Pit construction - Part one
One of our latest jobs requires us to create a 5m x 6m pit thats 410mm below the current floor level. The dimensions of the pit that we'll be construction are imperative as it will have a large piece of machinery sat in it.
Normally we would start by floor sawing the existing concrete slab but we have recently over layed the warehouse floor with a 200mm reinforced concrete slab. As the client knew that they wanted a pit and where it was going to be located, we shuttered around the area in anticipation.
After stripping the shutters we diamond cut through the former concrete slab, as close to the new overlayed slab as possible, so it would not be disrupted and damaged when we brake out the concrete. The concrete was then broke out using our 3 ton kubota mini digger with terex breaker.
The Level was then reduced and a sub-base was added and brought up to 610mm bellow the warehouse floor level. A damp proof membrane was then installed and mesh fabric layed ready for us to pour a 200mm slab which will be our pit floor.
After the concrete had been layed, laser leveled and screeded, we inserted mesh in to the concrete to tie the pit slab to the retaining walls that will later be cast.
The day after pouring we could commence setting up the pan shutters that will allow us to cast our reinforced concrete walls. One of the most important steps of this process is the laying out of the shutters as this will determine the final location and dimensions of the pit. The shutters are clipped together and bolted down with M16 bolts to ensure there is absolutely no movement.
With the pan shutters in place, we are now ready to start dowling out existing slab and installing mesh reinforcement.
