Deltabeam

Deltabeam is a hollow steel-concrete composite beam made from welded steel plates with holes in the sides. It is completely filled with concrete after installation on site. Deltabeam acts as a composite beam with either hollow-core, composite, or thin shell slabs, and in-situ casting. Deltabeam can have a fire class rating as high as R120 without additional fire protection.

Download complete Deltabeam brochure (pdf, 566 kB)

 Benefits of Deltabeam

• EVEN CEILINGS: allows flexible layouts through the whole life cycle of the building and easy HVAC installations below or inside the floor.
• COMPOSITE ACTION: no additional work at site, achieved by the infill concrete
• HIGH FIRE RESISTANCE: no additional work at site, achieved by the infill concrete
• MAJOR SAVINGS IN MULTI STOREY BUILDINGS: due to shallow structure, the total height of the building can be reduced or extra floor can be built: savings in facade material costs and maintenance (air-condition, heating)
• TECHNICAL APPROVALS: Finland, UK, Czech Republic, Russia and Germany
• INTENSIVE RESEARCH: ongoing research program with University of Oulu, dozens of loading test, including fire tests
• TECHNICAL SUPPORT: with short response time at every stage of the project
• DESIGN CALCULATIONS: design calculations and fabrication drawings for each beam will be delivered to the client
• EXPERIENCED TEAM: impressive reference list starting from 1989, more than 4000 projects
• HIGH PRODUCTION CAPACITY: high quality from multiple factories around the Europe
• EASY AND FAST INSTALLATION: light and easy hoisting, simple to assemble
• SHORT TOTAL ASSEMBLY TIME: hollow core - Deltabeam construction reduces total assembly time compared to traditional methods
• FREE FLOOR BELOW: no obstacles to work on floor below, minimum amount of propping if any
• FLEXIBLE PRODUCT RANGE: flexible beam types and details, composite columns, erection work and auxiliary tools for erection groups
• COMMON MATERIALS: basic structural steel, reinforcement and concrete used
• MODERN PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY: robots weld and paint, modern plasma cutting
• QUALITY AND ENVIROMENT SERTIFICATES: ISO9001, ISO14001 and EN729-2

MANUFACTURING

Manufacturing method

• Plates: Plasma, flame and mechanical cutting
• Rebars: Mechanical cutting
• Welding: MAG by hand or with robot
• Welding calss: C (SFS-EN 25817)

Painting

The lower surface of the beam primed to SA2½ 40 micrometer. Other painting and surface treatment are agreed upon separately with the customer. For example, when the beams are exposed to weather at the sites, it is recommendable to consider a thicker paint coating.

The customer must do the final painting on site.

Manufacturing markings

The name of the site, beam type, weight and type approval are marked on the beam.

Quality control

Quality control is being carried out according to the requirements of the National Building Code of Finland. Peikko Finland Oy Deltabeam has a quality control agreement with the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

Deltabeam has the type approval VTT-RTH-03040-07 granted by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, British certificate 05/4204 granted by BBA, German type approval Z-26.2-49, Czech approval 204/C5/2006/060-025293, Russian approval  and quality standard for welding EN 729-2 granted by Inspecta.

CAPACITY CURVES

The Deltabeam capacity curves can be found in the Deltabeam brochure. You can also download separate capacity curves.

APPLICATION

The shear joint between concrete and steel beam is formed by the dowel action of the web holes located in the web of the beam. Static loading tests have proven that the interaction rate is complete. The filling cast functions as cross-section compression components in the final structure.

Selecting the Deltabeam profile

The preliminary selection of beam type is made on the basis of Deltabeam brochure's tables 1 and 2  and the bearing capacity curves / pre-selection software. Peikko also offers DeltabeamDraw software to make drawing Deltabeams easier. DeltabeamDraw program makes AutoCad blocks e.g. to layout drawings. The pre-selecting software and DeltabeamDraw can be downloaded from the Downloads section.

The height of the Deltabeam can be 185 - 500 mm. Maximum length is 12,9 - 13,4 m depending on used plate material.

It is more economical to use Deltabeam for the short chord and slabs in the direction of long chords.

Intermediate beams (D)

A site-specific special type can be used if necessary. The width and/or height of the special type departs from the normal dimensions. If Intermediate beams are used as edge beams with formwork sheet, then the fire protection of the free side is covered with concrete.

Edge beams (DR)

The Delta edge beam is designed to serve as a slab edge beam when a narrower Deltabeam is needed and the vertical side is protected from fire by other structures. The edge beam can also be used on aperture edges, which usually require separate fire protection for the vertical web. The need for fire protection must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Width is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Beam ledge height may be varied to accommodate differing slab profiles.

Connection details of Deltabeam

The structural engineer designs the connection details of the beam. The connection must be designed in a way that the support reactions of the beam are transferred to the supportive structure (e.g. column, wall or another beam). This supportive structure must be designed to bear the forces from the beam. In column–beam joints, it is recommended to use the PCs corbel designed especially for the steel beam. Stress and torsion during installation must be taken into account when designing the joint detail and supportive structure. Indicative connection details are described in the Deltabeam design folder and or can be downloaded from the Downloads section.

The bottom plate can be cut at the end of the beam according to the joint detail of the project and the data sheet of the beam to be, e.g. skewed or arched. This way, the appearance of the connections will be finished.

Peikko Finland Oy Deltabeam sizes the beam according to the joint details. Peikko Finland Oy Deltabeam also designs the internal beam connections (cantilever and side joints).

Fire protection and environmental classes

Rebars installed inside the beams and webs act as load-bearing structure in the event of a fire. In the design phase, the beam is dimensioned in compliance with the fire class rating of the building, and rebars are used when needed. The fire rating of Deltabeam is based on combustion tests and the dimensioning guidelines obtained from them. Deltabeam can have a fire class rating as high as R120 / R180.

Surface finishings

The Deltabeam is rust-proofed or hot-dip galvanised. State-of-the-art surface coating techniques also ensure surface durability during transport and installation. When the underside of the beam is finished in the same way as the slab, the Deltabeam can also be left exposed, if desired.

Basic design information

The basic information needed for the fastest manufacturing and strength calculation of Deltabeams:

• Floorplans with beam codes and load data, and all information affecting loading, e.g. continuity of slabs. Note: The beams are installed in such a way that the identification codes read in the correct way (as marked in the element chart).
• Connection details of the beams.
• A4 data sheets. Note: the data sheets must be made in such a way that the codes read in the correct way. See the instructions on the Deltabeam brochure.
• List of beams.

If the basic information is provided as described above, and connection details are standard, delivery time is 6 working weeks from receiving of the basic information. In other cases delivery time varies from 6 to 12 weeks depending on the accuracy of basic information provided and difficulty of details. Instructions for filling in the data sheet and an example sheet can be found on Deltabeam brochure's pages 17–18. The data sheet pictures, beam list form and standard details can also be downloaded from the Downloads section.

INSTALLATION

Detailed installation instructions can be found on Deltabeam brochure (pdf, 680kB).