ABSTRACT
Ground-supported concrete floors comprise four elements: a hardcore base, a concrete bed, a damp-proof membrane and, in many cases, thermal insulation. Turf, other vegetable matter and top soil should be removed from the ground to be covered by the building at least to a depth sufficient to prevent later growth as required by Regulation C1. The use of suspended concrete ground floors has increased due, to the combination of available economic systems and the inherent advantages of the constructional method. There are two requirements to be met, the floor must adequately resist moisture reaching the upper surface and the reinforcement must be protected against the harmful effects of moisture. Timber has been used for ground floors for a very long time but not always with success. The failure can nearly always be put down to a lack of observation of simple principles of construction and a lack of recognition of the fact that the material will decay in certain circumstances.
