FP McCann’s new precast concrete insulated Thermabeam™ flooring system has recently been installed on a housing development at Drakelow, South Derbyshire. The developer Lioncourt Homes, is building 70 new properties on the Rosliston Road site.

Civil engineer and ground worker Friel Construction, the contractor responsible for drainage, roads and foundation construction to ground floor level, is utilising the brand new Thermabeam™ flooring system on one of the plots as an initial trial, in support of FP McCann’s development of the innovative alternative to traditional solid slab flooring.

The unique precast concrete units come in standard widths up to 1200mm and at 300mm deep; achieving spans up to 6.5 metres. This enables quick installation, allowing a safe platform for follow-on trades in a matter of hours.

Thermabeam™ combines both high performance expanded polystyrene (EPS) and reinforced concrete, forming a continuous insulated floor with a significant reduction in cold bridging. Excellent thermal properties are achieved and the system helps to reduce CO² emissions by decreasing the amount of non-renewable energy required to heat the building. In construction off-site, the structural concrete is cast onto the insulation layer, eliminating any air gaps in the finished product.

Once installed, the Thermabeam™ floor is simply grouted using a standard C25/30 sand cement mortar.

Commenting on the installation process, site manager for Friel Construction, Darren Yapp says, “The Thermabeam™ units were simply and safely lifted into position in a single process, significantly increasing levels of productivity compared with traditional methods of ground floor construction. Additionally, this practice of build means we don’t have excessive stocks of materials on the ground, which allows for a safer and cleaner working environment”.