CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS

 Introduction to Floors

 Types of R.C.C. Floor, Upper Floors/ Framed and Self-Centering Floors

 Construction in Grade and Pavements

CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: Introduction to Floors
 A concrete floor is typically one in which a flat slab is formed of concrete,
which is either poured in-situ or precast in a factory.
 Floor is a horizontal surface of the building

Concrete floors can either be:

i. Basement or ground floors
 The concrete slab is directly supported onto a
construction which may involve hardcore, blinding and
other materials.
ii. Suspended ground floors
 The slab is supported on beams and/or loadbearing
sleeper walls (tassel walls) and is not in direct contact
with the ground.
iii. Suspended upper floors
 The slab is supported by beams (steel or concrete) and/or
columns or on loadbearing walls.
CONCRETE FLOORS: Introduction to Floors
Functional Requirements of a Floors in Building Construction:
 Strength and stability
 Should be adequate to carry dead load of the floor, finishes, fixtures, partitions,
services and expected imposed loads of occupants
 Resistance to weather and ground moisture
 Depends on the nature of subsoil, water table, and whether the site is horizontal or
sloping
 Durability and free from maintenance
 Are rely on the nature of materials applied and the wear they are exposed to
 Fire resistance
 Based on the types of aggregate and the thickness of concrete cover
 Resistance to passage of heat
 By applying hardcore and a damp-proof membrane (on, under, or sandwiched in the
concrete)
 Resistance to passage of sound
 By filling spaces between joists
CONCRETE FLOORS: Introduction to Floors
Functional Requirements of a Floors:

dpm over insulation under floor slab dpm under insulation and screed
CONCRETE FLOORS: TYPES: i. Basement or Ground Floors
 Basement floor means the lower storey of a
building below or partly below the ground floor

 A slab basement is the simplest building

foundation.
 In essence, it is a slab of concrete placed
directly onto the ground.
 It also acts as the floor of the basement.

 In cold climates the slab may crack, causing

costly structural damage to the home
 Sensitive to tree roots and soil movement
CONCRETE FLOORS: TYPES: ii. Suspended ground floors
CONCRETE FLOORS: TYPES: ii. Suspended ground floors
 Ground floors supported at a little distance above the ground are called
Suspended floors
 Floor with a void underneath the structure

 Generally made of timber and also of concrete

 Can be formed in various ways, using
 timber joists, precast concrete panels, block and beam system or cast in-situ with
reinforced concrete.
 The floor structure is supported by external and internal walls
 Supports underneath the floor are permanent and include sleeper walls
or timber props placed at regular intervals.

 Allows air flow and ventilation to prevent the mould and dry rot
 Problem of draughts and cold in the house if not insulated correctly
CONCRETE FLOORS: TYPES: ii. Suspended ground floors
SUSPENDED CONCRETE FLOORS:
 Providing reinforced slab supported by
external and internal load bearing walls.
 These are independent from the ground
 Suspended floors are provided to resist the
ground moisture.
 Used where dampness is major problem
due to soil with high water table.
 Hollow space between flooring and site
concrete is kept dry and well ventilated by
providing air bricks in outer walls and voids
in the sleeper walls.
 Sleeper walls are not spaced more than 2m.
CONCRETE FLOORS: TYPES: ii. Suspended ground floors
SUSPENDED CONCRETE FLOORS:
Resistance to ground moisture
 Use of insulation layer below
screed i.e. DPM(damp proof
membrane).

Advantage
 Concrete bed remains dry,
better thermal insulation
 During construction prevent
leakage of cement mix.
CONCRETE FLOORS: TYPES: ii. Suspended ground floors
TERMS:
 An airbrick is a special type  Brick slips are specially  can handle heavy radial
of brick that contains holes manufactured tiles which when loads at high speeds due
to allow the circulation of installed have the appearance, to the wide surface area
'fresh' outside air beneath colour and texture of a real clay and staggered
suspended floors and within brick wall. configuration of the rollers
cavity walls to prevent
moisture building up
CONCRETE FLOORS: TYPES: ii. Suspended ground floors
SUSPENDED TIMBER FLOORS:
 Entire area of ground below the floor is covered with a 15cm thick
layer of cement concrete (known as site concrete).

 Hollow space between flooring and site concrete is kept dry and
well ventilated by providing air bricks in outer walls and voids in
the sleeper walls.

 The flooring consists of boarding supported on bridging or floor

joists of timber, which are nailed to wall plates at their ends.

 Sleeper walls are not spaced more than 2m.

CONCRETE FLOORS: TYPES: ii. Suspended ground floors
CONCRETE FLOORS: TYPES: ii. Suspended ground floors
CONCRETE FLOORS:
Concrete floors are widely used due to:
 Concrete though strong in compression, is weak in tension.

 Steel has good tensile strength, so these are combined to form

reinforced cement concrete (R.C.C.)

 Concrete floors has overall reduced thickness, as thickness is

reduced, self weight is also reduced.

 Concrete floors are comparatively fire proof and damp proof.

 Can be used for rooms of comparatively large spans.

 Method of construction is comparatively easier.
CONCRETE FLOORS
CONCRETE UPPER FLOORS:
 Normally called Framed Floors.
 Slabs are used to span some clear
distances to achieve the floors

 The design of floor depends on;

 Loads
 Size and proportion of the Structural bays
 Form of support
 Desired floor depth
 Special Floor finishes
CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: UPPER FLOORS
 Floor system
 One way slab
 Two way slab
 One way ribbed slab
 Two way waffle slab
 Two way flat slab
 Two way flat plate
 Monolithic reinforced concrete floors
 Self-centering concrete floors
 Hollow beam floor units
 Solid precast T section beams with hollow
lightweight concrete infilling blocks
 Situ-cast reinforced concrete and terra
cotta block floor
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
A. One Way Slab
 Beam or wall supported on two sides i.e. spanning
on only one direction

 A slab in which
 ratio of longer side direction to shorter side direction
will be greater then 2. & also
 bending of slab takes in shorter direction it is called one
way slab
 Bay proportion: Length is more than twice the
breadth
 One way slab means the slab that bends along
only one axis. And it requires reinforcement along
one Axis
 Used for medium to heavy loads over short spans
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
A. One Way Slab

 Depth:approx. 4% of span
(3” min.)
 Span: 6‟-12‟

 Points to Remember
 Every two edge supported
slabs are always one way.
 All cantilever slabs are one
way.
 Slab containing supports on
less than 4 sides can be
designed as a one way slab
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
A. One Way Slab
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
B. Two Way Slab

 Beam or wall supported on four sides i.e.

spanning on both directions

 A slab in which
 ratio of longer side direction to shorter side direction
will be less then 2. & also
 bending of slab takes in both direction

 Bay proportion: Nearly Square

 Depth: Slab perimeter/ 180 (4” min.)

CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
B. Two Way Slab
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems

Typical Details of
Two Way Slab
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
C. ONE WAY RIBBED SLAB:

 A one-way joist floor slab consists

of a series of small, reinforced
concrete T beams that are
connected with girders that in turn
carried by the building column

 T beams are known as joists which

are formed by setting steel pan at
a constant spacing.

 Used for light to medium loads

over medium spans (15‟-50‟)
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
C. ONE WAY RIBBED SLAB:

 Not as suitable for heavy

concentrated loads as one and two
way slabs

 Joists are flared at beam support

points for greater shear resistance
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
D. TWO WAY WAFFLE SLAB:
 A waffle slab or two-way joist slab is a concrete slab made of reinforced
concrete with concrete ribs running in two directions on its underside
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
D. TWO WAY WAFFLE SLAB:
 Used for large spans (25‟-60‟)
 May accommodate lighting and
mechanical systems within the
slab depth
 Gives better aesthetic view
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems

D. TWO WAY
WAFFLE SLAB:
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
E. TWO WAY FLAT SLAB:
 Supported by columns without beams
 Drop panels and column capitals help to
resist large loads
 Span : Up to 40‟
 Depth : Approx. 3% of span
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
E. TWO WAY FLAT SLAB:

Frank Lloyd Wright‟s Johnson Wax Administration Building

in Recine, Wisconsin, US (1936-39)
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
F. TWO WAY FLAT PLATE:
 Similar to the flat slab but
without drop panels or
column capitals
 Minimum construction depth
permits greater clear heights

 Simplified form work

 Depth: 5” to 14”

 Spans: Up to 35‟
CONCRETE FLOORS: Floor Systems
CONCRETE FLOORS:
REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS:
 Better resistance to damage by fire and
 Can safely support greater superimposed
loads.

MONOLITHIC REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS:

 Unbroken solid mass of 100 to 300 mm thick

 Cast in situ concrete reinforced with proper

reinforcing bars

 Temporary centering/ form work is used to

support wet concrete till it sets
CONCRETE FLOORS: MONOLITHIC REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS:
CONCRETE FLOORS: MONOLITHIC REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS:
 Reinforcement bars are laid over centering raised
about 15-20mm(called cover) by small concrete
blocks. This prevents
 Rusting of steel and
 Protection from fire.

 All reinforcements are tied with binding wires.

 Wet concrete is spread over centering and made

well compacted and leveled off

 From loads and span, thickness of concrete and

cross sectional area of steel is determined.
CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: Self-centering Concrete Floors
 Constructed with precast reinforced concrete beams
which are cast in the manufacturer‟s yard and are
delivered to the building site

 Once in position, they require no support other than

the bearing of their ends on walls or beams

 Self centering concrete floors are

used for:
 Fast and unobstructed building
construction.

 The construction periods

considerably shorter and generally
over all weight and cost is less.
CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: Self-centering Concrete Floors: Types
A. Hollow Beam Floor Units
 Rectangular in section are pre-cast.
 The width of beam is usually 355mm,
 depth 130-200 and
 length up to 5.5m.

 The concrete walls of these beams are 15 to

20 mm thick
 Not suitable for carrying very heavy
loads

 50 mm thick concrete is spread for load

distribution.
 It is lighter in weight than similar
monolithic concrete floor, but is deeper.
CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: Self-centering Concrete Floors: Types
B. Solid precast T section
beams with hollow lightweight
concrete infilling blocks

 Solid reinforced concrete

beams generally shaped like
an inverted „T‟ in section are
pre-cast in factory or yard.
CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: Self-centering Concrete Floors: Types
B. Solid precast T section beams with hollow
lightweight concrete infilling blocks
 The depth of beams varies 130-250mm,
 width 90 mm at bottom and
 length up to 6m.
 Placed at 270mm center to center
 Hollow pre-cast light weight infilling blocks are used
to reduce the weight of floor
 Sizes of blocks:
 width = 225, length = 225 or 300 and height = similar to beam

 Blocks are placed between the beams and finished

with 50 mm thick layer of concrete topping
 Its units can be handled by two men
CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: Self-centering Concrete Floors: Types
C. Situ-Cast Reinforced Concrete
And Terra Cotta Block Floor:

 Terra cotta means “earth burned”

 Sometimes called “fire resisting

reinforced concrete floor”.

 Constructed with situ-cast

reinforced concrete beams with
hollow terra cotta infilling blocks
cast in between the beams.
CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: Self-centering Concrete Floors: Types
C. Situ-Cast Reinforced Concrete And Terra
Cotta Block Floor:
 The blocks are made hollow to make them
light in weight
 It requires temporary supports

 To improve the fire resistance value of the

floor, pieces of burned clay tiles are placed
beneath the reinforcing bars of the beam.

 Concrete is poured and placed between

terra cotta blocks and spread 50mm thick
over top of the blocks for load distribution
CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: Self-centering Concrete Floors: Types
C. Situ-Cast Reinforced Concrete
And Terra Cotta Block Floor:

 Depth of the blocks, depth of the

finished floor and size & number
of reinforcing bars depend on the
super imposed loads and span.

 Now a day, it is less used

CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: UPPER FLOORS
CHAPTER 3: CONCRETE FLOORS: UPPER FLOORS
Next Class:
 CONCRETE STAIRS
 Precast and cast in situ concrete stairs
 Types and constructions

Have a good day.