FLAT SLABS

Also known as beamless slab.

Type of construction in which floor slab is directly supported on columns without beams.
Provided in buildings where spans are large and beams would become very heavy.
TYPES OF FLAT SLAB
CONSTRUCTION

1. Simple flat slab

2. Flat slab with drop panels
3. Flat slab with column heads
4. Flat slab with both drop panels
and column heads
FLAT PLATE SYSTEM
A flat plate is a concrete slab of uniform thickness reinforced in two or more directions and
supported directly on over columns without beams.
• Simplicity in formwork
• Lower floor to floor heights
• Some flexibility in column placement make flat plates practical for apartment and hotel
construction.
• Slab depth; span/33
• Suitable for light live to moderate loads relatively short spans of 12’ to 24’(3.6 to 7m)
• Shear at column locations governs the thickness of a flat plate.
FLAT PLATE CONSTRUCTION FLAT SLAB CONSTRUCTION
FLAT SLAB CONSTRUCTION
FLAT SLAB SYSTEM

•A flat slab is a flat plate thickened at its column supports to increase its shear strength and
moment resisting capacity.
•6” to 12”(150 to 305) typical slab depth.
•Rule of thumb for slab depth: span /36
•Drop panel is the portion of a flat slab thickened around column head to increase its resistance
to shear.
•Minimum projection of drop panel= 0.25x slab thickness
•Minimum width of drop panel=0.33xspan
•Column capital may be used in place of or in conjunction with a drop panel for increased shear
resistance.
•Suitable for relatively heavy loads and spans from 20’to 40’.(6to 12m)
ADVANTAGES
Engineers very often use flat slabs in the building because of its advantages over reinforced
concrete floor system
1. Flexibility in room layout – where the installation of the partition walls can be done anywhere.
So, the final look of the room layout is what the owner likes the best. Use of flat slab allows
choice of omitting false ceiling and finish soffit of slab with skim coating.

2. Easier reinforcement placement –

detailing of reinforcement on flat slab is
simple, and easier to place.

3. Easier formwork installation- in flat

slab can be used a big table framework.
Less construction time needed because
of the big table frameworks used.
4. Building height can be reduced- As no beam is used, floor height can be reduced and
consequently the building height will be reduced.

• Saving in Building Height

• Lower storey height will reduce
building weight due to lower
partitions and cladding to façade
• Approximately saves 10% in
vertical members
• Reduced foundation load
5. Ease of Installation of Services
All Mechanical & Electrical services can be mounted directly on the underside of the slab instead
of bending them to avoid the beams.
6. Better appearance
7. Structurally economical
 POINTERS
i. RCC slab 130mm or more in thickness, supported on RCC columns.
ii. RCC columns arranged in such a manner that they form a square panels.
iii. The size of the panel should not exceed 9m x 9m.
iv. There must be at least 3 rows in 2 directions at right angles.
v. The ratio of length to breadth of a panel should not be more than 4:3.
vi. The length and breadth of any two adjacent panels should not differ by more than
10% of the greater length.
vii. Sometimes instead of providing uniform thickness of slab, a portion of slab is
thickened symmetrically around the column. This is called DROP.
viii. At their head, 40mm below the drop, columns are enlarged to form diameter=
0.21 to 0.25 of the span, this is called CAPITAL.
Column Strip means a design strip having a
width of 0.25L1 or 0.25L2, whichever is less.
The remaining middle portion which is bound
by the column strips is called middle strip.
\A2;5885
\A2;6000
\A2;6000
\A2;5885
\A2;5885
\A2;6000
\A2;6000 3000X3000X100 drop panel

Specifications
\A2;3000
1500X1500 column capital
\A2;3000
\A2;1500 500X500 column
\A2;1500
\A2;500
12 mm bars @ 150 mm c/c both ways as drop panel reinforcement
\A2;500 8 nos. 12 mm bars as capital reinforcement
\A2;3230
\A2;2190 16 mm bent up bars @150 mm c/c both ways
\A2;5885 16 mm alternate bent up bars @150 mm c/c both ways
\A2;6000
\A2;5885 8 nos. 12 mm bars as capital reinforcement
\A2;3000
8 mm dia stirrups at 100 mm c/c
\A2;4100
\A2;4100 1500X1500 column capital
\A2;4100
\A2;4100
500X500 column
\A2;100 200 mm thick r.c.c slab
\A2;500
5 3000X3000 drop panel
5 16 mm bent up bars @150 mm c/c both ways
5
5 16 mm alternate bent up bars @150 mm c/c both ways
5
8 nos. 16 mm dia bars column reinforcement
5
5 8 mm dia stirrups @200 c/c
5
5
12 mm bars @ 150 mm c/c both ways as drop panel reinforcement
5 5
5
5 5
5 PLAN OF TYPICAL BAY SHOWING SCHEMATIC LAYOUT OF REINFORCEMENT 1:50
5
5 SECTION THROUGH MIDDLE STRIP 1:20
5
SECTION THROUGH COLUMN STRIP 1:20
5
5 PLAN OF DROP PANEL SHOWING REINFORCEMENT 1:20
5
5
VIEW OF REINFORCEMENT LAYOUT IN COLUMN STRIP 1:20
5 STRUCTURAL KEY SECTION 1:20
5
5 SECTION THROUGH MIDDLE STRIP 1:20