Accessibility
Specifiers often overlook the fact that expansion joints in floors can fail to meet the demands of current international Disability legislation. Accessibility and International Disability Legislation Three pieces of Disability legislation serve to present the worst case scenario for any designer specifying an expansion joint in a floor. These are respectively the Americans with Disabilities […]
Fire Barriers
It is vitally important that building designers consider placing fire barriers beneath expansion joints where that jointing system breaches fire compartment floors, walls and ceilings. Expansion Joints are physical breaks in the continuity of construction and, as such, pass through floors, walls and ceilings. In the event of fire these expansion gaps act as a […]
Differences between Expansion – and Movement Control Joints
What are the differences between Expansion – and Movement Control Joints?
Control Joints (part 1)
Control joints are small gaps formed in floors and walls to allow localised movements that arise from drying shrinkage, thermal gain/loss and creep. Control joints in walls For wall applications these gaps are normally filled with a sealant which is laid on a closed cell polyethylene backer rod. Care must be taken to select the […]
Control Joints (part 2)
Finishes will often crack because no consideration has been given to the structure underlying the finishes zone. Putting control joints in their place The problem with following the simple dogma of randomly forming 6 metre or 3 metre bays to suit paving aesthetics is such that finishes will often crack because no consideration has been […]