Guidance and Industry News
Design Guidance – Using VoidSafe®
Design Guidance – Using VoidSafe® Helpful Early Design Considerations What is VoidSafe® and why use it? Health and Safety considerations…
Posted: 08/06/22
Totally LIT!
Totally LIT! Our Best Practice Data Sheets are no longer available… find out why? For many years we have provided…
Posted: 11/05/22
Studs on raking beams – Stud placement and spacings
The quantity, or spacing, of shear studs on a composite steel beam is specified by the steel designer and shown…
Posted: 27/04/22
Construction deflections with steel beams, metal decking and concrete slabs
Our latest video demonstrates deflections during the construction phase of a steel frame building with metal deck and concrete slabs,…
Posted: 14/04/22
Steel fibre reinforcement – The same, but different!
Its been over 15 years since SMD partnered with ArcelorMittal Wire Solutions to develop and test the TAB-Deck® steel fibre…
Posted: 17/11/21
When does a composite slab need additional bottom bars for fire?
In most situations composite slabs are designed for fire using only a light mesh reinforcement in the top of the…
Posted: 25/10/21
Pre-studded beams
The importance of early design communication for pre-studded beams The shear stud provides an important function transferring forces between the…
Posted: 05/05/21
Ferrules and concrete
In the last month, the technical helpdesk has seen an increase in queries about ceramic ferrules and concrete – so…
Posted: 17/02/21
Roof Deck – Design and Calculations Tutorial
This video talks you through each section of the new section of the software to help understand how the software…
Posted: 21/09/20
Floor Deck – Design and Calculations Tutorial
This tutorial takes you on a step-by-step process through each section of the software and explains how to create a…
Posted: 21/09/20
Site preparation for metal deck installation
This video will guide you through the smooth installation of the metal decking works and associated activities on site. Working…
Posted: 21/09/20
Using the White Book to specify floor deck
SMD Technical Director, Jamie Turner talks through the three-step process to understand what your maximum floor deck spans are for…
Posted: 04/09/20
Straight edge survey to measure surface flatness
This video demonstrates how to conduct a straight edge survey to measure surface flatness (surface regularity over short distances) on…
Posted: 03/09/20
How far can metal deck span?
SMD Technical Director, Jamie Turner, explains how far metal floor deck can span and what affects the maximum spans. Watch…
Posted: 16/03/20
Which metal decking product should I use?
Choosing the correct metal decking profile for your project, whether you’re in the market for floor or roof decking, can…
Posted: 28/02/20
Soffit Fixings, aka Wedge Nuts
The soffit of any composite slab is, of course, formed by the deck profile itself. This makes it ideally suited…
Posted: 10/12/19
Where the voids have no trimmers (apologies to U2)
Large openings in a composite concrete slab are traditionally framed by trimming steels, which not only provide bearing for the…
Posted: 21/10/19
Site Preparation: Metal Decking Activities
Over the past 30+ years, we’ve seen a lot of changes to site conditions to improve logistics and more importantly,…
Posted: 20/09/19
Acoustic Performance
We have had a number of enquiries recently regarding the acoustic performance of decked floor slabs, particularly in residential buildings,…
Posted: 13/09/19
Fixing Tool & Stud Welding Gun Access Restrictions
Consideration of the installation process at the planning & design stages can minimise site issues & delays which could impact…
Posted: 15/07/19
Elements® Debugged!
You can now download or update to the recently published version 2.3 of our free design software, Elements®. With minor…
Posted: 01/07/19
Don’t lose your bearings, rely on our support!
When designing any building, whether it be a steel frame, masonry, timber or concrete construction, it’s important to consider the…
Posted: 10/06/19
Site Preparation: Shear Stud Welding
Before starting the shear stud welding process, there are several factors that should be taken into account to make sure…
Posted: 01/04/19
The White Book – Floor Deck Specification
Floor Deck Design Guide and Tables This ‘White Book’ has been developed as a quick reference tool to be used…
Posted: 21/11/18
Elements® Mobile App
We have developed a unique new mobile phone app for architects, designers and engineers. Our ‘SMD Elements® Span Check’ initiative…
Posted: 21/11/18
Slab surface flatness vs slab surface finish
When it comes to pouring concrete onto metal decking, there is a lack of understanding of the difference between slab…
Posted: 15/10/18
We’re ready for launch
We’re celebrating the launch of the new R51+ as well as our brand-new mobile app, Elements® Span Check. With…
Posted: 11/10/18
Thermal mass, dispelling the myth
The fabric of a building can absorb and store heat generated by solar gain, equipment use and human activities; this…
Posted: 05/09/18
What is mesh reinforcement for?
It may be obvious to some of us, but for others who might be new to the industry, might not…
Posted: 15/08/18
Shear studs and composite decking
The increased performance of composite beams, in stiffness and bending resistance, allows the construction of longer spans and shallower floors…
Posted: 11/06/18
Deflection of composite steel deck slabs
Deflection is defined as; the degree to which a structural element is displaced under load. All elements deflect so it…
Posted: 21/05/18
Fixings to install floor deck
Installing floor deck to the supporting structure will typically be carried out using low velocity powder (‘shot-firing’) or gas-actuated cartridge…
Posted: 24/04/18
Elements® Floor Deck Tutorial
Elements® Version 2.1, released in March 2018. Floor Deck Design and Calculation Tutorial This tutorial takes you on a step-by-step process…
Posted: 05/04/18
Slab surface finishes & tolerances on metal decking
Expected tolerances It is important to understand the various surface finishes that can be achieved using metal decking, as these…
Posted: 28/03/18
Temporary Construction Loads on Composite Slabs
MEWP access and slab design Contractor’s regularly require access to the slab, with MEWPs or other work platforms before the…
Posted: 28/03/18
Openings in Structural Roof Decks
Rules and design considerations Openings are often required to be formed through structural roof decks. Here are some basic rules…
Posted: 28/03/18
Pouring Composite Slabs
Deflections and loadings When pouring a composite slab on metal decking, the process in which it is created will cause…
Posted: 28/03/18
Composite Slab Cantilevers
Safety over performance Maximum slab cantilevers are not entirely based on the performance of the deck or slab. The figures…
Posted: 28/03/18
Forming service holes in composite slabs
Openings Openings and service holes are regularly required through composite slabs to allow services to pass from floor to floor. A summary…
Posted: 27/03/18
Composite Slab Fire Design
Requirements There is much confusion regarding the Fire design of composite slabs, specifically relating to span conditions and reinforcement requirements….
Posted: 27/03/18
Elements® Version 2.0
The latest version of Elements® is available with an additional feature allowing calculations to be created for SMD roof deck profiles. With…
Posted: 27/03/18
Durability
Considerations One important factor to consider when designing a composite floor using steel deck, is the environment the deck will be…
Posted: 27/03/18
The White Book – Three steps to specification
Floor Deck Design Guide and Tables This ‘White Book’ has been developed as a quick reference tool to be used…
Posted: 13/11/17
TGN Online launched
The increasingly successful TGN Manual is now available in a Wiki-style area of the SMD website. This format allows the user to…
Posted: 31/03/17
In its Element!
Following the launch of the rebranded version of SMD Elements 1.2, March saw the highest monthly number of downloads and…
Posted: 10/06/16
