Flat Slab Floor System : Definition & Description

09 December 2014
A flat slab is a two-way reinforced concrete slab that usually does not have beams and girders,
and the loads are transferred directly to the supporting concrete columns.

The column tends to punch through the slab in Flat Slabs, which can be treated by three methods:
a. Using a drop panel and a column capital in flat slab
b. Using a drop panel without a column capital in flat slab
c. Using a column capital without drop panel in flat slab

Uses of column heads :

Shear strength of flat slab is increased by using column heads.

Column heads reduce the clear or effective span, and therefore, reduce the moment in the
flat slab floor

Uses of drop panels :

Drop panels increase shear strength of flat slab floor.

Drop panels increase flat slab's negative moment capacity.

Drop panels reduce deflection by stiffening the flat slabs.

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What is a flat slab?

a reinforced concrete slab supported directly by concrete columns without the use of beams

Uses of column heads:

increase shear strength of slab
reduce the moment in the slab by reducing the clear or effective span

Uses of drop panels:

increase shear strength of slab
increase negative moment capacity of slab
stiffen the slab and hence reduce deflection

BENEFITS
Flexibility in room layout
Saving in building height
Shorter construction time
Ease of installation of M&E services
Prefabricated welded mesh
Buildable score
FLEXIBILITY IN ROOM LAYOUT
allows Architect to introduce partition walls anywhere required
allows owner to change the size of room layout
allows choice of omitting false ceiling and finish soffit of slab with skim coating

SAVING IN BUILDING HEIGHT

Lower storey height will reduce building weight due to lower partitions and cladding to faade
approx. saves 10% in vertical members
reduce foundation load

SHORTER CONSTRUCTION TIME

SINGLE SOFFIT LEVEL

Simplified the table formwork needed

EASE OF INSTALLATION OF M&E SERVICES
all M & E services can be mounted directly on the underside of the slab instead of bending them to avoid the
beams

avoids hacking through beams

PRE-FABRICATED WELDED MESH
Prefabricated in standard sizes
Minimised installation time
Better quality control

BUILDABLE SCORE
allows standardized structural members and prefabricated sections to be integrated into the design for ease of
construction
this process will make the structure more buildable, reduce the number of site workers and increase the
productivity at site
more tendency to achieve a higher Buildable score

Flat Slab Floor System.

A flat slab is a one-way or two-way system with thickenings in the slab at the columns and load bearing walls called drop panels Figure 9. Drop panels
act as T-beams over the supports. They increase the shear capacity and the stiffness of the floor system under vertical loads, thus increasing the
economical span range. This form of construction has become less popular in recent years because of the limit on economical spans of about 9.5 m for
reinforced slabs and about 12 m for prestressed slabs. Reinforced flat slabs may need to be sensibly pre-cambered (not overdone) to control deflection.

he principal features of a flat slab floor are a flat soffit, simple formwork and easy construction. The economical span L of a reinforced concrete flat
slab is approximately D x 28 for simply supported, D x 32 for an end span and D x 36 for an interior span. Prestressing the slab increases the
economical span to D x 35, D x 40 and D x 45 respectively, where D is
the depth of the slab excluding the drop panel.

Various Flat Slab Systems

Advantages and Disadvantages of Flat Slabs

Advantages:

Simple formwork

No beamssimplifying under-floor services outside the drops

Minimum structural depth

Usually does not require shear reinforcement at the columns.

Disadvantages:

Medium spans

Generally not suitable for supporting brittle (masonry) partitions

Drop panels may interfere with larger mechanical ducting

Vertical penetrations need to avoid area around columns

For reinforced flat slabs, deflection at the middle strip may be critical.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Flat Slabs

09 December 2014
A flat slab is a two-way reinforced concrete slab that usually does not have beams and girders, and the loads are transferred directly
to the supporting concrete columns.
For more detailed definition: Flat Slab Floor System : Definition & Description

Advantages of Flat Slab

Flat Slabs are used by engineers in many building due to its advantages over other reinforced concrete floor system in different cases. The
most important advantages of flat slabs are given below:

Flexibility in room layout.

Partition walls can be placed anywhere.

Offers a variety of room layout to the owner.

False ceiling can be omitted.

Reinforcement placement is easier.

As reinforcement detailing of flat slab is simple, it is easier to place

Ease of Framework installation.

Big table framework can be used in flat slab

Building height can be reduced.

As no beam is used, floor height can be reduced and

consequently the building height will be reduced.

Approximately 10% in the vertical member could be saved

Foundation load will also reduce.

Less construction time.

Use of big table framework helps to reduce construction time

Prefabricated welded mesh.

Standard sizes

Less installation time

Better quality control.

Auto sprinkler is easier.

Disdvantages of Flat Slab

Flat slabs have some disadvantages also. The major disadvantages are given below.

Span length is medium.

In flat plate system, it is not possible to have large span.

2
3
4

Not suitable for supporting brittle (masonry) partitions

Use of drop panels may interfere with larger mechanical
ducting
Critical middle strip deflection
In flat slabs, the middle strip deflection may be critical.

Higher slab thickness

Compared to typical reinforced concrete two way slab system, the thickness
of flat plat slabs are higher.