What is hollowcore?
Hollowcore gets its name from large cast voids in the section during the manufacturing process. The hollowcore’s large voids are used to reduce the weight of the system and increase spans. Prestressing steel is included in the section to further increase the span to depth ratio and increase the load bearing capacity of the individual members. Due to the hollowcore sections properties, they are often an economical solution for floor systems.
How hollowcore supports structural design.
Hollowcore slabs can be finished in various ways to suit structural load requirements. If a field topping is not needed, the keyways between the individual hollowcore elements can be grouted to facilitate horizontal shear transfer. When a topping slab is specified in the design, the surface of the hollowcore can have a raked finish to enable composite action and horizontal shear transfer.
Due to the inherent voids in hollowcore production, the system design includes built-in redundancy. If additional openings are needed on-site, it is often possible to grout the hollowcore cells around the new openings to accommodate them.
In terms of aesthetics, structural hollowcore can be left exposed or painted for a cost-effective alternative to drywall installation on ceilings.
Ideal Project Types for Hollowcore
Offices
Warehouses/Manufacturing Facilities
Schools
Multi-Family
Structural benefits of precast hollowcore.
- Quick installation
- Extremely efficient section
- Lightweight
Achieving fire resistance goals with hollowcore.
Hollowcore fire resistance varies based on the specified cross-section because fire rating is determined based on net cross-section area. Typically a 1-hour fire rating can be achieved with no structural topping slab. However, this can easily be increased by grouting additional cores, adding a topping slab, or increasing the depth of the hollowcore as needed.