Expansion Joint Cover Plate FAQs
Expansion Joints- typically each 30m in larger structures like stadiums, bridges, shopping centres, carparks and airports.
Concrete expansion joints are used to separate slabs and concrete from other parts of the structure. Expansion joints allow independent movement between adjoining structural members, minimizing cracking when such movements are restrained.
These joints completely isolate the slab from a wall, column or footing
An expansion joint or movement joint is an assembly designed to hold parts together while safely absorbing temperature-induced expansion and contraction of building materials, and vibration, allow movement due to ground settlement or seismic activity and wind load. They are commonly found between sections of concrete structures- buildings, carparks, bridges, paving and walkways.
Before the advent of expansion joints, concrete plates and slabs would crack under the stress of movement.
Modern structures have to withstand horizontal, vertical and sheer movement. Expansion or movement joints are gaps between concrete elements to help absorb these loads. Cover plates are designed to produce a continuous surface for pedestrians or vehicles to pass safely over the surface, or to meet aesthetic, waterproofing, fireproofing, soundproofing, seismic or hazmat requirements.
Normal width is a gap between slabs or walls at a median temperature approx 20° Celsius. In some cases this may be different, due to thermal or shrinkage conditions. Concrete must be fully cured to determine the normal / installation gap width.
Movement range is an anticipated range of thermal movement or seismic movement. For Example :- 1. A 100mm normal gap or installation gap is anticipated to have a range of horizontal movement of + 20mm or – 20mm could also be indicated as 100mm +/- 20mm, meaning the gap closes to minimum of 80mm and opens to a maximum of 120mm. 2. Seismic joints will typically have a movement range of 100mm +/- 50mm to +/-100mm.
Like most other architectural products an expansion joint system should be select based on the following:
A. Location of joint: Interior or Exterior
B. Where is the joint being installed: Floor Wall Ceiling Roof
C. Movement range (your structural or design engineer can provide this information): Thermal Seismic
D. Expected Loads (for floor joints only): Pedestrians Trolleys Vehicles Forklifts Skateboards Roller Blades Cleaning Machines Is the joint is subject to point loading? If unsure of loads, your structural or design engineer can provide this information.
Unison car park range includes 8 systems, ranging from flush mounted to surface mounted aluminium cover plates. There are coverplates with a waterproof seal, compression seal, flush mounted water seal with rubber flex tread.
Unison Head office is in Brisbane. We have Agents in most States of Australia, New Zealand and United Arab Emirates – Dubai. Unison’s Director, Sales Manager and Engineer frequently fly interstate for specification or sales meetings, to assist installation or to inspect sites.
Yes. Unison have trained, licenced installer throughout Australia, NZ, UAE. Email the sales team with your plans and specification and our estimating team will put together a matrix with appropriate system, lineal metres, and forward it to the preferred installation team. They will provide and installation price for you.
Unisons Head Office & Manufacturing our in Tingalpa, Brisbane.
Yes, a Technical Director or one of our 3 in office Engineers can assist.
Unfortunately, no. We offer credit accounts on approval or cash sale via EFT.
Yes. Unison works closely with a few freight companies within Australia and Overseas. Once your order has been dispatched Unison will email you with the consignment number and carriers contact details. This takes all the concern of tracking your order.
Unison website can provide you with all the technical data, MSDS’s, installation etc. Alternatively, call our office 07 3907 0500 or email us and one of our on-site engineers can assist.
Yes, we have 2 products in our Aquo-P range.
Unison will supply CAD drawings to assist with the construction detail drawings.
Product data sheets, installation guides and MSDS are readily available to download or call 3907 0500 and speak with our sales/ tech department.
Unison has been manufacturing and installing products for over 20 years both locally our overseas. Check our project pages or call 3907 0500 and speak with one of our sales team.
We hold a substantial amount of products in stock. There is also a portion that are made to order.
We do have a number of stock products, however, there is a limited lead time on the made to order. AS our products are not sourced overseas there isn’t an issue with delay.
Unison Head office is in Brisbane. We have Agents in most States of Australia, New Zealand and United Arab Emirates – Dubai. Unison’s Director, Sales Manager and Engineer frequently fly interstate for specification or sales meetings, assist with installation or to inspect sites. We freight products all over Australia, New Zealand and export globally.
Unison’s standard warranty is 2 years on most of our products. A longer warranty can be issued providing the installation is undertaken by one of our Trained and Licensed contractors.
Yes, call and we will arrange either a technical advisor, engineer or sales person, depending on your requirement.
We can provide an installation guide or organise one of our trained and licensed contractors.
Yes, email the plans/ drawings to us. One of our onsite Quantity Surveyor will check them in conjunction with the Technical Director. He will provide a Matrix with the lineal metres, the applicable product, PDS, and the mark up of the plans.
A Unison representative can visit site and provide certification that the Unison fireseals have been installed as per manufacturer’s recommendations. The Unison representative needs an architectural floor plan for markups to accompany this certificate. In Queensland, this certification is provided in the form of a QBCC Form 16. This can only be undertaken by a QBCC Firerating licencee, Building Certifier, or qualified engineer. Unison has the required licence.
Most commercial, public, and other large buildings have isolated areas, which are required to stop fire penetrating. These isolated zones are normally broken up by the category of building (eg: Class 6: retail; Class 7a: carpark; class 9 public building; etc) Isolation is normally designed via location of building elements, such as masonry floors and walls. The firerating of these building elements can be compromised by the (necessary) structural movement gaps. In order to ensure correct fire rating of movement gaps in building elements, Unison provide a wide range of high-movement fireseals, which are compliant with Australian, New Zealand and British standards.
Unison literally have hundreds of building and seismic movement joint products. The basic ranges are fireseals, waterseals, and architectural cover systems. Unison’s range of products can seal gap widths from 15mm to 1000mm. They include products which integrate with floors, walls, ceilings, facades, rooves, carparks, bridges, swimming pools, stadium seating-plats and more. There are wall covers which can be colour-powdercoated; floor covers with certified slip resistant ratings, and 100% watertight expansion joint seals. If a suitable product cant be found within our offered product information Unison’s qualified design engineers will design a bespoke item.