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1 – 10 of over 35000Industrial flooring is of the greatest importance because practically all industrial processes and activities are carried out either on or over some kind of floor. This article is…
Abstract
Industrial flooring is of the greatest importance because practically all industrial processes and activities are carried out either on or over some kind of floor. This article is primarily concerned with the floor finish proper, but some observations will be made on the sub‐floor itself, although the design of floors for industrial purposes where corrosive conditions are absent is well established and the necessary information readily available.
Raised floors — independent floor surfaces raised above the structural floor surface to create a surface void — were developed to solve the problems presented by cable…
Abstract
Raised floors — independent floor surfaces raised above the structural floor surface to create a surface void — were developed to solve the problems presented by cable proliferation in computer rooms. From this early, specialist application the technique has now spread far beyond the computer suite to cope with the increased servicing needs of the general office area. The first issue of Facilities covered the deeper, platform or jacked floor type: this article is concerned with the provision of a shallower void — commonly by means of some sort of batten and particle board system — and with the issue of cable management in general.
A recent report, commissioned by Vigers Chartered Surveyors and carried out by the Building Performance Unit at Liverpool Polytechnic, has collected extensive evidence of defects…
Abstract
A recent report, commissioned by Vigers Chartered Surveyors and carried out by the Building Performance Unit at Liverpool Polytechnic, has collected extensive evidence of defects in raised floors. One of its central themes is to provide guidelines for facilities managers wishing to obtain value for money from their raised floor installations. This article provides advice to managers who wish to extend the life cycle of raised floors in their care and in doing so reduce the scale of defects in use.
Continues the investigation into the development of ground floors in residential buildings. Focuses on the constructional features of traditional ground floors, both solid and…
Abstract
Continues the investigation into the development of ground floors in residential buildings. Focuses on the constructional features of traditional ground floors, both solid and suspended. Describes the influences that constructional form had on the development of ground floors. Indicates that suspended timber ground floors became more common after the mid‐nineteenth century.
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This paper developed a new method of making floor from poplar using glued technology and densification technology. This paper aimed to use fast-grown poplar wood to produce floor…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper developed a new method of making floor from poplar using glued technology and densification technology. This paper aimed to use fast-grown poplar wood to produce floor to expand material supply range of floor in order to solve problem of material supply shortage for floor industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Densification technology and gluing technology were used to obtain high-density surface materials of floor under high pressure, meanwhile in order to reduce loss of poplar wood caused by compressing, high-density surface materials floor and substrate are glued and pressed under low pressure.
Findings
The method of compressing poplar wood under high pressure can improve poplar's physical and mechanical properties. Adopting densification technology and gluing technology can produce the poplar laminated composite floor which meets the requirements of Chinese standard GB/T 18103.
Research limitations/implications
This method of producing floor by compression densification technology would cause wood loss from reduction in thickness because poplar was pressed under high pressure.
Practical implications
This method of making floor from poplar wood concerned in this study allows the floor making industry to eliminate its dependence on precious wood resource, expand supply range of floor material, and then solve problem of wood supply shortage of floor industry.
Originality/value
This study may help solve the difficult problem that poplar cannot directly be used to produce floor because of its softness, low density and low strength. Through densification technology, great improvement in strength and hardness of poplar had been made.
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Reviews the development of ground floor constructions. Explores the reasons for insulating the various types of ground floor constructions. Discusses the reasons for and methods…
Abstract
Reviews the development of ground floor constructions. Explores the reasons for insulating the various types of ground floor constructions. Discusses the reasons for and methods of enhancing the thermal efficiency of floors. Shows that the earliest type of insulated floor was of lime concrete construction. Modern ground floors, whether suspended or ground‐supported, must be insulated to an adequate level to achieve a more sustainable construction.
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A. Sabharwal, M. Syal and M. Hastak
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the impact of the component assemblies redesign on the material handling costs associated with the facility layout and also, on the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the impact of the component assemblies redesign on the material handling costs associated with the facility layout and also, on the productivity of the assembly process. Component assemblies are the sub‐assemblies that are incorporated into the manufactured house as it progresses on the assembly line.
Design/methodology/approach
Floor assembly is used as an example to demonstrate the impact of the component assembly redesign process. A step‐by‐step process of assembling a floor in the case study factory is described and changes to the process are proposed. The existing and redesigned floor assemblies are analyzed using the factory layout analysis models and the production simulation models.
Findings
The proposed redesign resulted in a small savings of less than 1 per cent in the material handling costs and a substantial savings of around 20 per cent in the production time.
Research limitations/implications
The work described in this paper is based on the existing floor assembly process in a case study factory. Due to the practical limitations, material handling routes and production activities associated with the redesigned assemblies were estimated. The results from this research show that redesign of component assemblies can provide potential avenues of savings for the manufactured housing industry. Such analysis can be performed for any component assembly individually or in combination with other assemblies in order to realize potential savings with relatively minor changes.
Originality/value
Production‐related research in manufactured housing has traditionally focused on either improving the facility layout or the assembly line process but not the combined impact of these two aspects. This paper presents a possible approach to investigating the combined impact by analyzing the impact of redesigned floor assembly.
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Kailash Choudhary, Narpat Ram Sangwa and Kuldip Singh Sangwan
This study aims to quantify and compare the environmental impacts of Marble-stone and Kota-stone flooring options widely used for buildings in India. The study discusses the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to quantify and compare the environmental impacts of Marble-stone and Kota-stone flooring options widely used for buildings in India. The study discusses the possibility of carbon sequestration through Bamboo cultivation in India.
Design/methodology/approach
The study has followed a standard life cycle assessment (LCA) framework based on ISO 14040 guidelines. Three distinct phases have been compared on midpoint and endpoint assessment categories – raw material, polishing and disposal. Primary data has been collected from the construction site in India, and secondary data has been collected from the Ecoinvent 3.0 database. Previous studies have been referred to discuss and calculate the area of bamboo cultivation required to sequestrate the generated carbon from the flooring.
Findings
The study has found that endpoint category damage to resources, and midpoint categories of climate change, metal depletion and agricultural land use are highly impacted in building floorings. The study has also found that the Marble-stone floor generates higher environmental impacts than the Kota-stone floor in most of the midpoint and endpoint impact categories. This difference is significant in the raw material phase due to the different compositions of stones. The study also found that Bamboo has excellent potential to act as a carbon sink and mitigate the generated carbon.
Research limitations/implications
This study excludes human labour, cutting and distribution of floor tiles made of Marble-stone and Kota-stone. The researcher can use the study to evaluate, compare and benchmark the various building flooring options from the environmental perspective. The study aids to the body of knowledge available on the various building flooring options by presenting the LCA or the environmental impacts generated by two flooring options. It is expected that the architects and builders can use these results to develop carbon-neutral buildings. This study provides a methodology for governments, constructors, builders and individuals to evaluate, compare and benchmark the various construction materials from the environmental perspective by computing the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of the materials.
Originality/value
This study compares two widely used building flooring options using the LCA methodology and evaluates the potential of bamboo cultivation near the buildings for carbon sinks. The study is unique because it shows the environmental impacts of two flooring options and the carbon sequestration method to mitigate/absorb the generated environmental impacts in or around the building itself through bamboo cultivation. This study may set the foundation for carbon-neutral buildings.
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Enoch Owusu-Sekyere, Helena Hansson, Evgenij Telezhenko, Ann-Kristin Nyman and Haseeb Ahmed
The purpose of this paper was to assess the economic impact of investment in different animal welfare–enhancing flooring solutions in Swedish dairy farming.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to assess the economic impact of investment in different animal welfare–enhancing flooring solutions in Swedish dairy farming.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors developed a bio-economic model and used stochastic partial budgeting approach to simulate the economic consequences of enhancing solid and slatted concrete floors with soft rubber covering.
Findings
The findings highlight that keeping herds on solid and slatted concrete floor surfaces with soft rubber coverings is a profitable solution, compared with keeping herds on solid and slatted concrete floors without a soft covering. The profit per cow when kept on a solid concrete floor with soft rubber covering increased by 13%–16% depending on the breed.
Practical implications
Promoting farm investments such as improvement in flooring solution, which have both economic and animal welfare incentives, is a potential way of promoting sustainable dairy production. Farmers may make investments in improved floors, resulting in enhanced animal welfare and economic outcomes necessary for sustaining dairy production.
Originality/value
This literature review indicated that the economic impact of investment in specific types of floor improvement solutions, investment costs and financial outcomes have received little attention. This study provides insights needed for a more informed decision-making process when selecting optimal flooring solutions for new and renovated barns that improve both animal welfare and ease the burden on farmers and public financial support.
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Marcello Braglia, Mosè Gallo, Leonardo Marrazzini and Liberatina Carmela Santillo
This paper proposes a new metric, named Operational Space Efficiency (OpSE), intended to diagnose and quantify the inefficient use of floor space for stocking materials in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper proposes a new metric, named Operational Space Efficiency (OpSE), intended to diagnose and quantify the inefficient use of floor space for stocking materials in industrial workstations. OpSE presents a formulation analogous to the well-known Overall Equipment Effectiveness and can be obtained as the product of three distinct indicators: Standard Compliance Effectiveness, Standards Selection Effectiveness and Design Space-usage Effectiveness.
Design/methodology/approach
This indicator scrutinizes how usefully floor space in workstations is used to temporarily stock materials in the form of raw materials, semi-finished products, parts and components. It is suited for analyzing fixed-position layouts as well as product layouts typical of repetitive manufacturing settings, such as assembly lines in the automotive sector. The proposed indicator leverages an appropriate loss structure that features those factors affecting floor space utilization in workstations with regard to supplying and stocking materials.
Findings
An Italian manufacturer in the field of electro-technology was used as an industrial case study for the application of the methodology. The application shows how the three indicators work in practice, the effectiveness of OpSE and the methodology as a whole, in diagnosing floor space usage inefficiencies and in properly addressing improvement actions of the internal logistics in industrial settings.
Originality/value
The paper scrutinizes some important Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) dealing with space usage efficiency and identifies some significant drawbacks. Then it suggests a new, inclusive structure of losses and a KPI that not only measures efficiency but also allows to identify viable countermeasures.
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