Expansion Joint Solutions
From standard cover systems to highly engineered seismic joint cover solutions for sky bridges, base isolated structures and more, CS can design, test and fabricate custom assemblies to meet your project needs.
The CS Difference
Product Benefits
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Joint Sizes and Color Matching
CS makes the industry’s largest cover systems for joint openings ranging from about 5’ to 8’ wide or bigger! Whether standard or highly engineered, we offer color and finish matches to integrate covers into your facade, floors, and more.
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Testing Facility
We test to ensure performance in real conditions. Our cycle table ensures code compliance and tests the movement of custom assemblies. Our fire test furnace helps develop cutting-edge life safety products and verify complex job-specific conditions.
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Partnership
A partnership with CS provides high-level technical expertise and coordination, from pre-planning and design assistance through regulatory approval and the shop-drawing phase to fabrication construction, and support—even after our warranty expires.
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Implement & Sustain
We don’t stop when construction starts. During construction, we offer coordinated fabrication, finish and delivery schedules, installation training, support during field changes, and inspection support. To conclude, we provide closeout information.
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Custom Designs
We've used our experience to curate a proven set of solutions for all movement conditions. Every project has unique requirements, and we can design for the largest and most complex movement scenarios.
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Installer Workshop
Our annual installer workshop event is world-class, bringing installers together from all over the country to provide a hands-on learning experience unlike any other.
Our Experience & Associations
Unmatched Experience
No company can come close to our experience and expertise handling complex seismic projects.
Expansion Joint Solutions ShowcaseAssociations
CS is proud to partner with life safety organizations such as FCIA and the USRC.
U.S. Resiliency CouncilCustomizable Expansion Joint Solutions
Need a solution outside our standard designs? Our team of technical experts can work with you to design a custom system that meets your project's specific requirements.
We Don't Stop at Standard
Custom Solutions
Every project has its own special movement criteria, that's why we offer design assistance for complex projects.
Color Matching
Many of our cover systems can be color-matched to surrounding finishes, making them virtually invisible no matter the application.
A Process to Meet Your Specific Requirements
Concept Design Phase
• Establish which type of cover(s) work best for your project.
• Present drawings to the design team, highlighting how the systems function.-
Design Assist Phase
• Ensure that all materials and the buildings surround are properly prepared.
• Submittal documents will be created and include specification information, coordination drawings, and calculations for coordination.
Testing Phase
• Verification of safety and functionality.
• Ensure our systems perform exactly how they are designed to.
Design Development Phase
• Support, guidance, and coordination for proper installation.
• Provide high-quality materials on time.
Full-Scale Testing
Learn more about the critical process behind testing and installing expansion joint systems for floors, walls, ceilings, roofs, and fire barrier.
We can prove our solutions will work for your specific project requirements.
- Movement: Our expansion joint systems go through a rigorous series of in-house cycle testing so you don’t have to worry about failures after installation.
- Fire: Third-party certifications provide peace of mind. Our fire barrier solutions meet UL-2079, ASTM E-1966 and ASTM E-1399 performance standards.
- Wear and Tear: Let's face the facts, floor covers take some serious abuse. Our solutions are subjected to the necessary rolling load tests to ensure performance even in the heaviest traffic areas.
In-Person Testing Demos
We can show you in person how your expansion joint cover will function and operate under real-life conditions with our exclusive full-scale test chamber, which has evaluated some of the industry's largest joint covers.
FAQs
- What is your nominal joint size?
- How much are you expecting the joint to open/close? (Example: 6” maximum/2” minimum opening)
- Is lateral shear movement expected? If yes, how much?
- What type of facility is this? (Examples: hospital, airport, school)
- Are there any special loading requirements? (Example: heavy rolling loads)
- What is the construction? (Examples: new to existing, new to new, drywall to CMU, metal panel to EIFS)
- What is your design vision for the space? (Example: back of house or front of house)
- Does the joint need to be fire-rated or waterproof?
- What is your budget?
- A project’s engineering team typically establishes the structural requirements for a building’s expansion joints and determines their size and placement.
- The structural engineer also specifies anticipated movement, expressed either as a specific dimension (like ±1 inch) or as a percentage of the joint opening (such as ±50%). We suggest providing the nominal joint size (Ex: 4”), max open size (Ex: 6”), and min open size (Ex: 2”) to avoid confusion with percentages.
- Floor cover expansion joint covers are typically the most challenging to select since they face the most demanding conditions. CS can color-match most cover systems for better integration with architectural finishes.
- Building usage will form the final criteria in the selection process. The building's purpose helps determine specific requirements - for instance, hospitals need easily cleaned covers with flush top surfaces to accommodate wheeled equipment, typically leading to gasketed cover systems. In areas with heavy rolling loads, such as airports, "heavy duty" rated covers are often selected.
- For expansion joint gasket colors, CS offers 5 finish options: Platinum, Greige, Black, White, and Gray. CS also offers custom colors and color matching; however additional costs and minimum order quantities may apply.
- ASTM-E 1399 is a construction standard that ensures the quality and durability of seismic and expansion joint cover systems. This code requires these systems to undergo rigorous testing by completing 500 movement cycles while maintaining their functionality. Since these expansion joint covers are specifically designed to accommodate building movement, the test standard provides the highest quality assurance for construction projects.
- The 500-cycle testing requirement directly simulates the repeated movements these joints will experience throughout a building's lifetime. This testing helps verify that the joint covers will continue functioning as intended through years of structural movement, seasonal changes, and seismic activity.
- For fire barrier testing, a separate standard called UL 2079 applies. This standard also requires 500 movement cycles before fire testing can begin. This ensures that the fire barrier remains effective even after repeated movement, combining both safety and durability requirements into one comprehensive testing protocol.
- The most common reason for expansion joint cover failure stems from selecting the wrong type of cover for the intended use. Even high-quality floor covers can be damaged when subjected to heavy rolling loads that they weren't engineered to handle - much like how a residential driveway isn't designed to withstand the weight of heavy commercial trucks.
- You can find all of our expansion joint specs, CAD drawings, BIM models and more for each expansion joint product here.