The Institution of Structural Engineers has unveiled crucial guidelines addressing a knowledge gap in the design of reinforced concrete transfer slabs.
- Transfer slabs are pivotal in carrying loads between different column grids in RC buildings, often used in mixed-use and high-rise structures.
- Despite their importance, there has been a significant lack of understanding and consistent design approaches for transfer slabs.
- The new guidelines offer detailed insights into concept design, robustness, and alternative punching shear assessment methods.
- Experts from Aecom and Imperial College London contributed to this comprehensive guide, anticipating a major impact on safety and sustainability.
The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) has introduced new guidelines to address the lack of knowledge regarding the design of reinforced concrete (RC) transfer slabs. These slabs play a critical role in the load distribution between differently arranged columns in a building, a structural necessity especially in mixed-use towers and architectural designs demanding column grid changes. Their importance in ensuring structural integrity and safety cannot be overstated, yet many in the industry are not familiar with their design complexities.
Historically, there has been a void in industry-wide guidance for transfer slab design, particularly concerning punching shear. The new guidelines, authored by leading engineers from Aecom, IStructE, MPA The Concrete Centre, and Imperial College London, aim to fill this gap. Trusted bodies like Buro Happold and Simpson TWS conducted thorough technical reviews, ensuring the guidance meets industry standards.
The guidelines cover key aspects such as concept design, robustness, and unique methods for assessing punching shear specific to transfer slabs—a departure from methods typically employed for flat slabs. IStructE’s technical director, Patrick Hayes, highlights the intricate nature of transfer slab design, noting it requires a profound understanding of concrete behaviour, column shear interactions, disproportionate collapse considerations, and construction sequences.
Matt Penellum, principal engineer at Aecom and lead author, comments on the structural inefficiency and high carbon footprint of transfer slabs, despite their growing usage in enabling flexible building layouts. He stresses the importance of having a clear, industry-recognised method for their design, which these guidelines provide.
By joining forces, experts aim to enhance safety standards and reduce the environmental impact associated with RC buildings, ultimately striving for a well-informed industry equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to undertake such complex projects safely.
This new guidance aims to cement industry standards for the design of RC transfer slabs, enhancing safety and sustainability.
