Correctional Facilities are unique from almost all other types of structures because they are generally built only for one use, to detain or house individuals. Because holding cells are small and along with other area need to be secure, there are larger amounts of work required per square foot than in other types of structures. Almost all MEP in correctional facilities is either contained within the concrete or install within special secure chases. All of these conditions require extensive preplanning and scheduling. With McClone Construction’s concrete outlines we are able to help catch a large amount of potential problems before they ever get a chance to become an issue.
Multi-Story Correctional Facilities are most commonly made up of two-way reinforced slabs with bay widths of usually less than 20’. Depending on the seismic requirements the vertical support elements can vary greatly. As would be expected, on the west coast it is common to see rather extensive amounts of shear walls and other types of lateral support systems. Some areas of these multi-story structures are designed to accommodate higher live loads for recreational areas and other areas where large groups of people might gather. As is typical in almost all correctional facilities, the MEP chases are enclosed by concrete or CMU. In most cases the concrete walls used to incase the MEP can also be used as part of the lateral support system. It is very common for every other level to be a mezzanine with cells at the perimeter of the building edge. The remaining floors then cover the entire floor plate producing a slab with a floor to floor height of twice that of the mezzanine areas.
Single-Story Correctional Facilities have similar characteristics to that of multi-story in that they also incorporate a mezzanine level. However, both the ground level and the mezzanine level are covered by a roof rather than additional levels. The perimeter and interior cell walls are commonly made up of “tilt-up” panels, but can also be constructed of shotcrete or cast-in-place concrete. Shotcrete eliminates seems between the panels when constructed using the tilt-up method. In some cases the architect and the structural engineer will design the structure around the utilization of tunnel forms. These box-like forms are designed to set adjacent to each other and the wall and slab are poured monolithic incasing both the reinforcing steel and the necessary electrical and miscellaneous conduits.
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