Taiku 12m Large Column Grid Solution Saves Approximately 15% in Overall Construction Cost for Changsha Red Star Cold Chain Direct Supply Center Project

Traditional cold storage column grids are too small, restricting rack layout, forklift movement, and future automation upgrades. Expansion joints, beam depth, and insulation area significantly impact construction cost, usable storage volume, and operational energy consumption. A holistic approach integrating structure, insulation, racking, and operational efficiency is needed during the design phase.

Adopted a 10–14m large column grid post-tensioned flat slab structural system to improve spatial efficiency. Optimized expansion joint placement within 120m building length to reduce double walls, columns, and insulation. Flat slab reduces structural depth and insulation area, increasing usable storage volume and lowering energy consumption. 3D BIM coordination with racking systems during planning facilitates future mechanization and automation. Taiping provides three integrated floor system solutions: post-tensioned integrated floor (for industrial facilities and underground garages), UHPC integrated floor, and UHPC long-lasting repair (for cold chain warehouses, industrial facilities, and underground garages). The UHPC solutions reduce saw-cut joints by 80%, minimizing joint deterioration, dust, step displacement, and operational disruptions.

BICP's Taiku system cold chain warehouse building structure low-carbon innovative solution enables a 12m x 12m column grid and up to 120m without expansion joints under applicable conditions, reducing overall construction cost by approximately 10%–20%. For the Changsha Red Star Cold Chain Direct Supply Center project, the solution achieved about 15% cost savings while enhancing operational efficiency.

Project Overview:
The project is located in Yuhua District, Changsha, Hunan Province, with a planned investment of approximately RMB 370 million. It includes Building A (8-story cold storage), Building B (fully automated high-bay cold storage), a smart dispatch center, and supporting facilities. Building A measures 96m x 70m with a column grid of 12m x 11.4m, a live load of 25 kN/m², and a typical slab thickness of 380mm with a story height of 5500mm.

Key Features:

• Large span: 12m x 11.4m column grid.
• Heavy load: 25 kN/m² live load.
• Slab thickness: 380mm typical, 280mm roof, using bonded post-tensioning flat slab system.
• Eight stories with 5500mm typical floor height.
• The cold storage uses a reinforced concrete slab-column frame with shear wall structure, and post-tensioned flat slabs to reduce insulation, wall, column, and foundation costs.
• Optimized exterior enclosure allows simultaneous construction of ante-chamber, enclosure, and cold storage rooms, shortening construction period and reducing safety risks and scaffolding costs.
• The flat slab bottom is smooth with minimal surface area, facilitating polyurethane insulation spray application, reducing insulation volume and overall cost, improving airflow and refrigeration efficiency, and increasing storage capacity by over 15%.

Applicability and Notes:

• Taiku system is suitable for cold chain warehouses requiring large column grids and post-tensioned flat slabs. Specific column grid, loads, expansion joint optimization, and story height should be verified per project conditions.
• Taiping integrated floor systems: post-tensioned integrated floor is for industrial facilities and underground garages; for cold chain warehouses, use UHPC integrated floor or UHPC long-lasting repair.
• Shente new materials should be selected based on the specific structural system, floor system, and project conditions.

This article is compiled for the BICP official website resource center, updated per current brand guidelines, product boundaries, and compliance requirements.

Achieved a bidirectional 12m x 12m column grid and up to 120m without expansion joints under applicable conditions. Reduced overall construction cost by approximately 10%–20%, with this project saving about 15%. Increased cold storage capacity by over 15%.