AVANTE CONSTRUCTION POURS FASTFOOT® RECORD - 1,330 YARDS OF CONCRETE

Avante Construction Ltd. of Surrey BC is forming and pouring the foundation and concrete structure for a three story tilt-up commercial project at 13888 Wireless Way, Richmond, BC.

Since 1972 Avante Construction has been building concrete structures throughout the Lower Mainland, BC. "We did our first tilt in '87", said Fil Jorge, President. "We have used Fastfoot® on the last three tilt-ups. It's a real money saver."
 

The Project

Bunting Coady Architects designed the 116,000 square foot building for developer PK Projects Ltd. of Richmond, BC. "Our clients are in the software industry and building appearance is extremely important", said Rick Bos, Project Manager for Phase V of 'Commerce Court'.

General contractor for the project is Westcron Construction Ltd. of Richmond, BC. "Westcron has been constructing commercial tilt-ups for over twenty years", said Gary Jackson, Site Superintendent.
 

Geotechnical Conditions

"The ground conditions for the site consist of firm clayey silt over saturated sand”, said Nigel Denby, Geotechnical Engineer with Jacques Whitford. "About two meters of permanent fill was imported onto the site to raise the building above the flood plain. Temporary fill (preload) was brought in to compress the clayey silt crust, prior to constructing the building."

"As the building is relatively light, during an earthquake, the foundations for the building are designed to 'float' on the clayey silt crust. Therefore, even if the saturated sands liquefy during an earthquake, the crust itself will support the building load," said Nigel.

Structural Engineering

The building structure consists of exterior tilt-up walls and interior steel columns. Floors are steel decking topped with concrete.

As the design capacity of the soil is only 1,500 pounds per square foot, large footing pads are required to transfer the building loads, and ensure the footings don't puncture the clay crust.

"Our largest pad was over 60 feet by 60 feet and 3 feet deep to distribute building loads over the clay crust", said Renato Camporese, Structural Engineer with Read Jones Cristophersen

Installing Fastfoot®

2x4 stakes were driven around the perimeter of the pads, and 2x8 screed boards attached at the correct height using a laser level. "We used 37" Fastfoot® for most of our pads and footings", said Wes Wiebe, Cribbing Foreman. "We attached the fabric to the top of the screed boards with a hammer tacker and 3/8" staples."

Comparing Fastfoot® to Plywood Bulkheads

"There are three very big advantages using Fastfoot®", said Wes. "First, less labor. With plywood, you construct 2x4 frames to support the plywood. Not only do these take time to build, but they are heavy to lift. With Fastfoot®, we drive our stakes, set up screed boards, and staple fabric. Finished!"

"Second, with Fastfoot®, you attach your screed board to the finished height of the footing. This makes it real easy to fill and screed your concrete. With plywood, you have to mark the height on the inside of the form and fill and screed to this height. Much more difficult."

"Third, stripping with Fastfoot® is fast and easy because the fabric prevents the concrete from contacting the lumber. Removing stakes and pulling off screed boards takes seconds. The fabric stays."

"With plywood bulkheads, each section weighs over 150 pounds, and labor costs are huge to move these around. Fastfoot® weights only a couple of pounds!"

Reinforcing Steel

"Typical steel configuration is 20 to 25 mm rebar (#6 to #8) throughout the footings, with horizontals spaced 300 mm on center", said Renato Camporese, Structural Engineer.

Placing Concrete

Concrete was supplied by RMC Ready-Mix Ltd., Lower Mainland BC. 32 MPA concrete was supplied for the footings and slabs.

"This project used a lot of concrete. Over 1,330 yards in the footings alone", exclaimed Rolly Enarson, sales representative with RMC. "Fastfoot® is a winner for projects like this - it eliminates forming plywood!"

Screeding the Concrete

With Fastfoot®, the screed boards are set at the top of the footing, making concrete placement and screeding simple. Click here to view a short video.

In deeper pads, concrete was placed in two lifts. "Any pad deeper than 24" is poured in two lifts", stated Wes.

Perimeter Footings

Complex footings around the perimeter of this building are easily formed with Fastfoot® as only stakes and the screed board are required. Fastfoot® is quickly stapled to the top of the screed board, adjusting automatically to footing height.

Click here for a video pan of perimeter footings.

Concrete has been placed in the perimeter footings. Stripping is fast and easy as no concrete contacts the stakes or screed boards.

Avante Employee Training

Avante requires all new employees to complete their training program by installing column hardware using the 'Jimmy Hoffa' method. Click here for details.

Fastfoot® Performance

"Fastfoot® is great. It minimizes labor and materials. We get out of the ground faster," enthused Wes Wiebe, Cribbing Foreman for Avante.