Almost always in the projects that I’ve been involved with, MEP slab and wall openings will not be finalized until the architects are finished, which is usually, a few minutes after we have already submitted our structural drawings or when we’re already through with our structural calculations.
It’s an inevitable phenomenon that it is rather common in all projects such that it becomes only a minor nuisance rather than a major setback (palm on forehead). The requirements of the owner will change, and the architects and MEP will have no option but to follow, and eventually this will include us accommodating the said variation.
Without the luxury of time waiting for our calculation to confirm the proposed openings, we can instantaneously tell everyone in the meeting with a high degree of certainty our verdict on those pesky openings minus the deal-breaker “I’ll get back to you on that”.
For slab openings:
For slab openings, preferable opening location is in the midspan for deflection purposes for both one-way, two-way and flat slab
Avoid openings on drops. There will be punching issues that may arise as well
Avoid long openings beside columns and/or beams where an adequate backspan is impossible
Where deflection becomes a problem, provide trimmer beams. This should be told during the meeting with the other disciplines at the onset so that they would expect beams regardless if there is a deflection problem or not
For wall openings
The HVAC opening below ground floor does not allow continuity for the load path of the pier above and below.
As much as possible, stack openings on top of the other on one vertical line only. The link beam depth may decrease but the piers on the either side provide continuous load path to the foundation.
The post Pointers in Coordinating Slab and Wall Openings Prior to A Detailed Check appeared first on Civil Engineering Community.
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