It is very important that the joint cover system that you choose for your building is the correct one as the safety of the people occupying the building is at stake. There are many questions that need answers where expansion joints are concerned and so this article deals with some Frequently Asked Questions and hopefully it will help you in making a knowledgeable decision.
Qs.1 Are there colour options in gaskets?
Ans: There are standard colours like black, white, griege (grey + beige) and grey. You could get custom colours but you would have to speak to the manufacturer of the floor joints.
Qs.2 How do I maintain the integrity of the fire element such as a floor or firewall?
Ans: It is very important to maintain the integrity of the fire elements of floors and firewalls and it should have an integrated fire barrier assembly to go along with it. Fire assemblies are available with the standard 2 hour rating but there are also 1, 3 and 4 hour ratings in some cases. It is advisable that you consult your joints supplier for an additional testing support if required for the design.
Qs.3 Are all testing agencies equal?
Ans: All testing agencies aren’t equal and so it is advisable to get good quality products from a certified company.
Qs.4 Is it important for me to sort out all the transitions between the adjacent cover systems?
Ans: Yes it is very important that you work out all the transition details thoroughly as bad transitions can totally ruin the best joint cover schemes. A competent and good expansion joints manufacturer will assist you with the details during your design phase of the project in hand. It is important to remember that the transition in the exterior covers especially between the wall covers and roof are taken care of and the exterior envelope is water tight.
Qs.5 What is the most common reason of failure of joint cover systems?
Ans: The most common reason of joint cover failure is due to the improper selection of the type of cover system as even the best floor covers will get damaged by heavy load rolling.
Another reason of failure could be the use of shims during the installation of the floor expansion joints. It is a very common practice to oversize the blackouts in the concrete and then level it with shims , but many times the covers are bolted through the shims and the block outs are filled with grout/lean concrete and in such a case the grout does not get completely embedded. When this is subjected to heavy rolling and heavy loads it automatically leads to cracks in the floor and the grout pockets. So it is important that you make sure this is taken care of during installation to avoid problems in the future.
If you are looking for a quality name to help you with movement joint covers and floor expansion joints then you could consider the name Unison Joints. For more info and products list please click here www.unisonjoints.com.au.
