Concrete slabs form the foundation of any residential building. They give stability and strength to your home. Many residential apartments do not last long because of the weak foundation and base. While constructing a home, many homeowners do not have an idea about the slab thickness. They choose the thin slab and it makes the building weak.
The standard thickness of the concrete slab for residential houses is about 4 inches. The slabs above 4 inches can put a heavy load on the buildings. But many commercial buildings have 6-inch concrete slabs.
There are 2 kinds of concrete slabs. They are one-way slab and two-way slab. The computation process of both kinds of slabs is different. Let us have a look at different factors that you would need to count while calculating the thickness of concrete slabs.
1. Shear Force - Before selecting the slab, you have to find out whether it can bear shear force or not. You can look at a few things like one-way shear, uniform load, and two-way punching shear to know the thickness of the concrete slab.
2. Deflection - Deflection is the requirement while selecting the thickness of the slab. ACI code helps you to set limitations on the thickness of the slab.
3. Fire Resistance Capacity - You should also see how the concrete slab works in case of a fire outbreak. Some slabs catch heat faster than others. You have to consider the fire rating of the floor. It will give you an idea about the slab’s capacity to catch fire.
Normally, the construction of homes needs concrete slabs of 4 inches. But if you want to build a commercial complex, motor homes, or garage, you will need slabs with a thickness of 6 to 7 inches. The larger buildings put more load on the slabs and so, you need heavy slabs for bigger apartments and structures.
You can get the best quotes online for residential concrete slabs Melbourne from good builders by filling an online form.