should be taken
to ensure ventilation continues through internal bearing
walls. We are able to supply ventilators with a clear
area of 6600mm2 with a choice of plastic air bricks to
match the colour of the outer skin. These ventilators
should be placed at not more than 3m centres.
Ceiling Clips: Galvanised ceiling clips are available upon
request and can be fixed by following trades between
the block and bottom flange of the beam after the floor
is installed. Ceiling clips should be installed before the
floor is grouted. Shot fired fixings must not be used.
Following Trades
Services: Services passing through the floor can
be easily accommodated between the beams by
drilling, cutting or removing blocks and making
good after final positioning of the service.
Openings that cannot be accommodated
by removing a block can be trimmed using
angle straps.
Delivery/Installation
Tarmac Topfloor strongly recommends that
installation works is only undertaken by suitably
trained installation operatives. The Precast
Flooring Federation has published a Code of
Practice for the Safe Erection of Flooring and the
advice within this document should be strictly
adhered to.
Vents
Void vent
Air brick
Block omitted
for clarity
Ceiling Clips
Application of finishes: Other than cleaning Plug and Screw: Conventional plug
the floor, no special preparation is required prior and screw or suitable proprietary fixings,
to the application of finishes. It should be noted available from several manufacturers, may
that the beams are subject to the tolerances be installed along the soffit centreline of the
stated in BS 8110. If the finishes are particularly 150 and 225 DBT. Please refer to technical
sensitive to the level of the structural floor a department for any other fixing requirements.
levelling screed to the top, and packing to the
soffit of the floor, may be required. Soffit finishes
may be fixed using proprietary ceiling clips
or by screwing to beams. Please contact us for
further information.
Key Information:
• Flexible delivery available, please advise on any
specific delivery requirements.
• Suitable hard access to and on site is essential.
• Fastfloor must be stacked correctly on level
ground (see diagram).
• Beams should be placed carefully on to the
bearings as closely as possible to their final
position.
• Only fixing operatives trained to Precast
Flooring Federation standards should be
used for installation works.
7
For further information on any of our other products
please contact our literature department on 08456 044144

Overview Stairs Fastfloor

Heatsave Plus Hollowcore Installation

Tarmac Topfloor Limited

Weston Underwood
Ashbourne
Derbyshire
DE6 4PH
T: 01332 868400
f: 01332 868401
email: topfloor@tarmac.co.uk
www.tarmac.co.uk/topfloor

Tarmac and the ‘T’ mark are registered trademarks of the Tarmac Group.

Although Tarmac Limited does its best to ensure that any advice, recommendations or information it may give is accurate, no liability or responsibility of any kind (including liability for
negligence) is accepted in this respect by Tarmac Limited, its staff or agents. Claims and statements made by Tarmac Limited regarding its products refer to those which have been properly
handled on site. Tarmac Limited cannot accept any liability or responsibility of any kind (including liability for negligence) for problems caused by the acts or omissions of third parties or
by poor site practices.

It is Tarmac Topfloor Limited's policy to continuously review and improve products and their design. Information in this leaflet is therefore subject to change without notice.
0202/806

ISSUED SEPTEMBER 2007