MFA was contracted to construct the civil and concrete infrastructure for a large logistics and warehousing facility in Germiston — including heavy-duty industrial slabs, a fully paved yard and security perimeter works capable of handling 30-tonne truck traffic.
Project Background
The client — a logistics operator expanding their Gauteng distribution footprint — required a 3 000 m² hardstand area capable of supporting heavy vehicles and forklifts, together with reinforced floor slabs for a new 1 800 m² warehouse. MFA was appointed following a competitive tender on the strength of its CIDB civil registration and demonstrated track record in industrial concrete work.
Scope of Work
- 3 000 m² of reinforced concrete hardstand slab — 200mm thick with SL82 mesh reinforcing and industrial hardener finish
- 1 800 m² warehouse floor slab — power-floated, FM2 flatness classification, with control joints at 6m centres
- Precast concrete kerbing and surface drainage channels throughout the yard
- Security perimeter wall — 2.4m precast panels with 500mm palisade topping
- Access gate construction including concrete columns, electric sliding gate and intercom infrastructure
- Earthworks, compaction and sub-base preparation across the full site footprint
Technical Notes
The warehouse floor required an FM2 (face measure 2) flatness classification to suit narrow-aisle racking systems. MFA's concrete team used laser screeds for the floor pour, with a total pour area completed in three pours to manage curing joints while maintaining programme. Cube testing was carried out at every pour and all results achieved the specified 35 MPa at 28 days.
The hardstand slab was designed in consultation with the structural engineer to accommodate 30-tonne axle loads. MFA placed the 200mm slab on a 150mm compacted G5 sub-base, with fibre reinforcement added to the concrete mix in addition to the mesh to control plastic shrinkage cracking in the large panel pours.
Outcome
Practical completion was achieved in month five. The client began racking installation in the warehouse within two weeks of floor slab handover, ahead of the planned fit-out programme. No defects were recorded at the final inspection and the client has since referred MFA to two other logistics operators in their network.
"The concrete quality was exceptional. The floor is dead flat — our racking installer said it was the best floor he'd worked on in years. MFA's crew clearly knew what they were doing."