steeltex decking 1

[steban]

Is anyone familiar with or have information on steeltex decking. I am working on a building constructed in the early 1950's that utilizes "Steeltex" decking with perlite concrete fill over the deck. Steeltex is a paper backed wire mesh which appears to be the sole load supporting member in the assembly. The perlite concrete appears non-structural. I need to verify that the perlite concrete is non-structural.

 

[rday]

What an odd post for today.

I am in a similar situation with a 1950s vintage building.

There is a current Steeltex product produced by Ivy Wire & Steel (or Steel and Wire). It looks to be a welded wire fabric mesh with a fiberglass "fabric" backing. Ivy has been around since the early 50s producing welded wire fabric.

I suspect that the perlite lightweight concrete is indeed structural and the Steeltex "fabric" acts as reinforcing. Notes on the drawing I have reference streatching the Steeltex and bracing the walls against the tensile forces.

Wish I had more info.

Rik

A call to Ivy yielded leaving a voice mail which has not been returned.

 

[steban]

As a follow-up. The perlite concrete in question is very soft and can be removed by mere scraping. I have no experience with this "concrete" but it seems unusual. The "steeltex" spans only two feet between bar joists. Obviously the "steeltex" is capable of supporting the weight of wet lightweight concrete. I am trying to determine if it has enough capacity to support a 40 psf snow load while spanning two feet.

 

[MikeE55]

I have seen this material quite a few times on buildings built in the 50's. The concrete when dry is structural, reinforced with the wire mesh contained in the SteelTex. The deck thickness is usually around 3", although you get a good bit of sag between joists, so I would take that into account when calculating the weight. I don't have any load capacities for it, although my gut tells me 40 psf is probably ok. I personally don't like this material, because if you do need to add structure, the sagging SteelTex makes it difficult.

 

[knelli]

Load tables would be great if anyone has them..... I have a client that wants to place a couple of aquariums (200 and 300 gal) on an upper floor. The floor is constructed with 4" of vermiculite on Steeltex supported by joists @ 2'-0" o.c. The joists are capable of supporting 101 psf of D+L. I have a table that notes vermiculite as 2.6 psf/in which is about 31 psf/ft. Does that sound about right? Thanks
-K

 

[MikeE55]

The 2.6 psf/in sounds about right. I have no experience with this material used as a floor slab.

 

[knelli]

My mistake - Vermiculite was for the roof (as was typical) and 2 1/2" concrete on steeltex.