04/05/2019 Minimum Thickness of Concrete Slab, Beam, Column, Foundation
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Minimum Thickness of Concrete Slab, Beam, C
Foundation
Minimum thickness of concrete slab, beam, column, foundation and other structural memb
the design requirements as per standard codes. Minimum thickness of concrete structural e
318-14, IRC 2009, IS 456 2000, and UBC 1997 is presented.
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Design process includes proper assumption of structural element sizes and then check the s
make sure that it meets the requirements of the design.
If proper structural dimension is not assumed, then the design would be time consuming an
considerable effort since substantial trials will be involved till satisfactory dimensions are s
That is why majority of codes provide minimum dimensions and specifically thicknesses fo
elements.
1. Minimum Thickness of Slabs
1.1 Minimum thickness of One-way slab
ACI 318-14 provides suggested minimum thickness for one-way solid slab, as provided in Ta
deflections are calculated.
Table 1 minimum thickness of one-way solid slab unless deflections are calculated
Minimum thickness, h
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04/05/2019 Minimum Thickness of Concrete Slab, Beam, Column, Foundation
Simply supported One end continuous Both end continuous
Members not supporting or attached to partitions or other construction likely to be damaged by
l/20 l/24 l/28
Notes: Values given shall be used directly for members with normal weight concrete and Gr
reinforcement. For other conditions, the values shall be modified as follows:
a) For lightweight concrete having equilibrium density (wc) in the range of 1440 to 1840 kg/
multiplied by (1.65 – 0.0003wc) but not less than 1.09.
b) For fy other than 420 MPa, the values shall be multiplied by (0.4 + fy/700).
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Fig.1: one way slab thickness
1.2 Minimum thickness of Ribbed slab
ACI 318-14 recommend the same value of non-prestressed beams as provided in Table 2. Un
(UBC) specified minimum thickness of ribbed slab to be 1/12 distance between ribs or 51mm
Fig.2: Ribbed one way slab
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Slab thickness with embedded conduits and pipes
UBC recommended minimum thickness of slabs with embedded conduits and pipes to be
overall depth of conduits or pipes.
ACI 318-14 specify that, conduits and pipes shall not be larger in outside dimension than
of slab, wall, or beam in which they are embedded
1.3 Minimum thickness of Slab on the ground
UBC recommends minimum thickness of Concrete floor slabs supported directly on the grou
whereas BCGBC4010A – Apply structural principles to residential low-rise constructions det
thickness to be 100mm.
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Fig.3: slab on ground
1.4 Minimum thickness of Diaphragms
UBC recommend concrete slab and composite topping slab serving as structural diaphragm
earthquake forces to be 50mm.
1.5 Minimum thickness of Two-way slab
ACI 318-14 provided recommendations to determine minimum thickness of slabs (including
slabs, flat plates) that can be found here (https://theconstructor.org/structural-engg/minimu
slab-aci-318-deflection/15043/).
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Fig.4: Two way slab
1.6 Minimum thickness of Drop panel
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sometimes drop panels used at top of columns to improve shear strength of slabs. The minim
panels shall be quarter of slab thickness beyond the drop.
2. Minimum Thickness of Beams
ACI 318-14 provides suggested minimum thickness for non-prestressed beams, as provide
deflections are calculated.
Canadian Standard Association CSA provides similar table except for one end continuous
Table 2 minimum thickness of non-prestressed beams unless deflections are calculate
Minimum thickness, h
Simply supported One end continuous Both end continuous
Members not supporting or attached to partitions or other construction likely to be damaged by
l/16 l/18.5 l/21
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04/05/2019 Minimum Thickness of Concrete Slab, Beam, Column, Foundation
Notes: Values given shall be used directly for members with normal weight concrete and Gr
reinforcement. For other conditions, the values shall be modified as follows:
a) For lightweight concrete having equilibrium density (wc) in the range of 1440 to 1840 kg/
multiplied by (1.65 – 0.0003wc) but not less than 1.09.
b) For fy other than 420 MPa, the values shall be multiplied by (0.4 + fy/700).
The depth of beam can also be estimated based on span/depth ratio. IS 456 2000 provides sp
control deflection of beam as provided in Table 3.
Table 3: Span to depth ratio based on the span and type of beams, IS 456 2000
Beam span Beam type Span
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Simply supported 20
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Up to 10m Cantilever 7
Continuous 26
Simply supported 20*10/span
Greater than 10m Cantilever –
Continuous 26*10/span
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04/05/2019 Minimum Thickness of Concrete Slab, Beam, Column, Foundation
Fig.4: Reinforced concrete beam thickness,
h
3. Minimum Thickness of Columns
Dimensions of columns is based on the requirements of the design and several shapes can b
columns such as square, rectangular, trapezoidal, cylinders, and others.
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Fig.5: Column dimensions
4. Minimum Thickness of Walls
4.1 Bearing walls
UBC recommends minimum thickness of bearing wall to 1/25 supported height or length wh
not less than 102mm.
4.2 Exterior basement wall and Foundation wall
UBC specified minimum thickness of exterior basement wall and foundation wall to be 1
The same value is recommended by International Residential Code (IRC 2009) for founda
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04/05/2019 Minimum Thickness of Concrete Slab, Beam, Column, Foundation
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Fig.6: wall thickness
5. Minimum Thickness of Footings
Footing on soil
The minimum depth for footing on soil is advised to be 150mm.
Footing on pile
The minimum depth for footing on pile is recommended to be 300mm
Plain concrete structural footing
The minimum thickness for plain concrete structural footing is suggested by ACI 318-14 and
same value is suggested by UBC. It shall be known that plain structural footing is not suitabl
of piles.
Raft foundation
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04/05/2019 Minimum Thickness of Concrete Slab, Beam, Column, Foundation
The minimum thickness of raft foundation is 300mm.
Fig.7: Footing thickness
6. Minimum Thickness of Other Concrete Members
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Table 4: minimum thickness for other structural elements
Structural Element
Pile cap
Levelling concrete below liquid retaining structures
Levelling concrete for other RCC foundations
Underground pit / reservoir (below ground water table) walls and slab
Underground pit (above water table) walls and slab
Parapet wall
Chajja
Cable / pipe trench walls and base slab
Precast trench cover
Insert plate
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04/05/2019 Minimum Thickness of Concrete Slab, Beam, Column, Foundation
Corner angle
Madeh
Izat
Hamakareem
About Madeh Izat Hamakareem
(https://theconstructor.org/author/madeh/
Madeh is a Structural Engineer who works as Assistant Lecturer in Koya University. He is the au
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at theconstructor.org.
Comments ( 7 )
Techoscapes International. (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Techoscapes-International/5660
Jul 19, 2014 at 11:17 (https://theconstructor.org/tips/thickness-concrete-slab-beam-column-footing/7452/#
Nice one.
Immanuel Bulus (https://www.facebook.com/immanuel.bulus)
Jul 4, 2014 at 07:41 (https://theconstructor.org/tips/thickness-concrete-slab-beam-column-footing/7452/#c
copied, thank you
Anas Khan (https://www.facebook.com/anas.gullo)
Feb 13, 2014 at 16:14 (https://theconstructor.org/tips/thickness-concrete-slab-beam-column-footing/7452/
https://theconstructor.org/tips/thickness-concrete-slab-beam-column-footing/7452/?fbclid=IwAR07iInwWJSlPB_SMuPlIdPSdCqLSTJqVdRHcbxr… 9/10
04/05/2019 Minimum Thickness of Concrete Slab, Beam, Column, Foundation
great work
Waheed Ghiasi (https://www.facebook.com/eng.waheed.ahmad)
May 9, 2013 at 09:24 (https://theconstructor.org/tips/thickness-concrete-slab-beam-column-footing/7452/
very good thank u.
Sarvesh Gupta (https://www.facebook.com/sarveshcraftone)
Mar 21, 2013 at 04:22 (https://theconstructor.org/tips/thickness-concrete-slab-beam-column-footing/7452
thnks
Ajay Jain (https://www.facebook.com/rissabg)
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Mar 20, 2013 at 06:24 (https://theconstructor.org/tips/thickness-concrete-slab-beam-column-footing/7452
depends upon loading conditions.
Sushil Kumar (https://www.facebook.com/people/Sushil-Kumar/100001176945893)
Mar 19, 2013 at 18:16 (https://theconstructor.org/tips/thickness-concrete-slab-beam-column-footing/7452
Concrete thickness
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