Installation and Maintenance Procedure – FP McCann Cattle Slat products
This document describes the recommended procedures for the installation and maintenance of
FP McCann Precast Concrete Cattle Slat products.
FP McCann Cattle Slat products

Gang Cattle Slats

Safety Slats

Support Beams

Solid Mix and Solid Slabs

Steel Cover Lids
FP McCann slats are for use with cattle only and not for use with pigs, sheep or any other types
of livestock. Livestock suitability is derived from the maximum width of the spacing in each gang
slat for Cattle 30 – 40mm, pigs 11mm, and sheep 20mm.
PLANNING
Receipt and Handling of Cattle Slats
1. Time and place of off-loading should be agreed before units arrive at site.
For safety,
all Cattle Slat products must be placed on firm, level ground on sound timber support
skids, stacked no more that 4 no. in height.
2. Off-loading should take place at the nearest hard road to the point of installation.
Carefully inspect units during off-loading to verify that products are undamaged and
comply with order placed. Two types of check are required:
Visual: Inspect the Cattle Slat product for any sign of damage, including cracked or
chipped concrete, damage to the ends of each product or anything that could affect the
performance.
Design: Check that the item received is the one ordered.
3. Any Cattle Slat product not meeting order requirements should be marked and stored
separately from other products. All discrepancies must be noted on the delivery docket
at the time of delivery.
CONSTRUCTION
FP McCann Cattle Slat products are manufactured in accordance with British Standards
BS5502: - Parts 22 and 51. These products are suitable for use with all classes of livestock
loading shown in Table 5 of BS5502: Part 22 and a maximum vehicle axle load of 4.5 tonnes.
Imposed loads must not exceed these levels.
A maximum service life exceeding 20 years is expected for Cattle Slat products if properly
maintained.
All concrete slats, slabs and support beams must be installed with a minimum end bearing of
100mm (4’’). Where product configurations permit then the products should be installed with
greater end bearing distances. Support beams should have an end bearing of 200mm (8”) when
placed on side walls or pillars.
Whilst FP McCann supply component products to meet the requirements of BS5502: - Parts 22
and 51, site-specific configurations, notably layout and support arrangements remain the
responsibility of each individual client.
Sequence of Operations for Slat Fitting
1. The structure to support the floor should provide a suitable bearing surface as specified
in the design of the tank.
2. The slat configuration should be taken into consideration at the design stage to ensure
that whole slat products are used. It is not recommended that cuts pieces are used, and
FP McCann will not take responsibility for any cut products used.
3. All slat products should be lifted into position using a mechanical device suitably
equipped to bear the weight of the product, e.g. lorry-mounted crane.
4. Support beams should be placed in a manner so as avoid block the voids between each
slat. Support beams should have an end bearing of 200mm (8”) when placed on side
walls or pillars. Beams should be installed with the widest surface to the bottom (place
onto the pillar or column).
5. Individual slats, gangs, slabs and beams should be fitted to allow for expansion but must
prevent movement or rocking in normal use, (specialist plastic spacers may be used to
pack and level).
6. When fitting the slats and solid slabs across the beams the minimum end bearing of
100mm (4”) must be achieved.
7.
When placing slats, it is important that a space of between 35 – 40mm of equal
proportion to those cast into each slat occurs between individual slat products to allow
faecal material to pass through the floor.

Product dimensions are marked on products to facilitate identification. FP
McCann prints their name and the appropriate size on each product, in this way
no error should occur when distinguishing product dimensions. Please note: the
standard widths of cattle slat products are:

Gang Cattle Slats – 1125 mm width (45 inches)

Gang Safety slats – 1125 mm width (45 inches)

Solid Slabs and Solid Mix Slabs – 1500mm width (60 inches
Maintenance of Cattle Slats
Regular inspection and maintenance of the slatted floors is required to ensure that they maintain
their design specification and level of performance. The following checks must be carried out at
least twice yearly.
1. The FP McCann range of Cattle Slat products has been designed to provide a working
life exceeding twenty years, subject to proper maintenance.
Failure to maintain in
accordance with these instructions and/or good housekeeping practice may result in
deterioration in product performance such that the expected working life is not achieved.
Poor maintenance may result in injury to cattle or users.
2. All products should be checked regularly for any signs of damage e.g. cracking, spalling
or eroding of concrete or reinforcement rust staining. This is particularly important if an
event that may have caused damage, such as the dropping of a heavy object onto a slat
has occurred.
3. A thorough inspection of all products should be carried out at a minimum of every 6
months. The following should be carried out as a minimum.
a. Ensure that Cattle Slat products are fully washed down and all debris removed.
b. Once washed, check between slats and at pillars for build up of dirt and ensure
this is removed.
c. Check for any signs of damage caused during use, e.g. cracking, spalling or
eroding of concrete or reinforcement rust staining .
4. Any minor damage identified after an event or during a regular inspection must be
repaired immediately.
If substantial damage is observed, such that the product is
deemed to be un-repairable, then it should be replaced immediately.
5. All repair surfaces must be sound and free from damage and projections or edges that
may cause injury to livestock.
6. Maintenance issues arising from lack of care and attention of the end user will be the
responsibility of the end user and not that of FP McCann.