What Is Vacuum Dewatering Flooring (VDF) In Construction?
What Is Vacuum Dewatering Flooring (VDF) In Construction?
VDF Flooring, also known as Vacuum Dewatered Flooring, is an innovative technique used in concrete flooring to enhance compressive strength, tensile strength, abrasion resistance and minimize shrinkage and floor wraps.
Boasting of its high-strength, long life span, better finish and faster work rate this type of floor is particularly suitable for high abrasion and heavy traffic movement. A unique dewatering process using a vacuum removes the excess water from the freshly laid concrete which further reduces the water: cement ratio to optimize the results.
In conclusion, VDF Flooring can meet all your needs if you require quality floors that necessitate strong performance characteristics such as those mentioned above.
Procedure Of VDF Flooring
Installing VDF flooring requires a few steps. First, tying Line Dori (threads) as per the slope requirements. Then, laying Guide Rails every four meters using MS Channels or as required in straight lines along the Line Dori.
Taking levels based on the slope and fixing them using concrete is also necessary and this concrete needs to be left to set for at least 24 hours. Afterward, pouring concrete between the channels and spreading with a shovel or hoe (Kudal/Parah) is essential; vibrating the concrete with a poker vibrator – especially to the sides of the panels – ensures maximum compaction of RCC.
Using a Double Beam Screed Vibrator twice to finalize levelling with a Straight Edge/Bull Float/Aluminium Bottom (Fanti/Baddha) crowns off this process; finally placing lower mats & top mat on the green concrete attached to a vacuum pump will draw out any surplus water that may have been present.
Benefits Of VDF Flooring – Vacuum Dewatered Flooring
VDF (Vacuum Dewatered Flooring) has many benefits, such as increased compressive strength of over 50%, a reduction in cement consumption by more than 30% as no separate cement is required for finishing, increased abrasion and wear resistance, minimum dusting/crack formation, minimal dry/plastic shrinkage and floor wraps, uniform homogeneous floor with high flatness accuracy due to higher density, lower water permeability and higher early strength to minimize damage on newly cast floors. This leads to earlier utilization and reduced maintenance cost.
Application Areas Of VDF Flooring
VDF flooring is commonly used in warehouses, godowns, roads, sports courts, cellars, parking areas and production areas for protection against damage. It is also employed by pharmaceutical companies as the base floor for epoxy and PU coatings to create a durable and hygienic surface.