suspended slab vs. hollowcore for residential drive
suspended slab vs. hollowcore for residential drive
(OP)
I am designing a slab for a suspended garage and suspended drive/parking area for a custom home I am building.
Here is what the details are. The garage span is 24. Length is about 38 feet (3-car garage). The parking area is about 40 feet deep and is split into two spans 16' and 24'. Parking area is also about 38' long. I am using 160 psf live plus dead load and am planning on using 2" metal decking with underneath girders 6' on center (5 " slab). I am confident in my girder and decking calcs; however, is 160 psf low, medium or heavy?
Also, I am only vaguely familiar with hollowcore. Does it offer a lot of advantages?
Thank you! I am a new visitor to this website from South Carolina.
Here is what the details are. The garage span is 24. Length is about 38 feet (3-car garage). The parking area is about 40 feet deep and is split into two spans 16' and 24'. Parking area is also about 38' long. I am using 160 psf live plus dead load and am planning on using 2" metal decking with underneath girders 6' on center (5 " slab). I am confident in my girder and decking calcs; however, is 160 psf low, medium or heavy?
Also, I am only vaguely familiar with hollowcore. Does it offer a lot of advantages?
Thank you! I am a new visitor to this website from South Carolina.





RE: suspended slab vs. hollowcore for residential drive
RE: suspended slab vs. hollowcore for residential drive
I have a similar question. I am building a custom plan as well with a suspended 3 car garage. The design of my home has a small kitchen pantry (4ft x 8ft) that would poke out into the garage. My builder is telling me we can't build on a suspended slab, but has no technical reason other than you just can't.
What do you guys think?
Thanks,
Jason
RE: suspended slab vs. hollowcore for residential drive
Also - may have thermal issues (insulation) but that can be detailed properly to control.
RE: suspended slab vs. hollowcore for residential drive
RE: suspended slab vs. hollowcore for residential drive
As for the loading 160psf does seem high. 50psf is correct for garages, but many do use garages for storage so jddoe has a good point. For light storage 125psf agrees with ASCE requirements.
Some producers may think your projects are too small, but that is not true of all manufacturers.
Here's a list of all PCI certified Hollowcore producers. http://www.pci.org/find/precaster_search.cfm
For 125psf load you'll likely be needing a 6"+2"topped or 8" untopped for a 24ft span.