Manufactured by Fielders in Keswick, South Australia, Fielders’s KingFlor flooring system is proving paramount to the success of a variety of high-level commercial construction developments across Australia.
The KingFlor composite steel formwork system was first released in 2000. Used between levels on multiple-storey buildings, it has since become the largest formwork range in the construction industry. According to Nathan Jack, National Commercialisation Manager at BlueScope Building Components, the system’s adaptability has made it the product of choice for several notable recent developments.
“We’re currently working with architects and builders to supply KingFlor to a range of projects across the country, with the product consistently improving project efficiencies due to reduced concrete, labour and propping requirements,” says Jack. “One key advantage is the versatility in the different deckings available, meaning we’re able to deliver an effective solution regardless of the demands of the project.”
Fielders has recently been contracted to provide 20,000sqm of KingFlor CF210 decking for the prominent $200m Meriton residential tower in North Sydney, the first high-rise residential building in Australia to be constructed purely from structural steel, eliminating the use of the traditional concrete frame building method.
“Historically, traditional steel construction depth varies from 450mm to 650mm, which has generally precluded the use of steel-framed structures in apartment building design given the increase in the overall height of the building and therefore construction costs,” says Jack. “Through the use of the CF210 SlimFlor system, we are able to reduce the construction depth of the flooring down to 290mm, which competes favourably with concrete-framed buildings and will contribute to a significantly faster construction time and reduced costs for Meriton.”
Tim Boulton, Director at enstruct Group, developed and led the structural design and documentation for the North Sydney project. Boulton explains how KingFlor CF210 was the best solution for the development as a reliable, adaptable decking capable of achieving the spans required within the available floor depth.
“The KingFlor CF210 system is a versatile, trusted building solution used widely across UK and Europe for many years in a range of developments,” says Boulton. “CF210 is a critical key component to the Meriton development, which has assisted us in bringing the steel-frame concept to life.”
Fielders has also been contracted by Crown International to supply 70,000sqm of KingFlor KF40 material at the V by Crown apartment complex in Parramatta, NSW. Currently in construction, the $309m development will be Parramatta’s tallest building, standing at 29 storeys high and housing 500 apartments.
“KF40 was chosen for this project in Parramatta due to its trapezoidal shape, saving the project 16mm of concrete across the entire project,” says Jack. “The unique design with wider coverage will not only save on preparatory costs, it also allows for the floor-laying to be executed faster.”
Both the North Sydney and Parramatta projects are currently nearing completion thanks to efficiencies that the KingFlor system delivers. As part of the KingFlor offering, Fielders offers a suite of technical design tools to support the architect and builders in planning and implementation, allowing the most challenging of structural designs to become a reality.