WO2013039390A1

WO2013039390A1 - Floor element for floor construction in a building

Info

Publication number: WO2013039390A1
Application number: PCT/NL2012/050638
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gijsbertus Antonius VAN DER LEE
Original assignee: Genie Bouwresearch B.V.
Priority date: 2011-09-12
Filing date: 2012-09-12
Publication date: 2013-03-21
Also published as: NL2007399C2

Abstract

A floor element (6) for floor construction in a building (4), comprising a main support region (8)with lowered flanges (22) along opposite first edges (14, 15) that are supportable by an underlying structure (38) of the building (4). The floor element (6) has reinforcement structures (18) provided on or in the bottom surface (12) of the main support region (8), and extending along the support region (8) from one first edge (14) to the other first edge (15). The top areas (24) of the flanges (22) are sufficiently lowered over a first distance (D1)with respect to the top surface (10) of the floor element (6) so as to provide a channel region (28) with a length (L) delimiting a gutter for conduits (32) and/or wiring, the first distance (D1)and the length (L)being in the range of 50 –250 mm.

Description

Floor element for floor construction in a building

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a floor element for construction of a floor in a building, having a central support region, first edges connectable to an underlying structure of the building, and reinforcement structures attached along the support region.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a floor and a building comprising floor elements. BACKGROUND

[0002] In construction industry, concrete base plate floor elements are commonly used for assembling floors as part of the frame of a building. Prefabricated floor elements may be brought in from a distant manufacturing facility, and modularly assembled into the floor at the construction site.

[0003] Patent document NL7804547 discloses such a prefabricated floor plate, with a central plate region that is supported from below by transversally extending reinforced ribs. Along two opposing edges, the plate has edge ribs provided with small flanges that are lowered with respect to and protrude outward parallel to the central support region. These flanges accommodate elongated rods for pre-stressing the floor plate.

[0004] The internet site of the company SlimLine

(http://www.slimlinebuildings.com/NL/english) also discloses floor elements for modular construction of a floor. These floor elements comprise a central support region bounded by a pair of opposing first edges and a pair of opposing second edges. The central support region comprises a concrete bottom layer that is at a top side provided with a multitude of steel girders laid out parallel to the second edges. The girders can be covered on their top side with floor panels, forming a covering surface with a floor spacing between the surface and the central regions of the floor elements below. This floor spacing is suitable for installing various conduits and devices (e.g. power outlet cabling, water supply and discharge, sewage, floor heating, ventilation, gas tubing, etc).

[0005] A disadvantage of the SlimLine floor elements is that only the sub-floor level conduits and installations can be concealed within the floor spacing of a resulting floor. A strict legal separation between the levels above and below the floor cannot be achieved with the SlimLine floor elements.

SUMMARY

[0006] It would be desirable to provide a floor element, which enables efficient construction of a floor in a building, in which adjoining levels may be strictly separated with respect to their supply and discharge conduits and other residential facilities.

[0007] Therefore, according to an aspect, there is provided a floor element for construction of a floor in a building, whereby the floor element comprises: - a central support region with a top surface and a bottom surface; - a pair of opposite first edges delimiting the support region, and configured for connecting to an underlying structure of the building; - at least one reinforcement structure extending from one first edge to the other first edge and along the support region; wherein the at least one reinforcement structure is attached on or in the bottom surface, and at least one of the first edges comprises a lowered flange having a top area displaced at a first distance from the top surface and toward the bottom surface, and wherein the top area of the lowered flange comprises a channel region with a length delimiting a gutter for pipes and/or wiring, the distance and the length being in the range of 50 - 250 mm, or larger.

[0008] Preferably, the distance and the length are in the range of 100 - 150 mm.

[0009] A floor element with a flange having a top area that is lower than the central support region of the floor element provides an edge region in which various types of construction elements can be accommodated. Examples of such construction elements are conduits (e.g. pipes or wiring), but also sills (lower ledges) of window or door frames. The selected ranges for the first distance and length correspond to the height and length ranges of the resulting gutter, enabling standard sized supply and discharge conduits to be accommodated in the resulting gutter. The gutter renders the construction of separate coves or partial elevations for these conduits unnecessary. Once the conduits have been installed in the gutter, the remaining space may be covered by boarding or filled with a filling material, like dry sand, concrete, loam, or any other filling material known to the skilled person, in order to level the resulting top area of the covered gutter with that of the central support region. By forming an array of consecutive rectangular floor elements, the sequence of lowered regions along the first edges will together form a gutter that is substantially perpendicular to the second edges, and suitable for the purposes described above. In general, the central support region and the lowered flanges may be made of any material sufficiently strong for the described supporting function, e.g. concrete, composite materials, wood, or fortified glass.

[0010] By the provision of the reinforcement structures on the bottom surface of the floor element and along the support region, a desired floor strengthening is achieved in a direction from the first edge to the other first edge for resisting tensile stresses resulting from downward forces acting on the central support region. Due to a certain thickness of the transition between the lowered flange and the support region, the reinforcement structures may extend from a region near the one first edge to a region near the other first edge, these regions not necessarily coinciding exactly with the first edges.

[0011] During prefabrication of the floor element, the central support region and the lowered flanges may be initially separately formed and subsequently joined, and then combined with the reinforcement structures. Alternatively, the lowered flanges and the central support region (possibly with integrated reinforcement structures at the bottom surface) may be integrally formed in a single method step, e.g. by a single casting process. Irrespective of the fabrication process, the floor elements may be easily prefabricated and allow for modular construction of a floor. The modular configuration also allows for simple disassembly of the floor and reuse of its elements.

[0012] The first edges and lowered flanges of the floor element need not necessarily be straight and parallel, but may alternatively have any architectonically desired lateral outline, e.g. skewed, curved, or undulated. Consequently, the resulting floor element may have a basic quadrilateral shape (e.g. rectangular, trapezoidal, rhomboid), possibly supplemented with ornamental lateral profiles (e.g. curved, undulated, saw-toothed, irregular, etc). The edge shape variations may for example be employed for facade decoration, e.g. on floor elements for which certain edges project outward with respect to the building's exterior. Alternatively or in addition, the second edges may have a non-linear (but preferably periodic) lateral profile for improved interlocking of adjacent floor elements. Moreover, any floor element may have a lowered flange along one of its second edges for accommodating conduits or sills, and possibly provided with edge shape variations as described above. [0013] According to an embodiment, the least one reinforcement structure has a height with respect to the bottom surface.

[0014] Due to the height of the reinforcement structure with respect to the bottom surface, at least two compartments are formed on the bottom surface and along the sides of the reinforcement structure. Conduits, wiring, or devices can be accommodated in these compartments, which are oriented mainly parallel to the second edges of the floor element.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the least one reinforcement structure comprises at a bottom rim an attachment region for ceiling panels.

[0016] By attaching ceiling panels to the bottom rim attachment regions of the reinforcement structures, the compartments can be covered and hidden from view.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the lowered flange has a bottom area that is displaced at a second distance from the bottom surface.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, the height is larger than the second distance, and the bottom area of the lowered flange delimits a further channel region for pipes and/or wiring, with a third distance defined by the height minus the second distance, and being in the range of 0 - 950 mm, preferably in the range of 100 - 150 mm.

[0019] This further embodiment has one or more reinforcement structures that protrude downward with a height that is larger than the level difference between the lowered flange and the bottom surface of the central support region. A further attachment region is formed by this configuration, running along the first edge for accommodating pipes/wiring intended to run mainly parallel to the first edge.

Pipes/wiring having a size smaller than the given range can also be blocked from view by covering them with ceiling panels attached to the bottom rim attachment regions.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the central support region and the lowered flange comprise concrete, and the reinforcement structure comprises a steel girder.

[0021] A central support region and lowered flanges made of concrete allow these parts to be cast in one piece using a single mould, or as individual units which are subsequently combined into the floor element. Particularly for staged floor element construction, the geometry of the flanges (shape, dimensions, size resulting gutter, etc) may be defined at will and formed in an initial casting process, and even stored temporarily. Subsequently, the support region may be cast while the pre-cast lowered flanges and the support structures are held fixed in the proper position within the mould for the support region, which is then allowed to cure, set and harden. The abundance of fabrication options provided in this manner allows construction of the floor element, either prefab or at the construction site, to be adapted to the needs of the situation. In addition, the shape of the steel girder, e.g. an I-beam, allows it to be relatively easily cast partially inside the concrete body of the central support region, resulting in a ready for use floor element that can resist high tensile stresses on its bottom surface. A steel girder incorporated in the floor element is easily adapted locally to provide a support or connection means for other construction elements, like trimmer beams and other support elements required for the attachment of for example balcony plates, ornamental plates, or staircases.

[0022] According to another embodiment, the central support region and the lowered flange comprise concrete, and wherein the reinforcement structure comprises a concrete ledge with steel reinforcement.

[0023] The advantages of integral or phased construction of concrete floor element construction was already described herein above. In addition, by forming some or all of the reinforcement structures as a concrete ledge reinforced with wires and/or bars, the required steel in the floor element is lessened, and the fire-resistant properties are improved. Furthermore, the concrete ledge may also be manufactured and incorporated into the floor element by a single or a stages casting process. Reduction of

manufacturing costs can thus be achieved.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the lowered flange comprises at least one aperture for positioning over and fixing to at least one protruding connection member or anchor provided on a top side of the underlying structure.

[0025] The aperture in the lowered flange, e.g. a borehole running from the top area to the bottom area, allows the floor element to be fixed to a protruding anchor of the underlying structure e.g. a strong upright pin in a wall. This connection type using floor apertures and wall anchors results in a robust construction of the resulting building, while allowing the building to be easily dismantled and the floor elements to be reused. The apertures in the lowered flange that are left unused after finishing the floor can be ignored, concealed, or filled without detrimental effects. Alternatively or in addition, the connection elements may be provided in an inverse configuration i.e. the lowered flange may be provided with protruding connection elements (e.g. downward projecting pins) configured for fixing in holes provided in the underlying structure.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the floor element comprises a tube system on an inside of the support region, the tube system being configured for concrete core activation, and having flow openings that end in the channel region.

[0027] Concrete core activation provides controlled heating and cooling of the building's main construction interior, which acts as a temperature buffer. The core activation tube system forms an interconnected temperature regulation grid that allows circulation of hot and cold fluids like water for transferring heat to or from the construction's interior. Flow openings ending in the channel regions have the advantage that the concrete core activation system can be properly put in place during floor construction, while maintaining the flow openings accessible in the exposed channel regions. Consequently, interconnection between the tube systems of the distinct floor elements as well as the fluid filling can be executed at any desired later stage, e.g. after completion of the building's frame.

[0028] According to a second aspect of the invention, and in accordance with the effects and advantages described above, there is provided a floor for in a building, comprising at least one floor element as described herein above.

[0029] The first edges of the floor element according to the first aspect are configured to be connected to the underlying structure of the building, and arranged in an adjoining manner to form the floor. The term "connection" used herein refers to mechanical contact between the respective elements. The first edges may be supported by the underlying structure and held in place by gravity and friction alone, or may be connected by cooperating connection members (e.g. interlocking holes and pins, or other known means) provided both along the first edges and on or in the underlying structure. The underlying structure may be a standard wall, a wall specifically designed for carrying the provided type of floor elements (i.e. being provided with the cooperating connection members), or a girder or similar supporting structure.

Alternatively or in addition, the first edges of the floor element may be configured for connection to an overlying structure, like a wall with downward protruding anchors.

[0030] The installations, conduit segments, wiring sections, etc, may be provided in the attachment regions of distinct floor elements prior to floor assembly. These elements may be subsequently interconnected during floor construction, which contributes to the modular character of the floor elements. Alternatively or in addition to the covering or filling of the gutters as described herein above, the top surface of the resulting floor may be finished with a covering material, e.g. a layer of poured concrete, in order to secure the floor elements and to prevent mutual motion.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the floor comprises at least one

interconnection member for mechanically fixing two adjacent floor elements along respective adjacent top areas of the adjacent lowered flanges.

[0032] The interconnection member serves to absorb the shearing and/or tensile stresses acting between two adjacent floor elements and along their second edges. For example, the interconnecting member may be formed as a rigid (e.g. steel) plate that is positioned along the first edges of adjacent floor elements. The plate may be provided with apertures at locations coinciding with the fixing apertures in the lowered flanges, also for fixing to the underlying protruding wall anchors, and may in addition cover at least two of the flange apertures of each of two adjacent floor elements, in order to increase resistance against shear stresses resulting from alongside displacement of adjacent floor elements, and/or tensile stress resulting from mutually outward displacement. Preferably, the interconnecting plate members extend up to the transition from the lowered flange to the top surface of the support region (i.e. the stepped region), so as to exert an aligning and clamping force along the first edges of the adjacent floor elements. Alternatively, in case the underlying structure does not have the protruding anchors, the interconnection member may be a (preferably) similarly dimensioned rigid plate that is provided with downward projecting pins, for interlocking with the apertures in the lowered flanges of adjacent floor elements. Such a plate may be added as a separate unit, or be part of a lower side of a wall that is positioned on top of the lowered flange.

[0033] According to an embodiment, the floor comprises an adapter floor element adjacent to the at least one floor element, the adapter floor element comprising: - a further central support region with a further top surface and a further bottom surface; - a pair of opposite further first edges delimiting the further central support region; - at least one further reinforcement structure extending along the further central support region on the further bottom surface, and from one further first edge to the other further first edge; whereby: - the adapter floor element is arranged with a further second edge along a second edge of the at least one floor element; - at least one further first edge is configured for being supported by the underlying structure of the building, and - the further top surface is at a same level as the top area of the lowered flange of the at least one floor element.

[0034] The adaptor floor element forms an adaptor plate for the adjacent floor element. The adaptor floor element lacks the lowered flanges found on the (regular) floor elements, and has a further top surface that is lower than the top surface of the adjacent (regular) floor element. As a result, the further top surface is leveled with the top area of the lowered flange of the adjacent regular floor element, and forms a further gutter that connects and is substantially square with the opposite channels located along the first sides. Consequently, additional conduits and wiring can be installed and interconnected with the ones in the channel regions along the first sides. These adaptor floor elements may be inserted in the floor at any desired location during construction, e.g. at the outer boundaries of the floor and/or in-between two regular floor elements. The lowered surfaces of any of the intermediate and outermost adaptor plates may in principle be used for installing conduits, wiring, or window or door frames. The edges of the adaptor floor element may be provided with the of edge shape variations as described herein above. The modular character of the floor elements provides a considerable architectural flexibility.

[0035] According to an embodiment, the floor comprises: - a shortened floor element comprising shortened second edges that are shorter than the second edges of two adjacent floor elements provided along each of the shortened second edges; - a trimmer beam that is attached on both beam ends to the reinforcement structures of the adjacent floor elements, the trimmer beam carrying the shortened floor element along at least one shortened first edge, and wherein the shortened floor element is arranged along the second edges of the two adjacent floor elements.

[0036] By arranging a shortened floor element in between two regularly sized floor elements, an opening to a level below the floor is created along the shortened first edge. A staircase may be installed in this opening, and the trimmer beam and/or a shortened lowered flange may be used for fixing the staircase to the floor.

[0037] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a building comprising a floor as described herein above.

[0038] According to an embodiment, the building comprises: - a plurality of protruding anchors on a top side of the underlying structure; - a plurality of floor elements with its apertures positioned over and fixed to respective protruding anchors, and - an interconnection member mechanically fixing at least two adjacent floor elements along respective adjacent top areas of the adjacent lowered flanges.

[0039] The interconnection member counteracts the shearing stresses between two adjacent floor elements and along their second edges, with effects as described herein above.

[0040] According to a further embodiment, the building comprises: - a balcony plate provided with balcony apertures fixed to respective protruding anchors.

[0041] Alternatively or in addition, the building may comprise ornamental elements with apertures fixed to the protruding anchors.

[0042] According to yet a further embodiment, the building comprises: - a window frame and/or a door frame with a sill that is positioned on adjacent top areas of the lowered flanges of adjacent floor elements.

[0043] The sill (lower ledge) of a window or door frame can be installed on the consecutive flange top areas of floor elements having a gutter height that equals the sill thickness. As a result, the sill of the window or door frame is arranged flush with respect to the central support region of the floor elements, while requiring no additional constructional measures in order to achieve an aesthetically desirable visual absence of the sill as viewed from the inside of the building. The transom (upper ledge) of a window or door frame below the floor element may similarly be accommodated on the flange's bottom area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

FIGs. la and lb schematically show perspective top and bottom views of a building with a floor comprising floor elements according to embodiments;

FIG.2 schematically shows a top view of a floor according to an embodiment;

FIG.3 schematically shows a cross sectional view of a floor according to an embodiment, and

FIGs.4a and 4b show perpendicular cross sectional views of a floor according to an embodiment. [0045] The figures are only meant for illustrative purposes, and do not serve as restriction of the scope or the protection as laid down by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] FIGs. la and lb schematically show perspective top and bottom views of an embodiment of a building 4 with a floor 2 comprising three floor elements 6 and an adaptor floor element 56. In general, the described floor elements 6 are configured to be combined into a floor 2, optionally together with adapter floor elements 56 and/or shortened floor elements 80 (see FIG.2). The floor elements 6 and adaptor floor element 56 shown in the figures are essentially rectangular, but may generally have various shapes, e.g. trapezoidal, rhomboid, undulated, etc, and may alternatively or in addition have ornamental contours.

[0047] A centre region of the floor element 106 in FIG. la and lb forms a support region 8 having a top surface 10 and a bottom surface 12, and being surrounded by a pair of opposite first edges 14 and a pair of opposite second edges 16. The first edges 14 are supported by an underlying structure 38, which forms part of the building 4 and is shown in FIG. la as a pair of walls. The floor element 6 shown has a pair of reinforcement structures 18 in the form of I-shaped girder beams 20, located at and partially cast inside the bulk of the bottom surface 12 of the central support region 8. The girders 20 have a height H as measured from the bottom beam rim to the bottom surface 12 of the support region 8. Each girder beam 20 comprises at its bottom rim 42 an attachment region 36 for ceiling panels 48, which is further explained with reference to FIG.3. Each floor element 6 is shown in FIG. lb has two reinforcement structures 18, although in general the number of beams may be varied at will, depending on the width of the first edge 14 and the desired strength of the floor element 6.

[0048] Along both first edges 14, the floor elements 6 are provided with lowered flanges 22, Each lowered flange 22 has a top area 24 that is displaced vertically downward with respect to the top surface 10 (i.e. in the direction toward the bottom surface 12) over a first distance Dl, resulting in a stepped transition. In the shown embodiments, the central support region 8 and the lowered flanges 22 are made of concrete, but may in general be made of any material sufficiently strong for the described supporting function (e.g. composite materials, wood, or fortified glass). [0049] A portion of the top area 24 of the lowered flange 22 forms a channel region 28 with a length L delimiting a gutter 30 in which pipes 32 are installed. This gutter 30 is also suitable for accommodating wiring or other conduits (not shown). The distance Dl and the length L are adapted to standard sized tubing, for example in the range of 100 - 150 mm.

[0050] The lowered flanges 22 also have a bottom area 26 that is displaced at a second distance D2 from the bottom surface 12 of the floor element 6. This bottom area 26 delimits a further channel region 44 for pipes 32 and/or wiring.

[0051] The height H of the girder beams 20 in the embodiments of FIGs. la and lb is shown to be larger than the second distance D2 between the bottom surface 12 of the support region 8 and the bottom area 26 of the lowered flange 22. Here, a third distance defined by D3 = H - D2 is selected within the range of 100 - 150 mm, such that the resulting further channel region 44 also has sufficient height for accommodating standard diameter tubing.

[0052] The floor elements 6 are arranged alongside each other's second edges 16. Each floor element 6 is provided with apertures 40 located on the lowered flanges 22 and along the first edges 14. These apertures 40 are placed over wall anchors 50 protruding from top sides of the underlying walls 38, so as to fix the position of the floor elements 6 with respect to the walls 38. Interconnecting members 46 formed by elongate rectangular plates are provided, for mechanically fixing two adjacent floor elements 6 along adjacent flange top areas 24. These rectangular plate members 46 cover parts of adjoining flanges' top areas 24, and have a multitude of apertures so as to accommodate at least two protruding anchors 50 per floor element 6. The plate members 46 cover the top areas 24 in a manner abutting with the upright stepped portion of the floor elements' first edges 14, so as to align the latter. In this way, motion between adjoining floor elements 6 is prevented, and sheer stresses can be efficiently absorbed.

[0053] The floor elements 6 shown have a tube system 54 designed for concrete core activation, which is arranged on an inside of the support region 8 and substantially parallel to the top surface 10. The supply and discharge tubes for the tube system 54 of each floor element 6 have flow openings 55 that end in the channel region 28 and are interconnected by tubing 32 located there. [0054] The floor 2 in FIG. la furthermore shows the adapter floor element 56 arranged along one second edge 16 of a (regular) floor element 6. The adapter floor element 56 also has a further central support region 58 with a further top surface 60 and a further bottom surface 62, and a pair of opposite further first edges 64 and opposite further second edges 66 surrounding the further central support region 58.

[0055] The adapter floor element 56 is also supported by the underlying structure 38 along its further first edges 64. The further top surface 60 is lower than the top surface 10 of the adjacent (regular) floor element 6, and instead leveled with the top area 24 of the lowered flange 22 of the adjacent regular floor element 6. This further top surface 60 forms a further gutter that connects the opposite channel regions 28 located along the first edges 14. In the further gutter, additional conduits and wiring can be accommodated (not shown), parallel to the second edges 16, 66, and interconnecting the pipes 32 in the channel regions 28 along the first edges 14 if desired.

[0056] The adaptor floor element 56 has a further reinforcement structure or girder beam 68 attached along the further central support region 58. The further reinforcement structure 68 is located on the further bottom surface 62 and provided substantially parallel to the further second edges 66.

[0057] FIG.2 schematically shows a top view an embodiment of a floor 2. From left to right, the floor 2 is composed of a floor element 6, a shortened floor element 80, a (intermediate) floor element 6, an (intermediate) adaptor floor element 56, again a (outer) floor element 6, and an (outer) adapter floor element 56. The floor elements 6 and adaptor floor elements 56 have been described above with reference to FIGs. la and lb. The shortened floor element 80 has shortened second edges 90 with a length smaller than those of the second edges 16 of the adjacent floor elements 6, and similarly, of the further second edges 66 of the adaptor floor elements 56.

[0058] Along one shortened first edge 88, a trimmer beam 74 is attached, which in turn is on both beam ends 78 connected to the girder beams 20 of the adjacent floor elements 6. In this manner, the shortened floor element 80 is supported along this shortened first edge 88 by the neighboring floor elements 6, and an opening 95 for a staircase is formed. The remaining shortened first edge 88 is supported by the underlying structure 38.

[0059] Also shown in FIG.2 are two balcony plates 96. The second balcony plate 97 is arranged with its supporting beams transverse to the floor elements 6, 56, 80. The first balcony plate 96 is provided with balcony apertures 98 positioned over and fixed to respective protruding anchors 50.

[0060] A window frame 100 and a door frame 102 are arranged with their sills 104 on the top surface 60 of the support region 58 of the (outer) adaptor floor element 56. In a similar manner, the sills 104 of window and/or door frames 100, 102 may be accommodated on the top areas 24 of lowered flanges 22 of adjacent floor elements 6.

[0061] FIG.3 schematically shows a cross sectional side view of a floor 2 according to an embodiment. The two outer floor elements 6 and the adapter floor element 56 shown comprise I-shaped girder beams 20 as described herein above.

[0062] A middle floor element 6 is furthermore provided, which has the central support region 8 and the lowered flange 22 made of concrete, and in addition two reinforcement structures 18 formed as a inverse T-shaped concrete ledge 106. The stress resistive properties of the ledge 106 are improved by the presence of steel reinforcements (e.g. strands or billets) 108. The attachment regions 36 on the bottom sides of all reinforcement structures 20, 68, 106 are horizontally levelled, in order to allow the ceiling panels 48 to be mounted in a planar configuration. The space between the support regions 8 and the ceiling panels 48 is used for accommodating a pipe 32, as is the top side of the further support region 58.

[0063] FIGs.4a and 4b further illustrate the embodiment of the floor 2 in side views perpendicular to the side views shown in FIG.3. In particular, the transition between a floor element 6 (FIG.4a) and an abutting adaptor floor element 56 (FIG.4b), and the various dimensions Dl, D2, D3, H, L are illustrated. By comparing FIG.4a and 4b, it can be observed that the further top area 70 of the adapter floor element 56 is leveled with the top area 24 of the floor element 6.

[0064] The channel regions on the top and bottom areas of the lowered flange 22 provide the accommodation spaces for the pipes 32. The interconnecting plate 46 connects the floor element 6 and the adapter floor element 56 by attachment to the respective protruding anchors 50. The interconnecting plate 46 is positioned below the upper pipe 32, and extends over the full length of the top area 24 of the lowered flange 22, this full length including the gutter length L. The remaining space in the gutter 30 is filled with a filling material 112 in order to obtain a surface that is leveled with the top surface 10. The ceiling panels 48 cover the lower pipe 32 from a bottom side. [0065] A casting seam 110 is shown as a continuation of the bottom surface 12 of the floor element 6. The casting seam 110 schematically illustrates the possibility of phased manufacturing of the floor elements 6. In phased manufacturing, the lowered flange 22 is fabricated in advance (e.g. by a casting process). The support region 8 is subsequently cast, while holding the cured and hardened lowered flanges 22 (possibly together with the girder beams 20) fixed in the proper position of a mould for the support region 8.

[0066] The descriptions above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that alternative and equivalent embodiments of the invention can be conceived and reduced to practice, without departing from the scope of the claims set out below.

LIST OF FIGURE ELEMENTS

2 floor

4 building

6 floor element

8 support region

10 top surface

12 bottom surface

14 first edge

15 other first edge

16 second edge

18 reinforcement structure

20 girder

22 lowered flange

24 top area

26 bottom area

28 channel region

30 gutter

32 pipe

36 attachment region

38 underlying structure

40 aperture

42 bottom rim

44 further channel region

46 interconnection member

48 ceiling panel

50 protruding anchor

52 top side

54 concrete core activation tube system

55 flow opening

56 adapter floor element

58 further support region

60 further top surface

62 further bottom surface 64 further first edge

66 further second edge

68 further reinforcement structure

70 further top area

74 trimmer beam

78 beam end

80 shortened floor element

82 shortened support region

84 shortened top surface

88 shortened first edge

90 shortened second edge

92 shortened reinforcement structure

95 opening

96 first balcony plate

97 second balcony plate

98 balcony aperture

100 window frame

102 door frame

104 sill

106 concrete ledge

108 steel reinforcement

110 casting seam

1 12 filling material

Dl first distance

D2 second distance

D3 third distance

L flange length

H height

Claims

1. Floor element (6) for construction of a floor (2) in a building (4), wherein the floor element (6) comprises:

- a central support region (8) with a top surface (10) and a bottom surface (12);

- a pair of opposite first edges (14, 15) delimiting the support region (8), and configured for connecting to an underlying structure (38) of the building (4);

- at least one reinforcement structure (18) extending from one first edge (14) to the other first edge (15) and along the support region (8);

wherein the at least one reinforcement structure (18) is attached on or in the bottom surface (12), and at least one of the first edges (14, 15) comprises a lowered flange (22) having a top area (24) displaced at a first distance (Dl) from the top surface (10) and toward the bottom surface (12)

characterized in that

the top area (24) of the lowered flange (22) comprises a channel region (28) with a length (L) delimiting a gutter for pipes (32) and/or wiring, the first distance (Dl) and the length (L) being in the range of 50 - 250 mm, or larger, and preferably in the range of 100 - 150 mm.

2. Floor element (6) according to claim 1, wherein the least one reinforcement structure (18) has a height (H) with respect to the bottom surface (12).

3. Floor element (6) according to claim 2, wherein the lowered flange (22) has a bottom area (26) displaced at a second distance (D2) from the bottom surface (12).

4. Floor element (6) according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein the least one reinforcement structure (18) comprises at a bottom rim (42) an attachment region (36) for ceiling panels (48).

5. Floor element (6) according to claim 3, wherein the height (H) is larger than the second distance (D2), and wherein the bottom area (26) of the lowered flange (22) delimits a further channel region (44) for pipes (32) and/or wiring, wherein a third distance (D3 = H - D2) between the height (H) and the second distance (D2) is in the range of 0 - 950 mm, preferably in the range of 100 - 150 mm.

6. Floor element (6) according to any one of claims 1 - 5, wherein the central support region (8) and the lowered flange (22) comprise concrete, and wherein the reinforcement structure (18) comprises a steel girder (20) or a concrete ledge (106) with steel reinforcement (108).

7. Floor element (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lowered flange (22) comprises at least one aperture (40) for positioning over and fixing to at least one protruding anchor (50) provided on a top side of the underlying structure (38).

8. Floor element (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a tube system (54) inside the support region (8), configured for concrete core activation, and having flow openings (55) that end in the channel region (28).

9. Floor (2) for in a building (4), comprising at least one floor element (6) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Floor (2) according to claim 9, comprising an interconnecting member (46) for mechanically fixing two adjacent floor elements (6) along respective adjacent top areas (24) of the adjacent lowered flanges (22).

11. Floor (2) according to claim 9 or 10, comprising an adapter floor element (56) adjacent to the at least one floor element (6), the adapter floor element (56) comprising:

- a further central support region (58) with a further top surface (60) and a further bottom surface (62);

- a pair of opposite further first edges (64) delimiting the further central support region (212),

- at least one further reinforcement structure (68) extending along the further central support region (58) on the further bottom surface (62), and from one further first edge (64) to the other further first edge; whereby:

- the adapter floor element (56) is arranged with a further second edge (66) along a second edge (16) of the at least one floor element (6);

- at least one further first edge (64) is configured for being supported by the underlying structure (38) of the building (4), and

- the further top surface (60) is at a same level as the top area (24) of the lowered flange (22) of the at least one floor element (6).

12. Floor (102) according to any one of claims 9 - 11, comprising:

- a shortened floor element (80) comprising shortened second edges (90) that are shorter than the second edges (16) of two adjacent floor elements (6) each provided along each of the shortened second edges (90);

- a trimmer beam (74) that is attached on both beam ends (78) to the reinforcement structures (18) of the adjacent floor elements (6), carrying the shortened floor element (80) along at least one shortened first edge (88),

and wherein the shortened floor element (80) is arranged adjacent to the two adjacent floor elements (6) along their respective second edges (16, 90).

13. Building (2) comprising a floor (4) according to any one of the claims 9 - 12.

14. Building (2) according to claim 13, comprising:

- a plurality of protruding anchors (50) on a top side of the underlying structure (38);

- a plurality of floor elements (6) according to claim 7 with its apertures (40) positioned over and fixed to respective protruding anchors (50), and

- an interconnecting member (46) mechanically fixing at least two adjacent floor elements (6) along respective adjacent top areas (24) of the adjacent lowered flanges (22).

15. Building (2) according to any one of the claims 13 - 14, comprising:

- a window frame (100) and/or a door frame (102) with a sill (104) that is positioned on adjacent top areas (24) of lowered flanges of adjacent floor elements (6).