Designing an above ground heated Concrete floor in Arctic conditions

[AlaskaReady]

What is the best approach for a concrete slab on pilings in the Arctic region of Alaska? I am undertaking the construction of a metal building warehouse in Northern Alaska built approximately 4' off the ground on 10" diameter wood pilings, 8' on center, spanning 40' x 75'. I am looking for creative alternatives to span the concrete floor accross the pilings with a 6" thick heated slab that will also need to be insulated underneath to keep the permafrost from melting over time.

 

[ishvaaag]

Design is a wholistic matter and is difficult to give proper advice without enough involvement with the project itself.

I mean, one could devise some technically very wise answer to your question only to find that the owner is not wanting at all to pay for the extra expenses your extra effort requires. And on the other hand, the other solutions, along their known problems, use to be reasonably described in the mandatory or model codes or ordinances, and of course the local practice.

So you could design a floating (yet properly restrained) thin slab, whit rollers or sliders, pots, restrain bars, heating implements to avoid uncomely obstruction of the wanted behaviour and make it unwanted by cost, the alternative being just a practical exam of what normally available at the place, for if you can bring builders able to tackle tasks anywhere then maybe the owner will also be more willing to pay for putting intelligence in the building.

 

[dik]

YOu want to keep the soil from thawing, in general. This can be accomplished by means of an air space and insulation to keep radiant heat from going downward. This is assuming that you are in the permafrost area or active area.

Find out what they are doing locally.

Dik