Defining Material for Floor Slab & Ceiling

rahmiandarini · Posts: 43

Dear Sir,

I am now doing simulation with 2 storey building. For the ground floor, how do we define the material for roof, ceiling; and for the first floor, how do we define the floor material? As I think that the roof/ceiling material of the ground floor is actually the material of floor of the first floor.

Thanks,
Rahmi

AOG · Posts: 73

Rhami,

In this case you have to define three construction components:

Ground floor (construction in contact with the ground)
Internal floor (construction between first and second stories)
Roof (construction in the top of the building)

If you set Suspended ceiling, it is necessary to define a ceiling construction component, which will be sited under the higher construction (e.g. internal floor in first story, flat roof in second story)

If you set Floor fitted above slab, it is necessary to define an internal floor component which will be sited above the lower construction (e.g. ground floor slab in first story, internal floor slab in second story).

When you make a model, DesignBuilder defines automatically the construction types, depending on its relative position. In order to being familiarized with constructions types and positions, it is very advised to look carefully these help topics:

http://www.designbuilder.co.uk/programhelp/combined_constructions.htm

http://www.designbuilder.co.uk/programhelp/separate_constructions.htm

Note: It seems there is an error in combined construction diagram. The grey slab between first and second stories includes one part as internal floor (not indicated in the key table) and other one as external floor (indicated in blue in the key table).

I hope this helps,

Arturo

rahmiandarini · Posts: 43

Thank a lot for your explanation.
Is it true (in my understanding) that internal floor is the roof for ground floor and the floor for first floor?
Another question regarding the previous one:
How do I define the thickness of internal floor? For instance, ground floor is 3.5m height and first floor is also 3.5m height. I have the thickness of internal floor is 0.57m.

Thanks,
Rahmi

AOG · Posts: 73

Hi Rahmi,

Yes, it’s true. Just remember that in DB models the floor between two stories is always defined by mean of an internal floor construction.

About your last question:

As with every construction, in simulations and calculations the internal floor thickness is taken directly from your construction component, where you define the layers and its thickness. In visualizations DB draws floors with thickness near to 10cm, although this doesn’t affect calculations.

Best regards and good luck with your simulations.

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