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Before making any decisions regarding the layout of your brewery’s new home take a hard look at the current floor’s construction. You’ll have to choose between removing the existing slab and pouring a “topping slab.”
Topping Slab – The benefit of the topping slab option, besides being cheaper and less work, is, when poured over good solid concrete, the topping slab can be formed to slope to your drains without the expense of removing and repouring certain areas of your floor. Prior to installation of the topping slab, Drain line access will have to be cut and installed through the existing slab. When setting those drains remember to allow room around the drain areas. Maximum thickness is ideal, 6-8 inch depth around drains 5-10 inch on each side of drain. The minimum thickness of the concrete topping will vary but will normally be at least 3 inches. Any thinner than that and you risk increased failure rates.
Slab Replacement – Complete removal and re-pouring of major sections, or the entire floor, may be required if the existing concrete is unsound and/or cannot support the weight of the vessels and equipment to be installed. Generally, for either application, a 3,000 psi concrete mix is used for pouring. With new floors, a rebar pattern and footings should be engineered as well to accommodate the weight of the equipment to be installed. In areas with seismic activity (earthquakes), additional engineered specifications may be required.
