Rapid screed with kick

Because of the long winter, a floor structure that didn’t depend on the climate and that would be ready for covering at a precisely defined time was needed - one without long setting times or moisture problems. This was accomplished with a hydraulic hardening rapid cement screed that reaches the required strength quickly and without tension, and dries exactly on schedule.

With over 200,000 visitors a year, the Voith Arena has now evolved into one of the biggest event centres in the region. Along with the home games of the 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 e.V., the event areas at the Voith Arena can also be used outside of game days for company events, seminars, and private parties. As the FCH ascended the ranks in the German second league, so too rose the requirements for the stadium, which has been gradually developing into a football arena since 2009 - now with 15,000 covered spectator seats and 37 business loges. The extension building of the Sparkasse Business Club now closes the two curves between the main stands in the north and east, as well as the west stands. A premium expanded catering area with ten loges on each side provides space for atmospheric events.

Construction sites that need to be finished by the time the starting whistle blows in the final

“Building began in the middle of October, and the objective was to be able to use the new event spaces by the end of the season in early summer,” explains Stephan Reißner of Franz Traub GmbH & Co. KG, which was commissioned with complete execution as a general contractor. In order to be able to perform individual project steps within a precisely coordinated timeframe, the requirement for the building were specified in detail. “This is where the efficiency of a building measure starts,” says Reißner. Building had to proceed quickly when it came to screed, due to the long winter. A total of about 800 m² of high-quality floorboards and large-size stone tiles with impact sound absorption and heat insulation properties had to be installed on schedule.

The choice of building materials ensures the timetable is met

 “The choice of appropriate products was crucial to implementing the floor,” recalls Reißner. “When the screed work first began, it was still four weeks out from the opening date.” But speed wasn’t the only thing required for the screed; it also needed the strength and stability necessary for the high load capacities. Any deformations in the floor had to be pre-empted through compressive loads - lowering edges or curling in the edge areas - especially for installing ceramic tiles. In addition, it had to be taken into consideration that in the spring, there was still a lot of moisture in the air and floor from the long winter.

Drying on specific dates without moisture problems

A low-shrinkage rapid cement screed was used as the solution, which has a defined readiness covering time even in unfavourable climate conditions and is highly dimensionally stable. With the mixing ratio of 1:6, UZIN SC 970 reaches the strength class CT-C30-F5. Long setting times due to moist substrates and additional costs due to equipment were able to be avoided with this. The areas were ready for foot traffic after just sixteen hours, and ready for covering after 10-14 days depending on the floor covering without the risk of humidity returning. In comparison, conventional screeds have a drying time of at least 28 days, and can even take much longer with thicker layers and complex structures. “Rapid cement screeds are the most advanced solution for shorter drying times,” explains Michael Säle, screed sales agent at UZIN. “They are based on a hydraulic hardening special binding agent that allows for fast, practically shrinkage- and tension-free setting.” This provides other advantages for large areas, because thanks to the minimised shrinkage, these screeds are very dimensionally stable and can be implemented jointless on areas of up to 200 m². These properties became important in the new FCH business lounge area, especially in the long hallways. Only one joint had to be used here in the curve, on a length of about 35 rm.

Solution for the floor construction

“The advice from UZIN was very helpful; we were able to choose products that coordinated exactly with our needs,” says the project leader. The floor has to be able to stand up to frequently changing loads, guarantee perfect noise insulation, thermal insulation, and fire protection, and contribute to ideal walking comfort and indoor climate. A custom solution was found with about 18 cm structure height, 2 cm of which were for impact sound absorption, 8 cm for heat insulation properties, 6 cm screed, and 15 mm floor covering.

Able to be planned out in detail: Applying, smoothing, and drying screed

The rapid cement is delivered on schedule for the building project and is secure and easy to apply. After mixing, it’s pumped into the object, then applied to the subfloor fitted with expansion strips, impact sound absorption, and heat insulation properties, and then smoothed and compressed. Ralf Osterland of Estrich-Osterland gives his opinion: “This is a product that lets the building site be planned out. “There were no problems at all.” It was very important for the screed installer that the rapid cement work with 100% reliability. The advantages are perfectly obvious: Because it’s ready for foot traffic early and ready for covering quickly and at a defined time, the floor-laying work could be completed expeditiously and interior construction proceeded without complication. A plus for the worker applying: UZIN SC 970 fulfils high standards regarding emissions and is super low-emission in accordance with Emicode EC1 Plus.

Installing floors efficiently in record time

The completion of the interior as a whole was demanding and had to have credible precedent so that the business loges were ready for use by the last game of the season. “Everything worked out perfectly, all our partners are satisfied,” says Holger Sandwald, general director of the 1. FC Heidenheim 1846. “With the rapid cement, deadlines were able to be met exactly on schedule. What was especially important in this: There was distinctly less residual building moisture, and materials like mineral wool or plasterboard that are sensitive to moisture can be applied without problems,” confirms project leader Stephan Reißner. “Instead of 4-6 weeks, this screed was ready for covering already after about 12 days. Fast drying and low moisture development meant that there were no additional setting times. Planning security and shorter building time ultimately led to saving money on costs.”