A kicker wall, also known as a column kicker, is a small concrete step built at the base of columns or walls. It ensures that the columns or walls maintain their correct positions as concrete floors are poured.
Understanding Kicker Walls
Kicker walls serve a crucial role in construction by providing a precise base for structural elements.
Key Functions:
- Maintain Alignment: Kicker walls ensure that columns or walls are correctly aligned and maintain their coordinates as floors are being built on top of them.
- This avoids misalignment issues that could compromise structural integrity.
- Secure Positioning: They act as a base to securely position columns or walls before the concrete of the floor slab is poured.
- Prevent Movement: They help to keep the columns and walls from shifting during concrete pouring and curing.
Construction
Kicker walls are typically constructed as follows:
- Formwork: A small form is created at the required location at the base of a wall or column.
- Concrete Pour: Concrete is poured into this form and allowed to cure.
- Precise Placement: Once cured, it forms a small step, ready for the main structure to be placed on top.
Example:
Imagine you are building a multi-story building. Before adding the floor slab of the second floor, you would first use a kicker wall at the base of each column of the first floor. This kicker wall helps the columns of the first floor to maintain their proper coordinates and will act as the precise footing for the second floor column. As stated in the reference, this ensures "that correct coordinates of columns or walls are maintained between floor slabs."
Benefits of Using Kicker Walls
- Accuracy: Kicker walls greatly improve the precision of construction.
- Reduced Errors: They reduce the likelihood of errors related to wall and column alignment.
- Structural Integrity: By ensuring columns and walls are properly aligned, they contribute to the overall structural integrity of the building.
Kicker Wall in Different Contexts
Kicker walls are not limited to columns, they can also be used in conjunction with:
- Walls
- Pre-cast Structures
- Various support elements
In essence, a kicker wall provides a solid, well-defined base, ensuring accurate and structurally sound construction practices.
