New low-shrink concrete from Lafarge

LAFARGE have launched Extensia, a new low-shrink flooring concrete that eliminates the need for any steel or fibre reinforcement.

Offering a design alternative normal reinforced concrete, Lafarge say Extensia will save customers money, time and effort. No additional equipment is required to lay the product and its installation is fully in line with TR34, a commonly used guide to the design of industrial concrete flooring slabs.

Extensia’s advanced design and reduced shrinkage throughout the curing process mean single slabs can be laid with reduced saw cut detailing, making it particularly suitable for large industrial building and warehouse developments.

According to Lafarge, the product offers the following advantages and benefits:

• Eliminates the need for steel reinforcement, saving time and effort on site.
• Controlled shrinkage that allows saw cuts to be pushed out to 20m x 20m sections.
• High flexural strength of 6N–mm², allowing floor designers to reduce the thickness of the floor to withstand a fixed load.
• High surface durability and reduced floor maintenance due to the reduction of saw cuts.
• Environmental profile less than that of conventional steel-meshed flooring, mainly achieved by the ability to reduce the design depth of the slab.

Lafarge product development manager Glanville Norman said: ‘Years of research – both at Lafarge’s research centre in Lyon, France, and here in the UK – have resulted in the development of Extensia, the latest in a line of innovations which rewrite the concrete rulebook. Extensia has exceptional properties and we expect to see the same phenomenal growth that we have seen with Agilia self-compacting concrete – both products offering considerable benefits to our customers.’

In developing Extensia, Lafarge have formed a strong relationship with Stuart’s Industrial Flooring, who have been involved with trialling the product in the UK.

‘The enhanced flexural strength of Extensia will allow floor designers to consider thinner-section floors which require less raw materials,’ said Chris Henderson, director of Stuart’s Industrial Flooring. ‘In conjunction with the elimination of the need for steel, the financial and environmental benefits are substantial.’

For more information about Extensia call Glanville Norman on tel: (0870) 3368294.