Mass Timber / CLT Resilient Floor Alternative to Concrete Topping Slabs

Hello All - Can anybody suggest alternatives to lightweight concrete topping slabs for mass timber/CLT resilient floors?

I will specify a raised floor system where possible for this large mixed-use technology campus, but raised floors are not going to work for the labs and fabrication labs.

Has anybody seen innovative solutions in this space? Might there be a super low carbon precast concrete option that is at a minimum demountable? Other ideas welcome.

Regards,
Aaron

Would love to be able to help you here Aaron, but we are not at that stage yet. Hopefully in the future we would be the exact solution you were looking for.

hey @aaron.vaden-youmans - great question. Always a number of considerations for topping like structural diaphragm loads and vibration as well as acoustic requirements. Here’s Woodworks resource of various assemblies rated for acoustic performance. It includes options without concrete entirely.

Might also consider normal weight concrete as it has much less EC and can actually improve vibration (more mass)–but of course something to discuss with your SE!

Would be interested to learn of other innovations as well.



@aaron.vaden-youmans @Luke-Lombardi reviving this topic a bit, I’ve had a number of questions recently about what GWP to assume for lightweight topping slabs like gypcrete, but I have had little luck finding anything representative of that product. Has anyone heard of any products like this that have EPDs?

Hi Aaron, for lab and fabrication spaces on mass timber/CLT, try dry screeds (gypsum or cement boards) or thin UHPC precast panels for a low-carbon, demountable alternative to concrete toppings. Lightweight floating floors with plywood or resilient strips can also meet acoustic needs. Let me know if you have specific acoustic or fire requirements!

Try USG Levelrock® Brand Floor Underlayment found here: PCRs & EPDs - Environmental Product Declarations - Certification - Products & Services | ASTM
Here’s an example:
USG Levelrock® Brand 3500 Series Floor Underlayment
For dry systems, see GenieBoard® | EPD Insulation Group
Pliteq also has EPDs for their acoustic underlayment.

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Thank you! Do you have any case studies for that floor assembly, the thin UHPC precast panels? Onward, aaron

Aaron Vaden-Youmans
Sustainability Lead (North America)

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Case studies for the GenieBoard? I do not at the moment. I would contact Aedan for that:

Aedan Callaghan, BEng.
Managing Director - Mass Timber and Technical Services
Pliteq
Vancouver, BC

T 206-673-2933

C 778-840-6878

E acallaghan@pliteq.com

@aaron.vaden-youmans, DCI has worked on a case study for a dry topped mass timber assembly versus gypcrete in a residential application that we presented at the mass timber conference earlier this year. Reach out to @arizona.dabrusin at adabrusin@dci-engineers.com for more information!