Spans vary according to the materials used and the type of construction.

 Solid reinforced concrete slabs: 2.5 to 5.5m

 Ribbed slabs: 5 to 7.5 m

Both with a max. 12.5 m between main beams.

 Pre-stressed concrete : 25m with 0.75m structural depth

The exterior walls should be a curtain wall in front of set-back external columns

To reduce space required for lifts and the travel time, provide sky lobbies by express lifts for
transferring passengers to normal lifts.

Cost effectiveness depends on the “sway factor” (the ratio of maximum permissible horizontal
deformation at the top to the total height of a building): 1:600

In high-rise buildings, 90% of horizontal deformation comes from shifting of frame (shear away) &
10% from slant of entire building.

Frame structures without special wind bracing are economic only up to 10 storeys.

Conventional frame systems are uneconomic for more than 20 floors.

Reinforced concrete frames are practical up to 10 storeys without bracing walls & 20 to 30 storeys
with bracing walls and higher for concrete tube and double tube structures.

Escape Routes

Min: 1.25m wide.

Max walking distance from each point of occupied room: not more than 25m.

Corridors with two escape directions: max 40m long.

A smoke proof self-closing door after 20m.

Branch corridors: max 10m long.

If second escape road is available: max 20m

Should lead in two directions to each staircase if possible.

Stairs

For high-rise buildings up to 60m high, provide 2 emergency stairs located opposite in two separate
fire compartments.

Walking width: atleast 1.25m

Wellhole: min. 0.80m( to avoid laying of hoses on stairs)

Smoke outlets: provide at their highest point (5% of floor area, min 1 m 2 )

One staircase for a high-rise building of 60m.

Lifts

One group of lifts for up to 25 storeys with all lifts serving all floors.

If more than 6 lifts are required, provide two groups of lifts.

It is uneconomic to have three groups of lifts because of high number of lifts in the lower area.

Sky lobbies: for buildings above 200m reached by express elevators (mostly 2-3)

Fire service lift

One fire service lift with its own shaft for more than 30 m high where every point of occupied room
can be reached within a radius of 50m

It must have an anter room with a hydrant large enough to enable the transport of stretchers to the
lift.

Access routes must be at least T30 fire retarding.