History of the formation of Ubot boxes: Something you may not know

Construction professionals are probably already familiar with the Ubot flat slab (beamless flat slab with hollow box formers). But do you know the history of the formation of Ubot boxes? Let’s explore it in more detail with LPC in this article!

What is a Ubot box?

Concept

The Ubot lightweight slab solution is a two-way monolithic lightweight slab system that uses Ubot molded plastic void formers to create voids within the slab. These boxes are arranged parallel to each other, forming concealed I-shaped beams interwoven in two perpendicular directions.

Ubot boxes have a special structure with four conical legs. The boxes are connected to each other in two perpendicular directions by connecting bars. There are two types: single boxes and double boxes. Ubot slab reinforcement consists of a bottom reinforcement layer, while reinforcement bars are installed between the open voids.

Reinforcement is installed according to the design, depending on the characteristics of each project. Placing Ubot boxes within the non-load-bearing concrete zone reduces slab weight, allowing the slab to achieve large spans and reducing the amount of concrete and reinforcement required.

Advantages

• Lightweight structure
• Saves concrete, formwork, and reinforcement
• Voided flat slab
• Two-way load transfer

History of the formation of Ubot boxes

The home of the Uboot Beton flat slab solution is Italy. This product was researched, designed, and brought to market by experts from the Daliform Group, a company specializing in innovation and the improvement of construction solutions.

The product was initially named Uboot Beton and became a new technological solution for construction.

In June 2012, the Uboot Beton flat slab solution was transferred to Vietnam by Lam Pham Construction Co., Ltd. (LPC), a company professionally operating in the civil and industrial construction sector in Vietnam and internationally, with more than 10 years of establishment and development.

After arriving in Vietnam, the product was researched, improved, applied, and developed by LPC for construction projects, receiving strong support from investors both domestically and internationally.

In August 2015, U-Boot plastic boxes received test results confirming the product’s properties and compliance with the requirements of the EU Directive.

By 2016, Uboot Beton was renamed Ubot, or Ubot molded void-forming box, making the name easier to remember and pronounce while offering many outstanding features.

At the same time, more than seven projects using the Ubot lightweight flat slab solution had been constructed. The first project in Vietnam to implement Ubot molded void-forming boxes was the Vicostone apartment building, with a total floor area of up to 33,000 m².

In June 2017, Ubot was granted an exclusive industrial design patent No. 23977 by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Intellectual Property Office.

From 2012 to the present, with more than 10 years on the market, LPC has accompanied investors and, with the Ubot lightweight flat slab solution, has completed thousands of projects serving thousands of customers.

With its mission, LPC has continuously researched, improved, and developed the product. We have implemented the Ubot solution across provinces and cities throughout Vietnam and internationally, with hundreds of large and small projects across diverse types of buildings: high-rise apartment buildings, hospitals, offices, hotels, restaurants, villas, and more.

Widespread development of Ubot

In recent years, Ubot – a green and modern construction solution – has become popular among construction companies and contractors of all sizes around the world. According to a recent survey by the construction federation, by 2022, 73% of construction companies worldwide would switch entirely to the Ubot hollow box slab solution. 

With its outstanding characteristics, Ubot hollow box slabs have gained an important position in both domestic and international construction markets and have received several forms of recognition:

• Ubot has become a representative product for green buildings: ECO home, Cat Tuong ECO social housing, Recreation center, and more.
• Ubot has created a new trend in flat slab solutions and has been at the forefront of transferring new technologies to Vietnam.
• Ubot has become a leading choice for aesthetically appealing building designs that are cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
• Ubot is proud to accompany major partners: Hoa Binh Greencity, Capital House, and more.

See also: Projects in Vietnam and internationally

LPC Ubot boxes – exclusive in Vietnam

Since 2012, LPC has received technology transfer from Daliform Group (Italy) and has continued to develop and refine the solution. After being implemented in hundreds of large- and small-scale projects both domestically and internationally, UBOT Beton is now one of Vietnam’s leading large-span flat slab solutions.

After more than 10 years of continuous development and improvement, with ongoing changes to achieve greater perfection (including staggered positioning of the supports, improvements to the five-leg Ubot box design, and the addition of bottom covers for Ubot boxes to prevent concrete loss), the boxes are made from recycled polypropylene. The boxes measure 52 x 52 cm, with heights of 9, 13, 16, 17, 20, 24, and 28 cm. Each box has four conical legs at the corners and one conical leg in the middle, with heights varying from 5–10 cm. In addition, connecting bars link the boxes together, while the box covers help control the amount of concrete entering the boxes.

To meet production requirements, LPC’s UBOT must comply with the following certifications:

• REI 180 fire resistance certification for UBOT issued by CSI Bollate Institute (MI). Load testing certification for UBOT issued by the University of Darmstadt.
• Load-bearing capacity test results for UBOT boxes conducted by the Institute of Science, Technology and Investment & Construction (IBST) in accordance with TCVN 9344:2012.
• Load testing results for concrete slabs conducted by the Institute of Building Science and Technology (IBST).
• Sound insulation testing in accordance with UNI EN ISO 140-6 for testing sound insulation in buildings and other building components. Certification for testing traffic noise insulation issued by Instituto Giordano di Gatteo (FC).
• Sound insulation testing in accordance with UNI EN ISO 140-3 for testing sound insulation in buildings. Certification for testing airborne sound insulation issued by Instituto Giordano di Gatteo (FC).
• System certifications according to ISO 9001 – ISO 140001 – SA Standard 8000.
• Destructive load testing certification issued by the University of Padua.
• Environmental quality assurance certification (CCA) – Member of the Green Building Association Council Italia.
• Non-toxic product certification issued by Quacert Vietnam, Certificate No. 1620/15/PTN-QC.
• Ubot slab load testing results conducted by the Institute of Science, Technology, Investment & Construction (IBST), in accordance with TCVN 2737, TCVN 9344, TCVN 373, and TCVN 5574.

To date, the Ubot flat slab solution has made significant contributions to the development of green buildings. Ubot flat slab is proud to be one of the important factors contributing to the Ecohome Phuc Loi project receiving the “Transformational Business Awards 2018” in the Green Building category for its important contributions to positive change and sustainable environmental development, while creating a greener life for the community.

With extensive experience, capabilities, and high technical expertise, LPC is always a leading choice for consulting, architectural and structural design, and construction of UBOT hollow box slab projects for projects throughout Vietnam and internationally.