We’re celebrating the launch of the new R51+ along with an updated version of Elements® Design Software.
With innovation as one of our core values, it comes as no surprise that we work to develop not only new products, but improve on our existing offerings too.
After listening to feedback from clients and customers, our expert technical team identified the need for improvement in our re-entrant shallow floor decking product to provide greater design flexibility.
Due to popular demand…
The original R51 profile has been part of the SMD shallow floor deck suite since the early 1990s, and with improved structural efficiency, the R51+ is sure to prove just as popular.
The R51+ offers the same core benefits as its predecessor; excellent slab load carrying capacity, shallow slab depth option (100mm minimum for 1-hour fire rating) and flexibility for shear stud placement due to 150mm trough spacings. However, it now comes in S350 and S450 grades and thicknesses from 0.8mm to 1.2mm.
Technical Director, Jamie Turner, talks about the decision to release the R51+: “With the ever-changing landscape of construction, it was highlighted by our sales team that some of our clients needed a better option than our old R51 product. Two years of R&D including an extensive testing programme followed leading to the launch of R51+.”
Elements of development
The perfectly-timed launch coincides with the updated version of Elements® Design software. It now includes both R51+ along with the old R51 profile to allow engineers to run check on existing designs. The latest version also includes TAB-Deck™ Steel Fibre reinforced concrete design option.
Technical improvements
The new profile includes a percentage of additional steel to help form the trough stiffeners running down the profile troughs and rib embossments. These new additions result in an average of 5.8% improved spanning capabilities, the best performance for its specification on the market.
The Construction Stage graph below represents the comparison of the new and old profile. The new 0.8mm gauge value engineering option performing just short of the old 0.9mm gauge, the new 0.9mm is like-for-like to the old 1.0mm gauge and the new 1.2mm gauge setting the standard, far outperforming the previous option.
New order
The R51+ is available from early August, as well as product data which can be found on the R51+ product page and ‘The White Book, Floor deck design guide and tables’ on the SMD Ltd website.
For a quote on this new product, contact our Sales Team who can review your contract requirements and advise of the best option to suit your specification.