What is a wing floor?
A wing floor (Dutch wing-vloer or vleugelplaatvloer) is a system floor made of precast, prestressed concrete units that combine a hollow-core slab with thin side “wings”. In cross-section the unit looks like a hollow-core slab with a wing on each side.
Build-up
- The hollow-core section in the middle provides strength and stiffness, so the floor can usually be installed without temporary propping.
- The wings act as permanent formwork, similar to a lattice-girder (filigree) slab. Services are laid on them.
- A reinforced structural topping is then poured, or the service zones are filled.
According to manufacturer data, the working width is usually about 2.4 m.
Uses and benefits
Water supply and drainage, ventilation ducts, electrical conduits and pipes for underfloor heating or concrete core activation can all be built into the floor. That reduces the need for suspended ceilings and service shafts, and installation is largely dry.
Points to watch
- Keep hot and cold water apart: warm pipes close to cold water pipes heat the cold water, which increases the Legionella risk.
- Acoustics in offices without suspended ceilings.
- Span and fire resistance depend on type and depth; the structural engineer should select the unit.
Related terms
- Hollow-core slab
- Concrete core activation
- Precast concrete
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