Review IPHA Technical Seminar 2025 – Krakow/Poland
Over the past 27 years, IPHA has regularly organised technical seminars as a platform for members to explore new ideas, share expertise, and strengthen collaboration across the global precast hollow core industry.
The 2025 IPHA Technical Seminar took place in Krakow, Poland, from 23–24 October, hosted at the Vienna House by Wyndham. The event brought together 56 technical experts from 16 IPHA member countries, marking the conclusion of the ambitious three-year research project “Holcodis – Load Distribution in Hollow-Core Floors.”
A strong start at Krakow University of Technology
The seminar began with a technical visit to the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Laboratory at Krakow University of Technology, where delegates observed a live punching test on 500 mm hollow-core slabs.
Following lunch, delegates were warmly welcomed by IPHA President Marco Pecetti and Technical Committee Chair Wim Jansze, who also leads the Holcodis project.
The opening presentation was delivered by Milosz Jeziorski, R&D Project Manager at Consolis Group Technology and overall Holcodis Project Manager.
Research Presentations and Expert Insights
Milosz introduced the aims and background of the project, giving an overview of hollow-core slab behaviour and load distribution under varying conditions, before outlining the programme for the two-day seminar.
Next, Professor Wit Derkowski (Krakow University of Technology and Linnaeus University, Sweden) discussed “Standards Provisions for Load Distribution and Related Concerns.” He was followed by special guest Professor Elena Michelini from the University of Parma, Italy, who shared her expertise on “State-of-the-Art in Experimental Research and Analytical Models.”
Milosz then returned to present on “Numerical Modelling of Hollow-Core Slabs under Concentrated Loads”, before continuing after the afternoon coffee break with a session on “Experiments on SLS/ULS Load Distribution on Three Floors.”
The day concluded with time for delegates to network, reflect, and exchange ideas after an intense and informative first day.
Day Two: Design Workshop and Project Results
Friday’s programme began with Milosz Jeziorski unveiling the final results of the Holcodis research, focusing on “Analysis of Shear, Bending, and Torsion in SLS/ULS.” This was followed by a Design Workshop on Load Distribution (LD), introduced by Ronald Klein-Holte from Consolis VBI (Netherlands), who presented “Load Distribution According to EN 1168.”
Pieter van der Zee from CRH Structural Concrete (Belgium) continued with “The Use of Load Distribution in the Design of Openings in Slabs.” After lunch, Lars Reimer, Technical Manager at CRH and member of the Holcodis research team, explored “Load Distribution and the Accidental Design Situation with Fire.” The workshop concluded with a presentation by Wim Jansze titled “Horizontal Load Distribution by Diaphragm Action in Unstopped Hollow-Core Floors.”
Looking Ahead
In closing, Wim Jansze thanked all participants for their valuable contributions and confirmed that the findings and discussions from this seminar will form the basis of a practical design handbook on load distribution, to be published in autumn 2026 for all IPHA members.
This publication will make the research outcomes of the Holcodis project directly applicable in daily design work, ensuring IPHA members remain at the forefront of innovation and best practice within the global precast industry.
