7.3.

3 Excessive vibration
Excessive vibration due to fluctuating loads that may cause discomfort or alarm to occupants, either
from people or machinery, should be avoided. For a building floor structure with the natural
frequency less than 6 Hz, or a footbridge superstructure with the natural frequency less than 5 Hz, a
dynamic analysis may be desirable.
Note: For further guidance reference should be made to specialist literature.

7.3.4 Limiting deflection without direct calculation (deemed-to-satisfy)

7.3.4.1 General
Generally, it is not necessary to calculate the deflections explicitly as simple rules, for example limits
to span-to-depth ratio may be formulated, which will be adequate for avoiding deflection problems in
normal circumstances. More rigorous checks are necessary for members which lie outside such
limits, or where deflection limits other than those implicit in simplified methods are appropriate.
7.3.4.2 Span to effective depth ratio
Provided that reinforced concrete beams or slabs in buildings are dimensioned so that they comply
with the limits of span-to-depth ratio given in table 7.3, their deflections may be considered as not
exceeding the limits set out in clause 7.3.1. No allowance has been made for any pre-camber in the
derivation of these limits.
Flanged beam One or two-way
Rectangular
Support condition spanning solid
beam bw/b ≤ 0.3
slab
Cantilever 7 5.5 7
Simply-supported 20 16 20
Continuous 26 21 26

End span 23 18.5 23(2)

Notes:
1. The values given have been chosen to be generally conservative and calculation may
frequently show that shallower sections are possible.
2. The value of 23 is appropriate for two-way spanning slab if it is continuous over one long
side.
3. For two-way spanning slabs the check should be carried out on the basis of the shorter span.
Table 7.3 - Basic span/effective depth ratio for reinforced concrete sections

7.3.4.3 Long spans

For spans exceeding 10 m, table 7.3 should be used only if it is not necessary to limit the increase in
deflection after the construction of partitions and finishes. Where limitation is necessary, the values
in table 7.3 should be multiplied by 10/span except for cantilevers where the design should be
justified by calculation.
7.3.4.4 Modification of span/depth ratios for tension reinforcement
Deflection is influenced by the amount of tension reinforcement and its stress. The span/effective
depth ratio should therefore be modified according to the ultimate design moment and the service
stress at the centre of the span (or at the support in the case of a cantilever). Values of
span/effective depth ratio obtained from table 7.3 should be multiplied by the appropriate factor
obtained from table 7.4.

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