Download the seminar brochure/registration form, or purchase tickets online at Concrete NZ's Ticket Tailor portal. 

WHY YOU & YOUR EMPLOYEES SHOULD ATTEND THIS SEMINAR

Concrete floor slabs form an important part of many structures of all types. Good design is a key part of the team approach needed to achieve a great result with any floor slab. This half day seminar covers the design fundamentals of strength, shrinkage and jointing design for slabs, as well as key aspects of a good specification and construction issues for designers to be aware of.

The seminar aims to provide construction professionals with the tools and resources to design and specify conventional concrete floor slabs from residential to medium/large industrial, with a focus on efficient design, exceeding client expectations and minimising come-back/re-work.  A number of examples will be presented showing slabs that have and haven’t met client expectations. Further examples will be discussed, demonstrating how an understanding of the fundamentals of ordinary slab design is important for other more complex aspects of concrete structural design.

THIS SEMINAR WILL COVER

Design Resources and Tools for Slab Design

• Overview of key design resources and references important for slab design in New Zealand

Basics of Slab Design for Strength

• Westergaard’s approach to pavement loading design
• Overview and limitations of the CCANZ slabs on grade spreadsheet
• Summary of other design approaches

Jointing, Shrinkage and Isolation Considerations

• Contraction/sawcut joint layout
• Detailed design of joints, thresholds and isolation details
• Specification issues
• Subgrade preparation
• Flatness specification
• Concrete materials - including low-carbon concrete

Construction and On-Site QA issues for Designers

• Importance of weather conditions
• Pre-pour checklists
• Curing

Examples of Slabs in Practice and Good Design Principles in Application

Design

• The role of designers in reducing embodied carbon
• Structural implications of low carbon concrete
• Designing Clever
• Circular design - end-of-life strategy
• Extending a structure’s design life

OTHER BENEFITS

• Comprehensive resources provided through the seminar notes.
• Knowledgeable and experienced speakers.
• The opportunity to network with industry peers.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Structural Engineers, Graduate Engineers, Designers, Specifiers, Building Certifiers, Building Officials, Contractors, Architects and Architectural Designers.

INVESTMENT DETAILS

• Concrete NZ member: $380 (GST exclusive) per person
• Non members: $480 (GST exclusive) per person (includes complimentary Learned Society membership until 31 December 2026)
• Student: $120 (GST exclusive) per person (includes complimentary Learned Society membership until graduation)

SEMINAR FEES INCLUDE

• Tea and coffee on arrival
• Afternoon tea
• Comprehensive seminar notes

SPEAKERS PROFILES

Kent Huxford - Courtesy of Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers 
Kent is a Structural Engineer at Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers, based in Christchurch. He has worked in structural design and consulting for 22 years, with significant experience in tilt-up and precast design, design of industrial, commercial and residential buildings, detailed seismic assessment and strengthening of buildings, and earthquake and fire damage assessment. For light relief from the office, he has taken time off to design and build two of his own houses involving precast and tilt-up construction. Kent is passionate about construction as a ‘team sport’, as well as waste minimisation, efficient design, and durable, low-energy use buildings. Kent contributes to industry advancement as a Concrete NZ Learned Society Council member.

Alan Ross - Courtesy of CERTUS Consulting
Alan is a chartered engineer with over 20 years’ experience designing concrete floors and pavements around New Zealand and Australia. He works with asset owners, engineers, and builders to make sure what’s drawn actually works once it hits the ground - and that the slab does what it’s meant to, not what it feels like. His focus is on smart detailing, low-carbon solutions, and solid performance to keep floors flat, joints behaving, and slabs from cracking - or at least cracking where they’re supposed to.

REGISTRATION

Download the seminar brochure, complete the registration form and return to adam@concretenz.org.nz

Alternatively, register online at Concrete NZ's Ticket Tailor portal.

For all enquiries phone Adam Leach on 0275355144.