Reinforcing mesh/studs?

[Welderpaul]

We make hundreds of staircases every year and on the majority we cut A142 reinforcing mesh and weld into the pan treads so the screed infill bonds. This is very time consuming and labour intensive.
We've been scratching our heads trying to come up with a simpler solution and would welcome the forum's ideas

Something on a roll would be handy, but products like brick bed reinforcement and 'Expamet' products are a bit thin guage. The other thought was using small shear studs which are resistance welded. The pan treads are only 3mm thick and can't be distorted underneath so this might cause issues. Shot firing studs on is out as the nail would penetrate the plate/sheet.

Any ideas O wise ones?

 

[Shox Dr]

If its just to stop movement due to shrinking, a few 8/10mm studs would be enough. Would it not? I've fitted M6 SS studs to 0.9mm and it doesnt show. So 8/10mm on 3mm isn't going to

 

[Welderpaul]

It's to tie the screed into the pan so needs to be across most of the area of the tread really.

 

[Robotstar5]

Emhart Tucker are one of the big names in auto feed stud welding kit, has a good name in the automotive industry.

Christmas tree type studs would give maximum surface area?.

 

[Gareth J]

I'm a bit surprised they need anything. Obviously it's stronger with re-enforced ties in there but what happens without them?

Does the step flex and the infil crack? Or the concrete shrink and not hold in well? Or something else.

If it's not already been done, I'd be tempted to try a few without any reinforcement. Or maybe some with mix in fibres or plastic reinforcement strips.

 

[Welderpaul]

I'm a bit surprised they need anything. Obviously it's stronger with re-enforced ties in there but what happens without them?

Does the step flex and the infil crack? Or the concrete shrink and not hold in well? Or something else.

If it's not already been done, I'd be tempted to try a few without any reinforcement. Or maybe some with mix in fibres or plastic reinforcement strips.

The infill generally shrinks slightly plus there is slight flex in the pan so wouldn't be long before it started to break up

 

[mike os]

I suspect you are already using the best method

 

[gaz1]

query here what about non slip grating

 

[Hitch]

Can you get hold of any trench mesh....? Comes ready in narrow strips about 6m long...

 

[Shox Dr]

The infill generally shrinks slightly plus there is slight flex in the pan so wouldn't be long before it started to break up

Fibre added to the concrete reduces both of these problems. couple of studs to stop it from bouncing.

Got to be worth a test

 

[steve t]

Their probobally just supplying the steelwork, the concreting will be done by another contracter so Paul will have no control what they use, All the ones I used to do just used the system you already using

 

[gaz1]

the other suggestion id make is angle iron as the cement mix would go underneath one edge therefore locking the cement to the step

1" or 1 1/4"

one good 3" - 4" weld to hold it to the step where the middle bar crosses

 

[Revs1972]

We used to use 2 inch weld mesh. Apprentice / labourer etc would cut the sheets up on the guilotine.

 

[8ob]

I cant see that the mesh welded in the bottom of the trough is doing much to either retain or strengthen the screed. I would have thought a better job would be to weld two short bits of reo bar front to back in the trough ( slightly raised off the bottom) and wire twist some 50mm galvo square mesh to them. They can then poke the screed through the squares and it will all be bound up tight. Just thoughts.

Bob

 

[colnerov]

I can't help thinking that will increase time and labour when he is trying to reduce it.