Hanson Building Products | Precast Concrete Flooring Systems

Technical Guidance Note

Omnia Wideslab Permanent Formwork www.omnidec.co.uk

General Information
Omnidec and the Omnia Lattice Girder

Omnidec is the base of the Omnia range of products. It has

Omnia lattice girders at maximum 480mm centres in a 50mm
thick pre-cast concrete panel which is reinforced with steel
bars 8-14mm dia at 300-50mm centres depending on the
requirements of the loading condition.

All products in the Omnia range incorporate the Omnia lattice girder. It is responsible for ensuring that the panels will span
the required distance in the temporary condition. The lattice also acts as a physical link between the precast panel and the
in-situ portion, a chair for supporting the top mat of reinforcement and as lifting points during erection.

With the lattice spaced at 480mm c/c, the panels will support themselves, the in-situ
reinforcement, in-situ concrete and construction loads (1.5kN/m2) for approx. 2.5m without
the need for temporary supports.

By increasing the incidence, height and bar sizes of the lattice girder, and depending on the span and overall depth of the
slab, the panels can be designed to be erected with reduced propping or in many cases, no temporary propping at all.

Dimensions

The panels are manufactured in maximum widths of 2.40m and in depths from 50-75mm thick to suit a variety of exposure
and structural requirements, with cover to the reinforcement varying from 20 to 40mm as required.

All panels are cast to length in steel moulds by introducing a stop-end into the mould.

The long edges are formed with a chamfer to the underside, so that when placed
adjacent to each other, the effect of a birds-mouth joint at regular intervals on the soffit
can be seen.

By varying the position of the stop end, and by introducing special side forms the panels can be designed to suit the shape of
the building and as a result we can cater for structures of quite complex floor layouts, although we would prefer an occasional
right angle!

Structural Capacity

Spans of up to 14m are possible, subject to satisfying deflection criteria. Unlike other floor systems, the Omnia system
benefits greatly from any continuity over supports.

Please note that vertical cavities between residential dwellings and also some gable conditions may cause a generally
continuous design slab to be simply supported in isolated areas.

Due to the wide variety of loading, spans and support conditions, load/span instances are too numerous to display and we
would advise all those interested in using Omnia panels to contact the Omnia office for a specific design.

Although usually designed by Hanson Building Products as participating, Omnia panels can be supplied purely as permanent
formwork, in which case the responsibility for the working condition design would be by others.

Sheet No: Omnia OD/01/1 Rev:03 Issue Date: May 08 Initials: SL

Housing and accommodation - Hoveringham, Nottingham, NG14 7JX Telephone: (01636) 832 000 Fax: (01636) 832 020 jetfloor.co.uk
Commercial and non-accommodation - Birchwood Way, Cotes Park Industrial Estate, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 4NH Telephone: (01773) 602 432 Fax: (01773) 603 134 hansonprecast.com
Omnia - Wilden Road, Pattinson South Industrial Estate, Washington, Tyne & Wear, NE38 8QB Telephone: (0191) 417 0066 Fax: (0191) 417 0131 omnidec.co.uk
 Hanson Building Products | Precast Concrete Flooring Systems

Technical Guidance Note

Omnia Wideslab Permanent Formwork

Variations
Omnicore

Where the self weight of the overall slab needs to be considered, the
quantity of in-situ concrete required can be reduced by the introduction of
polystyrene void formers supplied and fixed to the precast panel during
manufacture. The void formers are normally 400mm wide and are fixed
between the lattice girders, which are cast at standard 480mm centres.

As the spacing of the lattice girders are generally fixed at 480mm in an Omnicore panel, most Omnicore panels would
need some propping for spans over 2.5m. The amount of concrete displaced by the polystyrene varies on each contract
as a result of those areas of slab over and around supports, which are required to be cast as solid slabs.

We would not recommend power-floating the in-situ portion of an Omnicore slab due to differential drying across the
polystyrene/in-situ unless the ‘top-flange’ is increased from the standard 65mm to at least 100mm.

Omnilite

Both Omnidec and Omnicore are normally manufactured using C50 concrete with dense aggregate which will produce a
50mm thick panel weighing 120kg/m2. However, by utilising lightweight aggregate, the weight of a typical 50mm thick
panel can be reduced by over 20%, a ratio which would still be valid if lightweight aggregate is also used in the in-situ
portion of the slab.

However, we would not recommend the use of Omnilite in an Omnicore slab as the polystyrene does not adhere
sufficiently well to the pre-cast panel, due to the nature of the aggregate.

Omniedge

Both Omnidec and Omnicore can come complete with an edge support system called Omniedge. Developed by Hanson
Building Products to save more time on site, the unique Omniedge system can be used where edge formwork is required
to the perimeter of the overall floor slab. Manufactured from galvanised steel, the angle forms an effective straight edge
for the casting and finishing of the in-situ portion of the slab.

Omniedge can be cast in at the works and would be set, within a tolerance, to the required height of
the overall slab allowing the contractor to lay the panels, fix the reinforcement and concrete the slab
without waiting for the completion of timber side shuttering. For small areas this may be achieved in
the same day.

We reserve the right not to supply Omniedge if we do not think it would be in the best interests of the
contractor.

Omnitherm

For suspended slabs that require an enhanced thermal insulation, the Omnidec panels
can be cast with a 25mm thick insulation to the soffit substantially increasing the "U" value
of the floor, with no extra site labour or materials. Panels are supplied with insulation board
pre-fixed to the soffit, greatly increasing the insulation capabilities of the panels and saving
time, effort and money on site. This facility is particularly useful when used in suspended
ground floor slabs.

Sheet No: Omnia OD/01/2 Rev:03 Issue Date: May 08 Initials: SL

Housing and accommodation - Hoveringham, Nottingham, NG14 7JX Telephone: (01636) 832 000 Fax: (01636) 832 020 jetfloor.co.uk
Commercial and non-accommodation - Birchwood Way, Cotes Park Industrial Estate, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 4NH Telephone: (01773) 602 432 Fax: (01773) 603 134 hansonprecast.com
Omnia - Wilden Road, Pattinson South Industrial Estate, Washington, Tyne & Wear, NE38 8QB Telephone: (0191) 417 0066 Fax: (0191) 417 0131 omnidec.co.uk