Practical Design of Slabs on Grade

ASCE Web Seminar

Presented by Alexander Newman, P.E.

Copyright © 2014—2017 Alexander Newman

All rights reserved.
Reproduction of this material without a written permission
of the copyright holder is a violation of the U.S. law
1

Agenda
 Introduction
 Types of slabs on grade
 Joints
 Plain and reinforced floors on ground
 Selecting slab thickness
 Structural design of slabs on grade
 Vapor retarders
 Slab finish tolerances
 Surface treatments
 Conclusion, final Q & A
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 Introduction

 General Types of Floor Structures

 Slabs on grade – our focus
 Structural slabs with deep foundations

 The Role of Slabs on Grade in Buildings

 Carry uniform and concentrated loads to soil
 Support concentrated or moving loads
 Sometimes, act as lateral-load transfer devices
 Provide solid support for floor coverings
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Introduction
 Some References for Design of Slabs on Grade
 ACI 360R, Guide to Design of Slabs-on-Ground
 ACI 302.1R-15 and -04, Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab
Construction
 PCA EB075, Concrete Floors on Ground
 Ringo and Anderson, Designing Floor Slabs on Grade
 UFC 3-320-06A (former TM 5-809-12), Concrete Floor Slabs on
Grade Subjected to Heavy Loads
 Alexander Newman, Foundation and Anchor Design Guide for
Metal Building Systems, McGraw-Hill, 2013
 ASCE webinar Renovation of Slabs on Grade

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4
None of these are referenced in IBC
 Introduction
 Common Components of Slabs on Grade
 These are discussed below…

5
5

Types of Slabs on Grade

 Classes of Floors per ACI 302.1R-15 Table 4.1
 Some designations changed from ACI 302.1R-04 Table 2.1
 Single course
 Class 1, Exposed. Foot traffic (for commercial, inst’l,
multi-unit residential); normal steel-troweled finish
 Class 2, Covered. Same as Class 1, but with light-troweled
finish

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 Types of Slabs on Grade
 Classes of Floors per ACI 302.1R, Cont’d
 Single course, Cont’d
 Class 4, Industrial/Commercial. Exposed or covered
surface. Foot and light vehicular traffic; normal steel-
troweled finish
 Class 5, Industrial. Exposed. Pneumatic and “moderately
soft” solid wheels; hard-troweled finish
 Class 6, Heavy Industrial. Exposed. Hard wheels, heavy
wheel loads, possible impact; surface hardener*, repeated
hard troweling
7
7 *Discussion on toppings follows

Types of Slabs on Grade

 Classes of Floors per ACI 302.1R, Cont’d
 Two-course
 Class 3, Topping. Exposed or covered surface. Unbonded
(3” min.) or bonded (3/4” min.) topping. Not for industrial.
 Class 7, Heavy Industrial. Exposed. Bonded 2-course with
¾”-min. topping. Hard wheels, heavy wheel loads,
possible impact; hard-troweled finish
 Class 8, Commercial/Industrial Topping. Unbonded
topping (4” min.), traffic and troweling as in classes 4, 5, 6
 Class 9, Critical Surface Profile [superflat slabs]
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8
 Types of Slabs on Grade
 But These Slabs Are Only As Good As the Soil

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9
TM 5-624

Joints
 What They Do
 ACI 302.1R-15 Sec. 5.2.9: “to limit the frequency and width of
random cracks caused by volume changes” and to reduce
curling.
 Main idea: Isolate slab from any restraint
 Must be of proper construction to be effective

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10
 Joints
 Can Joints in Slabs on Grade Be Avoided?
 The more joints…
= more maintenance
= more construction cost
 ACI 318-14 Comm. R14.3.4.1 (in chapter on plain concrete)
says: “Where random cracking due to creep, shrinkage, and
temperature effects will not affect structural integrity and is
otherwise acceptable (such as transverse cracks in a
continuous wall footing), transverse contraction or isolation
joints should not be necessary.”

11

Joints
 Joints in Slabs on Grade
 Open and close with changes in T
 Reduce by placing S.O.G. after building is enclosed

12 USACE TM 5-809-1 Concrete Floor Slabs On Grade

Subjected To Heavy Loads
 Joints
 Isolation Joints in Slabs on Grade
 Place at points of restraint (columns, walls, eq’t found., sumps)
 Diamond or round shape in plan
 Need preformed compressible filler
 Can add sealant to protect from floor-washing water, debris

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Joints
 Isolation Joints: Examples of Improper Details

 No filler
 No intersecting joint …

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 Joints
 Construction Joints in Slabs on Grade
 Common devices: Dowels, keys, plates
 ACI 360R-10: Do not use keys w/wheeled traffic

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Joints
 Control (Contraction) Joints
 Typ., at column lines + between
 Joints must align, not stop or be offset
 Aspect ratio: 1:1 best, max. 1.5:1
 Avoid L-shaped panels, re-entrant corners
Source: ACI 302.1R

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 Joints
 Control (Contraction) Joints, Cont’d
 Making them: Sawcut (best for large slabs), or zip-out strips,
or hand-tool
 Most effective: early-entry dry-cut saws (> 1 hrs after
finishing in hot weather, 4 hrs in cold)
 Min. depth = t/4 or 1”
 Use 1” min. for early-entry dry-cut saws for t < 9”

 Hot, dry, windy conditions encourage random cracking

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Joints
 Contraction Joints in Industrial Floors
 Hard wheels? Joints should be as narrow as possible
 Fill w/semirigid epoxy as late as possible

 Otherwise…

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 Joints
 Prevent Spalled Joint Edges by Hard Wheels

(a) Poor support by elastomeric filler

(b) Overly rigid filler, incapable of movement
(c) Failure to saw cut joint made w/ metal key
(d) Crack-inducing strip placed out-of-plumb.

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Joints
 Layout of Construction and Control Joints

 Per ACI 302.1R-04, most efficient placement of slabs was by

strip pattern
 ACI 302.1R-15 Sec. [Link] states that newly preferred
method is large block placements using a laser screed
 Strips acceptable

 Do not use checkerboard pattern (concrete shrinks too

slowly to be effective)

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 Joints
 Layout of Joints, Cont’d
 ACI 360R-10: “The designer should provide the layout of
joints and joint details.” Don’t ask the contractor to do it.
 Should construction and control joints be parallel?
 ACI 302.1R-15 Sec. [Link]: If yes, space > 5 ft away

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 Intersections are most susceptible to curling (see below)

Joints
 Joint Spacing
 ACI 360R-10 Fig. 6.6: Joint spacing for unreinforced slabs,
as function of type of concrete, thickness…
 From Fig. 6.6 for “typical concrete” joint spacing is:
 11’ for 4”, 14’ for 6”, 19’ for 8”, 20’ for 10” slab

 Based on controlling curling stresses to minimize mid-

panel cracking
 But joint spacing < 15’ is not often used*
 Past criteria: joint spacing = 24—36 times slab thickness
 E.g., for 6” slab spacing is ~ 30 x 6/12 = 15’

22 *PCA EB075, Concrete Floors on Ground, Design Example for Vehicle Loads
 Joints
 Using Reinforcement to Increase Joint Spacing?

 ACI 360-10 and -06 refer to PCA 2001, 3rd ed.: Sawcut
contraction joints can be eliminated if cont’s reinforcement
with ρ > 0.5% is used.
 Others say that the ACI 360 Committee has concluded that
steel reinforcement does not help in allowing larger joint
spacing.*

*See A. McKinney, “ACI 360R-06 Brings Slabs on Ground Design into the 21th
23 Century,” Structure, Jan. 2007.

Joints
 Perimeter Joints
 Typ., isolation joints used, but…

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 Joints
 More on Perimeter Joints

Top of wall

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Plain and Reinforced Floors on Ground

 Reinforcement Options
 Selection depends on its purpose
 None
 Fibers
 WWF
 Deformed reinforcement
 Post-tensioning
 A combination of these
 Most common purpose: control crack
width from shrinkage and temperature
movements
26  But not to prevent cracking
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 Reinforcement Options
 Plain (Unreinforced) S.O.G.
 Might be OK for narrow slabs with closely spaced joints
 Sidewalks are commonly built that way

 Fibers
 Steel
 Synthetic (polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon…)
 Are said to reduce (not eliminate) shrinkage cracking while
concrete is plastic
 But they make contraction joints less effective => cracking
elsewhere

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27

Reinforcement Options
 Welded Wire Fabric—Among Most Common

 Position 2” below surface or in upper 1/3 of slab thickness

 WWF must be supported properly; do not allow “lifting up”
 Use chairs with “sand plates” or precast bricks (min.
4”x4”), same f’c; spacing depends on size of wire
 What happens at joints? (next)

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 Reinforcement Options
 Welded Wire Fabric at Joints

 To be effective, WWF (and rebars) should stop at all joints

 So using hairpins as tie rods in MBS is problematic

 Some specify cutting every other wire at contraction joints

to provide some load transfer across joint

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Reinforcement Options
 Welded Wire Fabric As Min. Reinforcement?
 Per ACI 318, min. temp. reinforcement A = 0.0018bt
 Typ. WWF does not provide min. temp. reinf.
 E.g., with 6x6-W2.9xW2.9 (A = 0.058 in2/ft) max. slab
thickness t = (0.058)/(0.0018 x 12”) = 2.68” thick
 This WWF is not enough even for a 3” slab!

 Use deformed bars if min. temp. reinforcement is needed

 See typ. options in Structural Design below

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 Reinforcement Options
 Deformed Reinforcement
 Stop it at control and construction joints?
 ACI 360R-10 Sec. 6.2 on stopping rebars:
As a general rule, the continuation of larger percentages of deformed
reinforcing bars should not be used across sawcut contraction joints or
construction joints because they restrain joints from opening as the slab
shrinks during drying, and this increases the probability of out-of-joint
random cracking.

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31
But further discussion on this follows below

Reinforcement Options
 Post-Tensioned Reinforcement

 Sometimes used in slabs on expansive soils

 Typ., use ½”-dia 7-wire strands, Fy = 270 ksi
 Placed as unbonded tendons, coated w/ grease, encased in
plastic sheaths; anchored 3-10 days after concrete placement
 Concrete is lightly reinforced (ave. compression = 50-100 psi)
 (+) Increases flexural resistance
 (-) Need stiffening beams; need experienced personnel
 PTI design procedure most commonly used
 Inputs: materials, soil properties, estimated ∆/L ratio (…)

Design is discussed in more detail in ASCE webinar The Basics of Design and
32
32 Rehabilitation of Foundations on Expansive Soils for Non-Geotechnical Engineers
 Reinforcement Options
 Post-Tensioned Reinforcement, Cont’d

 PT Slabs: Example

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33 UFC 3-220-07 (US Army TM 5-818-7)

Selecting Slab Thickness

 Minimum Thickness?
 Previous guidance (ACI 302.1R-80):
 4” residential or tile-covered

 4-5” driveways, walkways, garages

 5” commercial, light industrial

 6” single-course industrial

 For 2-course bonded heavy industrial:

5” base course + ¾” topping

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 Thickness
 Minimum Thickness for Industrial Applications
 Today, depends on the applied wheel loading—see below
 8” or 12” might be needed

 IBC-15 Sec. 1907 only requires 3½” min.

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35

Structural Design
 What’s There to Design?
 Remember the role of S.O.G. in a building?
 Carry uniform and concentrated loads to soil
 Support concentrated or moving loads
 Sometimes, act as lateral-load transfer devices
 Provide solid support for floor coverings

 Design for Uniform Loading?

 Often req’d by owners (e.g., 500 psf), but why?
 Can’t gravel or asphalt be used instead?
 Concentrated, moving loads: another matter
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 Structural Design
 When Are Slabs on Grade Considered
Structural Elements? What’s the Difference?
 IBC-15, -12 Sec. 1901.2: “Except for the provisions of
Sections 1904 [Durability] and 1907 [Min. Slab Provisions], the
design and construction of slabs on grade shall not be
governed by this chapter unless they transmit vertical loads
or lateral forces from other parts of the structure to the soil.”
 Sec. 1904: Comply with exposure categories in ACI 318 based
on exposure to freeze/thaw, sulfates in soil, water, and
chlorides
 Sec. 1907: Min. slab thickness and vapor retarder
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Structural Design
 What About ACI 318 Provisions?
 ACI 318-14 Sec. 1.4.7 [ACI 318-11 Sec. 1.1.7]:
“This code does not govern design and construction of slabs-on-
ground, unless the slab transmits vertical loads or lateral forces from
other portions of the structure to the soil.”

 So, to be governed by ACI 318, a S.O.G. must either support

some other structural element or be involved in transfer of
lateral forces to the soil
 ACI 360R-10, Guide to Design of Slabs-on-Ground, Sec. 12.1,
lists some examples of these…

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 Structural Design
 Is Slab on Grade a Structural Element, Cont’d
 Some examples where S.O.G. fulfills structural role and
must be designed per ACI 318 (from ACI 360R-10 Chap. 12):
 Storage rack columns that support the building roof structure
 Mezzanine columns
 Loadbearing walls
 Perimeter building walls tied to the S.O.G. “to resist lateral and
vertical loads”
 Pre-engineered metal building columns vertically supported by
S.O.G. or that use the slab to resist lateral loads.

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Structural Design
 What’s the Difference: Structural S.O.G. or Not?
 This means, for starters, that we need to:

1. Provide min. slab reinforcement

2. Prohibit sawcutting of joints

3. In SDCs D, E, and F detail slab as a concrete diaphragm

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 Structural Design

 Minimum Slab Reinforcement

 For structural slabs: A = 0.0018bt
 Typ. WWF does not provide min. temp. reinf.
 E.g., with 6x6-W2.9xW2.9 (A = 0.058 in2/ft) max. slab
thickness t = (0.058)/(0.0018 x 12”) = 2.68” thick
 This WWF is not enough even for a 3” slab!

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Structural Design

 Minimum Slab Reinforcement, Cont’d

 For rebars used as min. reinforcement, max. spacing is
limited to the smaller of 3x slab thickness or 18” (see ACI 318-
14 Sec. [Link] [ACI 318-11 Sec. 7.6.5])
 #4 rebars min. are often used (#3 less common)

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 Structural Design
 Minimum Slab Reinforcement, Cont’d
 For 4” slab, need 0.0018 x 4 x 12 = 0.086 in2 => use #4 @12”*
 For 5” slab, need 0.0018 x 5 x 12 = 0.108 in2 => use #4 @15”*
 For 6” slab, need 0.0018 x 6 x 12 = 0.13 in2 => use #4 @18”
 For 8” slab, need 0.0018 x 8 x 12 = 0.17 in2 => use #4 @12”
 Are we ready for this?

*Controlled by max. spacing = 3x slab thickness

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Structural Design
 No Sawcut Joints in “Structural” S.O.G.?
 Not for S.O.G.s designated as structural diaphragms (below)

 ACI 318-14 Sec. [Link](d): Saw cutting in S.O.G. identified in

CDs as structural diaphragms or part of SFRS not allowed

 ACI 318-14 Comm. Sec. R18.13.3.4: similar req’ts

 Sim. statement in ACI 318-11 Sec. R21.12.3.4 Comm.

 Does it apply to S.O.G. supporting only gravity loads?

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 Structural Design

 No Sawcut Joints in “Structural” S.O.G., Cont’d

 How does it affect slab cracking?

USACE TM 5-809-1 Concrete Floor Slabs On

Grade Subjected To Heavy Loads
45

Structural Design
 Vertical Loads on “Structural” S.O.G.
 S.O.G. could be plain or reinforced
 If plain, design per ACI 318-14 Chap. 14 [ACI 318-11 Chap. 22]
 Sec. [Link] [22.3] requires contraction or isolation joints

 Except “Where random cracking due to creep, shrinkage,

and temperature effects will not affect structural integrity
and is otherwise acceptable” (ACI 318-14 Comm. R14.3.4.1)
 If reinforced, continue bars through the joints?
 See discussion below for concentrated loads on S.O.G.

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 Structural Design
 Lateral Loads on “Structural” S.O.G.
 Example: Slab with hairpin bars for lateral load transfer

Design is discussed in ASCE seminar Design of Anchors, Embedments, and

47 Foundations to Resist Horizontal and Vertical Forces

Structural Design
 Using Slab w/Hairpins for Lateral Load Transfer?

 ACI 318-14 Sec. [Link](b) and [Link](d) [ACI 318-11 Sec.

[Link]] requires S.O.G.s that resist seismic forces from walls
or columns that are part of SFRS be designed as structural
diaphragms and be identified as such in CDs
 What does it mean, “designed as structural diaphragms”?
 Follow provisions of ACI 318-14 Chapters 12 and 18

S.O.G.

48
 Structural Design
 Diaphragm Design per ACI 318
 ACI 318-14 Sec. 18.13 [ACI 318-11 Sec. 21.11]
 Design S.O.G. as structural diaphragm in SDC D, E, F, e.g.:
 S.O.G. needs to be positively attached to perimeter walls
with dowels, not be separated by expansion joints
 Design for flexure, load path to vert. members, collectors
 Transfer V and T through construction joints (see ACI 318-
14 Sec. 26.5.6 [ACI 318-11 Sec. 6.4])

49

Structural Design
 Diaphragm Behavior vs. Tie Behavior of Slab

50
 Structural Design
 Design for Concentrated and Moving Loads

 PCA, WRI, USACE procedures to determine thickness

 PCA Procedure
 PCA EB075, Concrete Floors on Ground
 Helpful for working with wheel loads and post loads
 For wheel loads, need to know:
 Frequency of use
 Max. axle load
 Wheel contact area
 Wheel spacing
 Subgrade modulus
51
51
 fr of concrete

Structural Design
 PCA Procedure, Cont’d
 For post loads, need to know:

 Max. load on post

 Effective contact area

 Post spacing

 Subgrade modulus, k

 fr of concrete

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52
 Structural Design
 PCA Procedure, Cont’d
 For both wheels and post loading…

 Select the safety factor, S.F. (e.g., 2 for wheels--frequent use)

 Find concrete working stress = fr /S.F.

 Find slab stress per 1000# of axle or post loading

 For a table of the appropriate k, enter the inputs,

select slab thickness

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53

Structural Design
 PCA Procedure, Cont’d
 Example of PCA charts from PCA EB075, Concrete Floors on
Ground, 2nd ed. (later editions are now available)
PCA web site is [Link]

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 Structural Design
 USACE Procedure for Heavy Moving Loads
 UFC 3-320-06A, 2005
 Uses Design Index categories (~ capacity, design axle load,
no. and type of tires, etc.)
 Based on limiting the tension on the bottom of slab at an
interior joint

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55

Structural Design
 USACE Procedure, Cont’d
 Assumptions:
 Impact factor of 25%
 Ec = 4000 ksi
 S.F. ~ 2
 Joint transfer coeff. = 0.75

 Design Example
 Find slab thickness for a heavy forklift with 15-kip axle-load,
average daily trips = 25
 Materials: concrete fr = 650 psi,
soil modulus of subgrade reaction k = 150 lbs/cu. in.
 Solution:
56
From UFC 3-320-06A Table 5-1 (next) design index = 7
 Structural Design
 USACE Procedure, Cont’d
 Enter Fr = 650 psi,
proceed to k = 150
and design index = 7
Find t = 6+”, say 7”
650

57
UFC 3-320-06A

Structural Design
 More on Design for Concentrated Loads

 Some online calculators are available

 E.g., [Link]

 All these methods assume plan or lightly reinforced slabs (for

shrinkage and T only; bars stop at joints)
 How about structurally reinforced slabs on grade?
 Reinforcement might not help in allowing larger joint
spacing (see above)…

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58
 Structural Design
 Structurally Reinforced SOG, Cont’d

 UFC 3-320-06A has charts for reinforced slabs, but the

difference in thickness from plain slabs is small
 One older method not discussed in ACI 360 was CRSI
approach in The Structurally Reinforced Slab-On-Grade,
Engineering Data Report No. 33 (no longer available)
 Also…

59
59

Structural Design


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60
 Structural Design
 Structurally Reinforced SOG, Cont’d
 Or perhaps just design reinforced SOG as mats?

 See ACI 336, Suggested Design Procedures for Combined

Footings and Mats

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61

Vapor Retarders
 The Need for Vapor Retarders (VR)
 The need for vapor retarder and “blotting” sand layer (“dry
granular material”) depends of soil, floor finish, etc. (ACI
302.1R-15 Fig. [Link] [ACI 302.1R-04 Fig. 3.1])
 In some cases (see next), VR and “dry granular material” are
not needed; otherwise, they might be needed
 ACI 302.1R-15 also calls subbase
“dry granular material”

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62
 Vapor Retarders
 Vapor Retarder vs. Barrier (per ACI 302.1R-15)
 Difference in permeance level (a.k.a. water vapor
transmission rate), as listed in ASTM E1745*
 True VB: zero

 VR: < 0.1 perms when tested under ASTM E96/E96M or

ASTM F1249
 At present, no dividing line between VB and VR. In the
future it might be set as < 0.01 perms

*ASTM E1745-11, Standard Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders

63 Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs

Vapor Retarders
 Min. Thickness of Vapor Retarders?
 IBC-15: 6 mils
 ACI 302.1R-04: 10 mils
 ACI 302.1R-15: no min., but states that 6—10 mil
polyethylene does not fully conform to ASTM E1745 and
should not be used “as below-slab moisture protection”
 Some: Use 15-mil VRs?

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 Vapor Retarders
 When a Vapor Retarder Is Not Needed

 Per ACI 302.1R-15 Fig. [Link], no VR is needed if none of these

conditions exist:
1—4. Moisture-sensitive floor covering, flooring adhesive,
underlayment, or floor coating exists on slab,
5. Moisture-sensitive goods stored directly on top of slab
6, 7. Humidity- or climate-controlled cooled interior, without
Conditions 1—5 present
 Otherwise, VR/VB is needed
S.O.G.

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Subbase (“Dry granular material”)

Vapor Retarders
 When “Dry Granular Material” on Top of VR/VB
Is Not Needed
 Simplified guidance based on ACI 302.1R-15 Fig. [Link]:
 When conditions 1—5 listed above are present
 When conditions 6, 7 are present and the slab is not placed
on true vapor barrier (“watertight roofing system”)
 But then curling might be a problem, so need special
measures to minimize slab curling and other problems (see
below)
Conditions 1—5 (moisture-sensitive finish, etc.)

S.O.G.
VR/VB
66
Subbase (“Dry granular material”)
 Vapor Retarders
 When “Dry Granular Material” on Top of VR/VB
Is Needed
 Per ACI 302.1R-15 Fig. [Link], it is needed when:
 When conditions 6, 7 are present and the slab is placed on
true vapor barrier (“watertight roofing system”)
 …But if granular material “is subject to future moisture
infiltration,” don’t use it.
 See Fig. [Link] for a discussion on transition at ends

S.O.G.
“Dry granular material
VR/VB
67
Subbase (“Dry granular material”)

Vapor Retarders
 What Causes Slab Curling?
 Top of slab dries and shrinks faster than bottom
 Often see 1/8” at edges and constr. joints, ¼” at corners

 Difficult to avoid curling if VR is used?

 Potential problems caused by curling
 Corner breaks (next), joint failure, damage from moving
equipment

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 Vapor Retarders
 More on Curling
 To avoid curling …
 Best not to have any moisture-sensitive finishes; no VR?

 Use stained stamped concrete in lieu of tile?

 Remediation of curling is possible*

*Discussed in ASCE webinar Renovation of Slabs on

Grade

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TM 5-624

Vapor Retarders
 So, We Got It All Figured out, Right? Well, No
 IBC-15, -12 Sec. 1907.1 requires a VR, min. 6-mil polyethylene,
w/joints lapped > than 6” inches “or other approved
equivalent methods or materials shall be used to retard vapor
transmission through the floor slab”
 Exceptions:
 Detached accessory bldgs to occupancy Group R-3 (garages, utility
buildings, other unheated facilities)
 Unheated storage rooms w/A < 70 sq. ft.; carports attached to
occupancies in Group R-3
 “Where migration of moisture through the slab from below will not be
detrimental to the intended occupancy of the building”
 Driveways, walks, patios, other flatwork that won’t be enclosed later
70
 Where approved based on local site conditions
 Vapor Retarders
 Also, Check Local Code Requirements
 E.g., 2014 City of Los Angeles Building Code requires VR to
be placed under a 2” sand layer in all buildings…

 And Finally. . . .
 What if the situation changes in the future?

S.O.G.
2” sand
VR
71 Subbase

Slab Finish Tolerances

 Avoiding Uneven or Bumpy Slab Surfaces
 These often lead to claims
 See Commentary Sec. R4.8.4 to ACI 117, Standard
Specification for Tolerances for Concrete Construction and
Materials
 Also, ACI 302.1R-04 Sec. 8.15 (removed in 2015)

 ACI 302.1R-04: Flatness & levelness of random-traffic floors

can be controlled by Face Floor Profile Numbers (“F-
numbers’), 10-ft straightedge or “other measurement
methods.”
72
ACI 117 and ACI 302.1R are not referenced in IBC
 Slab Finish Tolerances
 F-Number System
 Flatness number (FF) measures local bumpiness by checking
elevation differences along a line at 1’ intervals*
 Levelness number (FL) limits the difference from design plane
over 10’ distance*
 Measured within 72 hrs of slab placement
 Stated as FF/FL
 Often 2 sets are given: Overall for the floor and minimum
local value (the latter should never be less than 13/10)

73 *Following procedure of ASTM E 1155, Test Method for Determining

Floor Flatness and Levelness Using F-Number System

Slab Finish Tolerances

 Suggested FF/FL per ACI 117-10 Table [Link]
 Specified overall FF/FL
 Conventional: 20/15

 Moderately flat: 25/20

 Flat: 35/25

 Very flat: 45/35

 Superflat 60/40

 Minimum local values: take as 3/5 of overall values

74
 Slab Finish Tolerances
 Others Provide Different Guidance for FF/FL
 Good: 38/25 (min. local 19/13)
 Need average amounts of floor patching for acceptable
VCT installation
 Flat: 50/33 (min. local 25/17)
 Min. floor patching for acceptable VCT

 Superflat: 100/66 (min. local 50/33)

 For high forklift traffic areas

75 Source: [Link]
what-fffl-numbers-to-specify/

Surface Treatments
 Surface Treatments for Floors
 Penetrating sealers: ~ 0 thick, absorbed in concrete.
Reduce penetration of water-borne chemicals…
 …in mild concentrations

 Common: silanes and siloxanes.

 Surface sealers: up to 10 mils (0.25 mm) thick.

 High-build coatings: 10 to 30 mils (0.25 - 0.76 mm) thick.
 Epoxy, polyurethane, chlorinated rubber, paints. OK as
WP, cannot bridge cracks.

76
 Surface Treatments
 Surface Treatments, Cont’d
 Membranes: 30 – 250 mils (0.76 – 6.25 mm) thick
 Thick – rubberized asphalt, covered w/ asphalt mastic or
bituminous concrete
 Thin – field-applied primer and main coat of urethane or
neoprene + wearing surface of epoxy or urethane with
embedded mineral aggregate
 Both can trap moisture, blister, and delaminate

 Overlays: > 250 mils (6.25 mm) thick.

77

Surface Treatments
 Slab Overlays
 Common: C-I-P-C with high-early cement, latex-modified (or
epoxy-modified)
 Applied as patches, thin bonded toppings, unbonded
toppings
 Bonded toppings (0.75-1.5”) require bonding agents, are
included in the design slab thickness
 Unbonded (> 3”) are placed on poly sheets, considered
separate slabs

78
78
 Surface Treatments
 Abrasive-Resistant Toppings and Hardeners

 Emery: Best 100% emery aggregate, > 58% aluminum oxide

(Traprock has only 10%)
 Emery dry-shake hardener 1/8 - 1/4”, 1 - 1.5 psf.

 Emery topping 1 - 2”, 14 psf per in.

 Easily washed, resists mild acids, alkalis, but brittle.

79
79

Surface Treatments
 Abrasive-Resistant Toppings and Hardeners,
Cont’d
 Metallic: Nearly impermeable to oil, but poor moisture
resistance
 Ground cast-iron powder, weighs 19.2 psf per in.

 Deforms under load, preventing local damage.

 May cost more than the slab!

80
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 Q&A

Alexander Newman
E-mail: Alexander-Newman@[Link]
81 81