De-faultless Flooring

Having already launched nine new products in the last year, Fife based connector manufacturer Cullen Building Products maintains that its latest development is the most innovative to date. Called the "Cullen Default Floor," it delivers a new approach to complete I-joist floor provision, involving Cullen and the entire engineered timber floors supply chain in a collaborative process.

The Default Floor is a universal concept for I-joist floors, using unique fixing connections. It focuses on the end customer's requirements through an integrated supply chain process.

For the Default Floor to be a success it is necessary to have full buy-in from ourselves, the joist manufacturers, joist designers and distributors, floor decking manufacturers and, of course, the housebuilders, said Cullen managing director Doug Cullen.

"Together the supply chain can deliver significant advantages to housebuilders over the traditional floor; faster construction, reduced costs and risk of accidents."

Using a small range of standardised connector products, including the recently developed RA hanger, the Cullen Default Floor has identified several solutions to connection difficulties in I-joist floors. It successfully eliminates filler blocks, backer blocks, web stiffeners, the requirement for masonry above masonry hangers, punching holes through joist webs for restraint straps and awkward soil vent pipe framing.

The aim now is to roll this programme out to housebuilders in collaboration with their existing supply chains. The process is already under way. One of Cullen's long-term industry partners, James Jones & Sons Complete Connector Solution for Engineered Floors on Masonry, based on Cullen's Default Floor.

JJI-Joists' systems support engineer Keith Inglis said, "This new floor we have developed with Cullen gives us an exciting additional option to offer our customers. Our floor incorporates the RA hanger that enables it to comply with Part L, while delivering a safe working environment during construction. It is also included in our software."