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THE ATRIUM WOOD FLOOR

Despite having some of the great external spaces cast live size simulation is performed to check the wood floor
characteristics (a large volume, a sloping ground, visual reaction when submitted to the action of the lift actually being
perspectives, omnipresent natural light…), the atrium is an operated. A 25 m²-wood floor sample including insulation,
internal space and as such it must enjoy a warm and welcoming screed, heating coil pipes and the wood floor was manufactured
atmosphere, along with muted acoustics. for the lift to be able to simulate the potentially most damaging
actions. Tests show that the planned composition complies
The wood ground coating plays an essential part in reaching in full with vertical load resistance. They also confirm the
that objective, thanks to its visual and tactile qualities but it must efficiency of polyethylene protection panels with anti-skid
also address several other very specific constraints: synthetic rubber coating over their lower half.
– the ground slope varies (between 0 and 4 cm/m
approximately), On-edge laminated
– the wood floor is installed over a heating screed set into parquet
insulating material, Gsulur echant
– the ground coating must resist constant use of the lift Fibre screed
for cleaning windows of the lantern’s lower part, weighing Mesh 50x50x2mm
approximately 4 tonnes, without suffering any damage.
The maximum vertical force exerted upon the ground by its Underfloor heating
stabilisers is 2.5 tonnes, i.e. a 2.03 kg/cm² pressure. Besides, the spirals
wood floor surface cannot peel off or get damaged due to the Mesh 50x50x3mm
extensive friction pressure from rubberised tracks and stabilisers PE film
when the machine is operated.
Rigid glasswool
In order to face this challenge, it is crucial for the whole wood insulation
floor complex to be considered a system in which all parts
contribute to the set objectives. Levelling screed

The oak coating is composed of a pasted industrial wood Ground slab
floor made up of small sectional strips 16 x 8 mm wide and Dimensions in mm
160 mm long. Those strips’ small dimensions and positioning on
edge make it possible to follow the support’s curved shape and Atrium floor cross-section.
resisting cleaning lift point loads. It is thin enough (16 mm) so as
not to compromise the heating screed radiation. Its oiled finish
preserves the natural aspect of oak, letting age give it a patina.

The screed’s own grading and cement content give it the
appropriate resistance to compression. Some fibre-reinforced
plasticiser is incorporated to improve resistance, along with a
50 x 50 mm steel reinforcing mesh, 2 mm in diameter.

The heating system coil pipes are placed before the screed is
cast with a minimal gap to ensure vertical pressure transmission.

Thermal isolation is achieved with 50 mm thick cellular glass
like the one used for parking decks and road bridges.

Heavy device circulation on a heating wood floor is too rare
a situation to be covered by a code of good practice allowed to
delivering results all by itself. That is why before the screed is