FLOORS

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Contents
1. Floors as a component of building:
- Definition and need in a building
- Requirements of good floors what purposes they should serve
2. Components of floors:
- Floor system
- Flooring material
3. Classification of floors: basic understanding:
- Construction of Ground floors
- Construction of Upper floors
4. Classification of floors based on construction materials and structural systems
- Concreter floors: cast in situ and precast
- Steel floors
- Wood floors
- Composite floors

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Floor as a component of a building

Floor systems are buildings primary horizontal planes, which must

support both live loads and dead loads. (The weight of the floor
construction it self)

Floor system must transfer their loads horizontally across space to

either beams or columns or to bearing walls.

The depth of a floor system is directly related to the size and

proportion of the structural bays it must span and the strength of
the material used.

The size and placement of any cantilevers and openings within the
floor plane should also be considered in the floor layout of a floor
systems structural supports.

A floor systems edge conditions and connections to supporting

foundation and wall systems affect both a buildings structural
integrity an its physical appearance.
B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Floor as a component of a building

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Essential / functional requirements of floor

Stability

Strength

Prevention of passage of moisture/ damp resistance

Durability

Fire resistance

Thermal properties/insulation

Resistance to sound transmission and sound absorption

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Essential / functional requirements of floor

Stability
A floor is designed and constructed to serve as a horizontal surface to
support people and their equipment etc.

The floor should have stiffness to remain reasonably stable and

horizontal under the live load, dead load of the floor structure and
other fixture.

The floor structure should accommodate If services are provided, like

electricity water etc. without affecting its stability. The stability of such
floors depends on characteristics of the soil under it.

Strength
The strength of the floor depends on the characteristics of the
materials used for the structure of the floor Such as timber steel or
concrete.
The floor structure must be strong enough to safely support the dead
load of the floor and finishes, fixtures, partitions and other services.
B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Essential / functional requirements of floor

Prevention of passage of moisture/ damp resistance
The ground floor of the building will tend to encourage moisture
from the ground below to raise and make the floor damp and feel
cold and uncomfortable.

Durability
Ground or upper floors are adequately constructed and protected
inside a sound envelop of walls and roofs, should be durable for the
expected life of the building and required maintenance and repair.
Fire resistance
Floors should be constructed to provide resistance to fire for a
period adequate for the escape of the occupants from the buildings.

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Essential / functional requirements of floor

Thermal properties/insulation
A floor should provide resistance to transfer of heat where there is
normally significant air temperature difference on the opposite sides
of the floor. Resistance to sound transmission and sound
absorption
Floor should act as a barrier to the transmission of airborne sound and
reduce impact sound.
Prevention of passage of moisture/ damp resistance
The ground floor of the building will tend to encourage moisture from
the ground below to raise and make the floor damp and feel cold and
uncomfortable.

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Components of a floor:

A floor is composed of two essential components:

(1) sub-floor, base floor or floor base
(2) floor covering or flooring

The floor base is a structural component, which supports the floor

covering. For the ground floors, the object of floor base is to give
proper support to the covering so that it does not settle, and to
provide damp resistance and thermal insulation.

The floor covering is the top most finish applied on floor base to
provide even surface with required aesthetics functional quality.

Classification of floors
Construction of floors can be broadly understood as :
-

Construction of Ground floors

Construction of Upper floors

Ground floors may either rest directly on the ground, or may be

supported at a little distance above the ground .

The floors supported directly on the ground are known as solid

floors while the floors supported above the ground level are called
suspended floors.
The upper floors can be constructed with the different materials and
structural systems.

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Materials used for the construction of ground floor base are:

1. Plain Cement Concrete (PCC)
2. Lime Concrete
3. Stones
4. Bricks
5. wooden blocks (For wooden flooring only)

Typical details for a solid ground floor base:

The floor base for a solid

ground floor is shown in
the figure.

The lowest layer, just above ground surface is that of compacted earth fill.
The second layer may either of lean cement concrete or of bricks or stones
arranged and packed properly.
The third layer cement concrete is more common since it gives proper rigidity to
the floor base.

Over the third layer of floor base, floor finish or flooring is laid.

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Suspended timber ground floor:

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Floor system for the construction of upper floors:

Concreter floors:
cast in situ and precast
Steel floors
Wood floors
Composite floors

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Concrete Floor Systems

Cast in situ concrete floor slabs are classified according to their

span and cast form.
Precast concrete planks may be supported by beams or load
bearing walls.

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Steel

Steel beams support steel decking or precast concrete planks.

Beams may be supported by girders, columns, or load bearing walls.
Beam framing is typically an integral part of a steel Skelton frame
system.
Closely spaced light-gauge or open-web joists may be supported by
beams or load-bearing walls.
Steel decking or wood planks have relatively short span.
Joists have limited overhang potential.

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Steel frame construction

for floors

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Wood

Wood beams support structural planking or decking.

Beams may be supported by girders, post or load bearing walls.
Concentrated loads and floor openings may require additional
framing.
Underside of floor structure may be left exposed, an applied ceiling
may be optional
Relatively small, closely spaced joists may be supported by beams
or load bearing walls.
Subflooring, underlayment, and applied ceiling finishes have
relatively short spans.
Joist framing is flexible is shape and form.

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010

Image references:

http://www.ez-build.com/products.html
http://www.infolink.com.au/odin/images/232668/Structural-Steel-Beams-and-Steel-Flooring-Systems-by-Spantec-Systems232668.jpg
http://www.stratco.com.au/products/steel_framing/types/tuffloor/images/gallery/G%20Stratco%20Tuffloor%20flooring%20
system.jpg

Literature References

B.Arch.II. Sem.III. B.M.C.III.July-Dec 2010