Floor Openings in Two-Way Slabs

Openings in slabs are usually required for plumbing, fire protection pipes, heat and ventilation ducts and air conditioning. Larger openings that could amount to the elimination of a large area within a slab panel are sometimes required for stairs and elevators shafts. For newly constructed slabs, the locations and sizes of the required openings are usually predetermined in the early stages of design and accommodated accordingly.