Superflat DM1 Floors
Overview
Precision Flooring Solutions for Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) Warehouses
Defined Movement Floors: Essential for VNA Operations
In Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) warehouse settings, floor flatness plays a pivotal role in enabling the smooth and safe operation of Material Handling Equipment (MHE) following precise, predefined paths. Any deviation from flawless flatness can significantly compromise the Defined Movement (DM) performance, impacting both safety and productivity.
At EFIL, we specialize in casting Superflat DM1 floors designed explicitly for VNA warehouse environments. Our approach combines cutting-edge technology, expert labor, and premium materials to achieve the exceptionally tight flatness tolerances required for these high-stakes applications.
Installation Approach: Long Strip Construction Method
Our Superflat floors are installed using a long strip construction technique, where the concrete slab is poured in continuous strips typically 4 to 6 meters wide, each bounded by formwork. Strips are laid in alternating sequences, with infill sections placed thereafter. Transverse saw-cut joints are introduced across each strip at intervals of up to 6 meters to relieve longitudinal shrinkage stresses.
Because the formwork can be maintained to exacting tolerances and the strip widths are relatively narrow, this method is ideally suited to producing floors with exceptionally high surface regularity necessary for VNA operations.
Critical Flatness Standards for VNA Forklift Safety and Efficiency
The DM specification for VNA flooring is carefully selected based on the height and design of warehouse racking systems. Achieving superior floor flatness is vital to minimize forklift truck lean, which increases with lift height, thereby fostering safer and more efficient aisle navigation.
VNA Equipment Types
- Wire-Guided VNA
- Channel-Guided VNA
FM1 Floors and Areas Under Racking
It is important to note that floor areas beneath the racking system, although constructed simultaneously with aisle floors, are not classified as defined-movement zones. Defined-movement flooring techniques are specifically targeted at ensuring tolerance and flatness along the exact wheel tracks of MHE.
In instances where aisle locations are uncertain during floor installation, it is advisable to adopt the highest-quality free movement (FM1) floor specification. This ensures maximum surface regularity and operational flexibility, accommodating future aisle positioning without sacrificing quality.
EFIL’s expertise in delivering floors designed to meet stringent international standards such as TR-34 (4th Edition), ACI 360R, ASTM E1155, and ACI 302.1R guarantees that your VNA warehouse infrastructure integrates precision, safety, and durability critical for next-generation logistics environments.
By leveraging precision engineering and globally compliant construction practices, EFIL’s FM2 Laser Screed Flooring and Superflat DM1 flooring systems empower modern warehouses and commercial facilities to achieve peak performance, operational continuity, and reduced lifecycle costs.