SLABS:

WAFFLE SLAB, LIFT-SLAB,

FLAT SLAB

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► Waffle slabs provide a lighter and stiffer slab than an equivalent flat slab, reducing the extend
of foundations. They provide a very good form where slab vibration is an issue, such as
laboratories and hospitals for medium spans(10 m).
► Waffle slabs have a thin topping slab and narrow ribs spanning in both directions between
column heads or band beams.
► Standard moulds are 225, 325 and 425 mm deep and are used with toppings between 50 and
150 mm thick. The ribs are 125 mm wide on a 900 mm grid.
► A waffle slab, giving added strength in both directions.
► These slabs are allowed to be constructed as a series of ribs cast in situ with left in blocks
and top of the ribs connected by the concrete of lower strength, with the topping not expected
to contribute to the structural strength.
► Thus, certain type of grid slabs can also be considered as voided slabs or coffered slab.

WAFFLE SLABS
• Relatively light, therefore less foundation costs and longer spans are economic
• Speed of construction
• Fairly slim floor depths
• Robustness
• Excellent vibration control
• Thermal mass
• Good for services integration
• Durable finishes
• Fire resistance

BENEFITS
waffle-slab-construction without band beams

waffle-slab-construction

waffle-slab-construction with band beams

waffle-slab-
construction

WASHINGTON DC SUBWAY

waffles
 ► The standing committee assembly hall was
constructed as third floor of an existing two
storey office building of Rajkot Municipal
Corporation.
► Roof for the hall is a two way grid waffle
slab. Plan dimension is 20 m x 20 m. Waffle
grid size is 1.8 m x 1.8 m. Slab thickness is
80 mm and beam size is 230 mm x 900 mm.
► Interesting technical feature of the hall is
that it was constructed above an existing two
storey masonry load bearing structure.

STANDING COMMITTEE ASSEMBLY HALL FOR

RAJKOT MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
► Slabs which are directly supported by columns are called flat
slabs.
► The column head is some times widened so as to reduce the
punching shear in the slab. The widened portions are called
column heads.
► The column heads may be provided with any angle from the
consideration of architecture but for the design, concrete in the
portion at 45º on either side of vertical only is considered as
effective for the design.
► Moments in the slabs are more near the column. Hence the slab is
thickened near the columns by providing the drops.

FLAT SLAB CONSTRUCTION

 SLAB WITHOUT
DROP & COLUMN
WITH COLUMN
HEAD

SLAB WITHOUT DROP & COLUMN HEAD

SLAB WITH DROP & COLUMN HEAD

SLAB WITH DROP & COLUMN WITHOUT COLUMN HEAD

► Allows architect to introduce partition walls anywhere required
► Allows owner to change the size of room layout
► Lower storey height will reduce building weight due to lower
partitions and cladding to façade
► Approx. Saves 10% in vertical members
► Reduce foundation load
► All M & E services can be mounted directly on the underside of
the slab instead of bending them to avoid the beams

BENEFITS
► A method of constructing reinforced concrete
buildings by casting the post-tensioned floor or
roof slab on top of the previous slab or ground and
then raising (jacking) the slab up with hydraulic Campus (lift slab
jacks, so being cheaper and faster as not requiring construction, 1952),
boxing and supports for casting in situ. Trinity University
► Although there are various different methods, the
one that has been used most, involves steel
columns, jacks placed on top of the columns to lift
the slabs, and threaded lifting rods connected to the
jacks and to steel lifting collars cast into each of the
concrete slabs.
LIFT SLAB CONSTRUCTION
► The unique features of lift slab buildings outside of the
fact that the slabs are lifted into place are the lifting
collars which also act as shear heads to transfer forces
from the slabs to the columns, and the connections of
the lifting collars to the steel columns. The support of
the lifting collars is provided by wedges bearing on
the edges of plates (called weld blocks) which are
welded to the flanges of the columns. There are two
connections on each column, one on each flange. Hotel tower in portland, maine.
When the slab reaches its final position, the wedges
are welded to the lifting collar, column, and weld
block.

LIFT SLAB CONSTRUCTION

 Detail at bottom of steel
lifting collar. Slab
temporarily parked.
One of two lifting rods is
shown on left.

Wedge
welded to
weld
block,
column,
and lifting
collar.
Section through lifting collar and
column flange showing connections of
lifting collar to the column flange.
► Lift-slab construction shall be designed and planned by a registered professional
engineer who has experience in lift-slab construction.
► Jacks/lifting units shall be marked to indicate their rated capacity as established by the
manufacturer(shall be capable of supporting at least two and one-half times the load
being lifted).
► Jacking shall be synchronized in such a manner to ensure even and uniform lifting of
the slab. During lifting, all points at which the slab is supported shall be kept within 1/2
inch of that needed to maintain the slab in a level position.
► When making temporary connections to support slabs, wedges shall be secured by tack
welding, or an equivalent method of securing the wedges to prevent them from falling
out of position. Lifting rods may not be released until the wedges at that column have
been secured.
► Load transfer from jacks/lifting units to building columns shall not be executed until the
welds on the column shear plates (weld blocks) are cooled to air temperature.

REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFT-SLAB CONSTRUCTION

JACK FOR LIFT SLAB CONSTRUCTION