COFFERED

SLAB
W

TOS 5 UNIT 2D COFFERED

SLAB

Objectives:
1: To Understand The Concept Behind
Coffered Slab Construction

2: To Understand Ribbed Slabs, Coffered

Slabs and Waffle Slabs

3: To Record I.S.456 clauses about Coffered

Slabs
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TOS V: Unit 2d: Coffered Slabs:

2.d.1. Need of Coffered Slab: We have already seen that when we provide a slab over a room
of size 8m x 8m, to make it more economical we need to provide beams at about 4m interval.
This reduces the depth of the slabs but introduces T Beams as part of the slab construction.
Can these T Beams or Intermediate Beams be avoided? One of the Methods used is called
Coffered Slab Units

2.d.2. Logical Development of a Coffered Slab: Let me put this in a series of steps
1. First I design the slab (The one over the room of size 8m x 8m) like a normal two way slab.
This would then be the final schedule of such a slab.

S tep 8: S chedule of S lab

S teel @ s hort s pan S teel @ long s pan R emark
S lab Depth Dis tribution s teel
Main s teel Main s teel
s1 270 10 T or @ 85 c/c 10 T or @ 80 c/c 8 Tor @ 155 c/c
T wo way s lab

Providing a slab of depth 270 does not make sense. One of the assumptions of R.C.C. THEORY is
that the Concrete in the area below the neutral axis does not take part in taking up the tensile
stresses, hence I can remove this concrete from some areas and pack the reinforcement in smaller
areas that I would leave for putting in the reinforcement
2. Xu = 0.46de, de = 270 – 15 – ½ (10) = 250, Hence Xu = 0.46 x 250 = 115mm
3. As per the above schedule I require about 980mm² of steel per 1000mm, (No of bars per
1000mm = 1000/80 = 12.5, Area of steel = 12.6 x 78.5 ≈980mm²). Hence 3no 20dia bars.
4. So now I come with the idea that I remove 900mm of concrete below 115mm which is the
N.A position, every 1000mm leaving a rib of 100mm in which I shall put in 3 bars of 20mm.
And the Sketch for the Slab would be as follows

TOS 5 Unit 2d Coffered Slab Compiled by Ar. Arthur Cutinho

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However this would lead to two problems

1. Over-crowding of reinforcement in the ribs – No space between the bars.
2. Requirement of Shear Reinforcement in the ribs as Shear will be quite high ( I have not
calculated the Shear force and Shear Stress)
3. Heavy Form-Work
The answer could then be that
1. Increase the depth of the Slab to may be Span/20 or Span/18. In this case @450. This
would result in the following
a. Lesser Steel required as depth has increased. In this case dexx = 430 and Ast ≈ 720mm² per
meter.
b. Lesser Shear Stress as more depth of the ribs available to take care of the Concentrated
Shear

2. Increase the space between the ribs. i.e. make panels of let us say 1450 and ribs of 150 so
total of 1600. So Reinforcement required would be 720 x 1.6 = 1152mm² and hence about
4 bars of 20mm per 1.6m. This would help us in two ways
a. Lesser Formwork.
b. Adequate space between the reinforcement.
The Section for such a slab would be then as follows as per our discussions above

2.d.3. Ribbed Slab, Coffered Slab and Waffle Slab

Accordingly based on the same concept the following are the three types of slabs
1. When Ribs are provided in one direction only, when ly/lx>2 and we are using the above
concept to create hollow slabs to span one direction only – Such Slabs are called Ribbed
Slabs.
2. When Ribs are provided in both directions, when ly/lx<2 and we are using the above concept
to create hollow slabs spanning both directions. Such Slabs are called Coffered Slabs
3. When the space between the ribs is filled in with precast small unit blocks of various shapes in
case of a Coffered Slab – Such Slabs are called Waffle Slabs.

TOS 5 Unit 2d Coffered Slab Compiled by Ar. Arthur Cutinho

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I.S.456 Clause 30.6 states the following about these small infill unit blocks
A. Blocks and formers may be of any suitable material. Hollow clay tiles for the filler type shall
conform to IS 3951 (Part 1).
B. When required to contribute to the structural strength of a slab
• They shall be made of concrete or burnt clay
• They shall have a crushing strength of at least 14 N/mm² measured on the net section when
axially loaded in the direction of compressive stress in the slab.
Here in I am producing the construction of a Waffle Slab. Herein the form work is made of
Polypropylene re-usable mould

TOS 5 Unit 2d Coffered Slab Compiled by Ar. Arthur Cutinho

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I.S.456 Clause 30.5 states the following about the ribs

C. Size and Position of Ribs
In-situ ribs shall be not less than 65 mm wide. They shall be spaced at centers not greater than
1.5 m apart and their depth, excluding any topping, shall be not more than four times their width.
Generally ribs shall be formed along each edge parallel to the span of one way slabs. When the
edge is built into a wall or rests on a beam, a rib at least as wide as the bearing shall be formed
along the edge. So
Minimum Width of a Rib = 65mm
Maximum Depth of Ribs Excluding Topping = 4times the width of the rib
Maximum centre to centre distance between Ribs = 1.5m
D. Structural action
• Thin slab at the top rests on the grid of ribs. These ribs behave as continuous beams resting on
each other.
• Bending and shear in both direction are the critical structural actions. Bending for one rib can
turn out twisting for the perpendicular one.
• Coffered slabs are thickened near the main beam to resist negative B.M
• Coffered Slabs could also have a Grid of Ribs Placed Diagonally though the same is not as
effective as a Straight Grid.

TOS 5 Unit 2d Coffered Slab Compiled by Ar. Arthur Cutinho