Designing With

Composite Deck

Richard B. Heagler

Author
ichard B. Heagler is director of
engineering for Nicholas J.
Bouras, Inc., and United Steel
Deck, Inc. of Summit, New
Jersey. He received his bachelor
of science and master of science
and professional degrees in civil
engineering from the University of
Missouri at Rolla. He has been
involved in the steel deck industry
for over thirty-five years. In 1962
he began his career at Granco
Steel Products, St. Louis,
Missouri and joined Nicholas J.
Bouras, Inc. in 1977.
Mr. Heagler has written articles
on connecting steel deck and on
designing with steel deck, and is
the author of Engineers Notebook
for the Design of Composite Steel
Beams and Girders with Steel
Deck. He is also the principal
author of the Steel Deck
Institute's Composite Deck
Design Handbook.
Mr. Heagler is the chairman of
the Steel Deck Institute's
Technical Committee on Floor
Deck, and is the chairman of the
American Society of Civil
Engineer Standards Committee
on Composite Deck. He is also
an ex-president of the Steel Deck
Institute.
Mr. Heagler is a Registered
Professional Engineer in the state
of Missouri, New Jersey, and New
York.

strength of column testing. More

than 40 tee joints were fabricated
with high-strength (690 MPa yield
strength) "pull" plates welded
transversely to opposite flanges of
short 610 mm lengths of heavy
column sections.
The second half of this session
will detail the performance of steel
in high-demand full-scale connection tests. Several designs were
examined, including a new, simple and economical connection
solution. Issues and recommendations related to design, detailing, fabrication, failure modes and
material performance are
presented.

Summary
n the beam-to-column connection used in welded moment
frames, the through-thickness
strength of the column flange is
relied upon to transmit the cyclic
forces from the beam flanges to
the column.
The first part of this session
focuses on the results from SAC's
research project "ThroughThickness Strength of Column
Flanges in Welded Moment
Connections," which was
designed to resolve questions
about the through-thickness

16-1
2003 by American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Designing with Composite Deck

Two very different considerations have the most influence on choosing a composite deck system. These are
construction spans, and fire ratings. The third consideration is the ability to carry the service loads but this
can usually be done by a simple review. It is interesting to note that the third consideration (service load),
while being perhaps the least important, has received the most attention and the most research effort. In
general, fire requirements set the concrete type and cover while construction loading dictates the deck depth
and gage - shoring is always avoided. Only now, after almost fifty years of composite deck use, is a
campaign being launched to produce a more rational set of fire resistance rules.
The following two topic discussions on working platform and fire ratings were copied from the SDI Composite
Deck Design Handbook of 1997.

The Deck as a Working Platform and a Form.

As a working platform the builder may assume an allowable working load of 50 pounds per square
foot; an investigation may be necessary to see if shoring needs to be in place to obtain this capacity.
For construction information and guidelines the Steel Deck Institute Manual of Construction with Steel
Deck is recommended.
Deck performance as a form is determined using the loading criteria and coefficients shown in Figures
1, 2, and 3. Where only uniform loads are shown, the loading consists of concrete weight, deck
weight, and a construction (men and equipment) load of 20 psf. In the cases where a combination of
a uniform and a concentrated load is shown, the uniform loading consists of concrete and deck
weights and the concentrated load is 150 pounds per foot of width. (The 150 pound load is the
distributed result of a 300 pound man load acting over two feet). The single span loading considers
limited manueverability. For single span loading the concrete load is the actual concrete weight (psf)
plus either 0.5 times the concrete weight or 30 psf, whichever is less. This increase in concrete load is
to provide an allowance for possible concrete piling. In the 1991 edition of the Composite Deck
Design Handbook the 0.5 added weight factor was used but was not limited to the 30 psf increase
over the actual weight.
The equations in figures 1, 2, and 3 are general. It is the responsibility of the user to apply the correct
load factors to the various combinations of loads. Example problem 1 shows how the factors are
applied to a three span condition. The maximum unshored spans for various slabs and deck
combinations are shown in the tables. The LRFD calculations for the maximum spans use the
American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) load factors of 1.6 for concrete weight; 1.4 for men and
equipment; and, 1.2 for deck weight. The resistance
factors from the AISI are 0.95 for bending,
and 0.90 or 1.0 for shear depending on the web length to thickness ratio. The tabulated values for
shear
are factored.
Web crippling is checked at interior supports based on a 5" bearing width. In most cases steel beam
flanges will be at least 5" wide, but even if they are less than 5" the temporary nature of the loading
makes the calculation conservative. Web crippling at exterior supports is not a factor because if end
crippling occurs the deck simply becomes hinged which is assumed in any case. For the calculation
of maximum unshored spans web crippling is checked using ASD procedures for the deck uniformly
loaded with concrete, deck weight, and 20 psf construction load. The LRFD load factors and the
factor provide unacceptable results. This is the only instance where ASD is used in preparing the
tables. Additionally, web crippling loads are very temporary so the traditional 1/3 stress increase is
allowed in the ASD procedure. Slip off is much more critical so deck ends must be well connected to
the framing members. Combined bending and shear is checked at the interior supports on multispan
deck.

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Designing with Composite Deck

Key
uniform concrete load

uniform construction load (20 psf, Unfactored)

concentrated man or equipment load (150 Ibs./ft. of width Unfactored)

figure 1

figure 2

figure 3

* deflection is to be calculated using only concrete plus deck weights uniformly distributed over all spans.

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Designing with Composite Deck

Form deflection under the uniform loading of concrete and deck weight is limited to 1/180 of the span
or 3/4"; no additional temporary construction loads or concrete loads are included in the calculations
for the tables. For the purpose of the tables, the supporting structure is assumed to remain level as
the frame flexibility is not known nor can any camber be anticipated. For concrete quantity
calculations refer to the SDI publication Metal Deck and Concrete Quantities, 1994.
Fire Ratings

Hourly fire ratings are used as a measure of the ability of the composite deck slab to contain a fire
and keep it from spreading from floor to floor. The "fire" is defined in ASTM E119. For the duration of
the fire test the floor must carry the design load, not allow 250 F temperature rise through the slab,
and not permit flames or hot gasses to penetrate the assembly. Local codes dictate the number of
hours required and, as shown in figure 4, the concrete cover is often controlled by the rating selected.
There are also rated assemblies not shown in figure 4 that use a suspended ceiling as part of the
construction; these assemblies generally have 2.5" of normal weight concrete cover for one and two
hour ratings and 3.5" for three hours.
The information in figure 4 is based on the constructions shown in the Fire Resistance Directory
published by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. In this directory the construction group "Floor Ceiling
Designs - Concrete with Steel Floor Units and Beam Supports" (prefix D) provides important details of
construction for each design and must be consulted.

Rating
Hours
1
1
1.5
1.5
2
2
3
3
4
4

LIGHTWEIGHT NORMAL WEIGHT

Concrete
cover

Concrete
cover

2.5"(65mm)

3.5"(90mm)
2.5"(65mm)
2.5"(65mm)
4"(100mm)
4.5"(115mm)
2.5"(65mm)
2.5"(65mm)
5.25"(135mm)
2.5"(65mm)

2.5"(65mm)
3"(75mm)
3.25"(85mm)
2.5"(65mm)
2.5"(65mm)
4.25"(110mm)
2.5"(65mm)
3.25"(85mm)

Is fireproofing required

on the deck?*
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes

* This column refers to the deck; beams and columns normally need some type
of fire protection.

figure 4

In the Underwriters Fire Resistance Directory the composite deck constructions show hourly ratings
for restrained and unrestrained assemblies. ASTM E119 provides information in appendix X3 called
"Guide for Determining Conditions of Restraint for Floor and Roof Assemblies and for Individual
Beams". After a careful review of this guide the Steel Deck Institute determined that all interior and
exterior spans of multispan deck properly attached to steel framing are restrained. Additionally, all
multiple span composite deck slabs attached to bearing walls are restrained. In fact, there is almost
no realistic condition that a composite deck-slab could not be considered to be restrained - perhaps a
single span deck system which is unattached to framing or a wall in order to provide a removable slab.

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Designing with Composite Deck

Service Loads - Uniform & Concentrated

The composite deck of the 1950's was reviewed for service loading by using conventional reinforced concrete
design techniques. As the market for composite deck expanded, and as more deck manufacturers entered
the business, the need for a set of design standards became interesting to the American Iron and Steel
Institute (AISI). A research program was initiated at Iowa State University and was funded by the AISI. This
program resulted in the "shear bond" method of analysis which was based on results from a simple span test
illustrated in the figure.

figure 5

In general, composite slabs under this testing failed in the so called "shear bond" mode which was
characterized by a crack under one of the load beams and the concrete sliding from the crack past the steel
deck edge. The failure could be described as "brittle"; however, in most cases the bottom flange of the steel
deck achieved yield.
In the early 1980's the SDI initiated research at West Virginia University to investigate "real world" effects on
composite behavior. End restraints from common attachments, shear studs, and pour stops were tested.
Also the effects of multiple panel widths and deck continuity were examined. In 1989 multi span full scale
testing began at Virginia Polytech. The SDI supported the existing shear bond method but wanted to show
that a more ductile failure resulted with common construction practices. The SDI program resulted in
confirmation of the ductile failure premise and also quantified the effect of shear studs which were the most
influential of the restraints investigated. The resulting design methodology is again consistent with reinforced
concrete methods.
The tables from the United Steel Deck, Inc. design manual show the results of the SDI work.

The SDI also sponsored research at West Virginia University to determine concentrated load distributions in
composite slabs. The results of the research are summarized in figure 6.

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Designing with Composite Deck

The SDI tables show all of the necessary information for any composite slab design problem with the exception of diaphragm composite diaphragms are covered in the SDI Diaphragm Design Manual.
figure 6

Service Loads - Composite Slabs and Vibrations

The foremost authority on floor vibrations in steel framed buildings is Professor Thomas M. Murray of Virginia
Polytechnic Institute. The AISC has publications and software written by Professor Murray on the subject.
The SDI software on floor design (composite beams) calculates the damping requirements for floor systems
and shows the result in the printout.
The Murray criterion is the formula:
(In USA units)
(In international units)

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Designing with Composite Deck

If the damping (D) provided by the system is greater than the right side of the inequality, then the system will
not exhibit annoying vibrations according to most scales. D is expressed as a percent of critical, A o is the
maximum (initial) amplitude of the system, and f is the first natural frequency. Murray's paper, Floor
Vibrations in Buildings (presented at the Pacific Structural Conference of 1989, Gold Coast, Queensland,
Australia) provides example calculations for A o and f and also gives damping ranges for different
constructions. All three variables include the slab thickness and this means that analyzing vibrations is a
review process. Our concern is the deck/slab combination which will provide a starting point for the review.
Most deck/slab combinations are selected to provide a fire rating and to be unshored during construction.
These constraints will provide a deck/slab that will be a good starting point for the vibration analysis. However
an additional check would be to keep the span depth ratio below the following limits:
Single Span NW
Single Span LW
Multi Span NW
Multi Span LW

25
22
27
25

Where heavier gage deck (16 or 18) is used the limit of the ratio can, in most cases, be increased by adding
two.

These limits are based on an item in Murray's paper,

"Ellingwood and Tallin (1984) have recently suggested that, to provide sufficient static stiffness against floor
motions during walking, a stiffness criterion of 1 mm due to a concentrated load of 1 kN should be used. The
criterion is recommended by them for floors used for normal human occupancy (e.g. residential, office,
school), particularly for light residential floors. This criterion does not include damping, which many
researchers believe to be the most important parameter in controlling transient vibrations. In addition, no test
data is presented to substantiate the criterion. Since the criterion is relatively new, acceptance by structural
designers and performance of floor systems so designed is unknown at this time."
The limits were calculated by assuming the 1 kN load was only distributed over a 12" width which would be
very conservative. Although Murray says the criterion is relatively new, it is quite familiar to some as being
close to the "rule of thumb" used in the early sixties and is not too far off of the limits suggested in the ASCE
Standard on Composite Deck Slabs.
Murray also cites Ellingwood and Tanner (1986) as recommending a stiffness criterion for commercial, i.e.
shopping centers, as limiting deflection to 0.02" (1/2 mm) under a load of 450 pounds (2kN).
The previous listing of deck/slab span to depth ratios was determined by assuming a 12" load distribution.
The following example shows that these limits are a good guide for commercial applications when the load is
properly distributed.

Example:
The deck span is 10'; use a span to depth ratio of 27.

(use normal weight concrete).

With 19 gage 2" Lok Floor shoring is not needed for continuous spans.

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Designing with Composite Deck

Using

and putting the load at center span:

load distribution per foot of width

Deflection of a continuous beam with a point load at center:

Transformed l of 19 gage with 4.5" slab = 6.7 in.4 per foot of width.
With
which is O.K. for office
and residential.
With
which is O.K. for commercial.
Both Ellingwood requirements are satisfied. Any beam that is selected should be checked with the point load
at center span, but it is probably rare for either criterion to control the beam selection.
It could be argued that the deck/slab should be checked as a single span rather than as continuous.

Murray's paper does not deal with the deck/slab individually, but states that the floor system will be
satisfactory if the critical damping, D, is greater than
(in USA units).
is the initial amplitude from a heel drop (600 lbs.). f is the first natural frequency,

10% to 25% of the

design live load can be included in the frequency calculation.

For the 19 gage 2" Lok Floor with the 4.5" slab assume a live load of 80 psf. In Murray's example problem he
estimates the damping, D, of a particular system to be:
slab + beam

hung ceiling
duct work
D
Partitions, not included in his example problem, could add significantly to the damping.

If the bay size were 40' x 40' a floor beam might be selected to limit the concrete deflection to
Concrete + Deck
=
44 psf
Steel
=
6 psf

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Designing with Composite Deck

Either a 21 x 44 or 18 x 50 (with reduced studs) could be used For the vibration analysis the complete
(100%) composite l is used regardless of the number of studs. The Murray paper provides the required
formulas.
With only the dead load applied:
O.K.
slightly greater than D
With 10% of the live load and the dead:
O.K.
O.K.
The Murray paper does an excellent job of providing insight and guidelines into vibration problems. However,
we must realize that the analysis is not precise. Even the definition of "annoying" is fuzzy. So, from a deck/
slab standpoint the span to depth ratio limits are probably the best way to check the "normal" starting point.
The normal starting point is to fulfill the fire rating needs and to do the job without shoring.
Service Loads - Horizontal Loads
There are two references used in the United States for evaluating the diaphragm strength and stiffness of
composite deck slabs. These references are the Army, Navy, Air Force publication Seismic Design for
Buildings (The Tri Service Manual) and the Steel Deck Institute, Diaphragm Design Manual, Second Edition.
Part of the imput for calculating the SDI diaphragms is the weld size attaching the deck to the frame. When
3/4" diameter welds and sidelap welds are used in the SDI formulas, the values obtained are close to those
obtained using the Tri Service Manual. Both references present design strength values. The SDI Manual
shows the safety factor for these concrete diaphragms as 3.25, so, to obtain the ultimate strength the
tabulated SDI values can be multiplied by 3.25
The stiffness using the SDI formulas is given as G' in kips per inch. The SDI stiffness can be converted to the
tri service flexibility factor, F, by the relation F = 1000/G'. In most cases composite slab diaphragms would be
classified as "rigid".
Typical SDI Design Diaphragm Strengths
Span/Gage
G', kips per inch
Q, plf
1810
2500
8/20
1800
10/20
2500
12/18
1880
2540
1950
2560
14/16
Note: 5/8" welds to structure - Side lap welds @ approximately 2'.

16-10

2003 by American Institute of Steel Construction Inc All rights reserved

Example Problems
These example problems use 20 gage (t = 0.0358") 2" x 12" composite deck made from steel with a 33 ksi
(minimum) yield point. The deck properties (per foot of width) have been calculated in accordance with the
American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications and are:
(section
modulus in positive bending);
(section modulus in negative bending);
lbs.;
is the ASD interior web crippling capacity based on a 5" bearing and
is the factored deck shear strength. SDI tolerances apply. The concrete properties are:
density =
145 pcf. The ratio of the moduli,
The LRFD method is used in all of the example problems.
Since the examples are "hand worked" there may be some round off differences from computer generated
answers shown in the table.

Example Problem Number 1. Unshored Span Calculation

Calculate the maximum unshored clear span for the three span condition of the deck (20 gage 2" x
12") with a 4.5" slab.
The resistance factors and the load factors are provided by the AISI Specifications. The load factors
are 1.6 for concrete weight, 1.4 for construction loading of men and equipment, and 1.2 for the deck
dead load. It is important to remember that these factors are for the deck under the concrete
placement loads; when the slab has cured, and the system is composite, the factors are different.

Check negative bending with two spans loaded:

Check positive bending with one span loaded with concrete and the concentrated load:

Web crippling, shear, and the interaction of bending and web crippling are checked with two spans
loaded.

Check interior web crippling (note the 1/3 stress increase allowed for ASD temporary loading for web
crippling):
Check shear:
Shear alone will not control, but the interaction of shear and bending could. The AISI equation for
interactions is:

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Example Problems

Solving for
Check deflection with

and with

limits;

These "hand" calculations show the maximum unshored span is controlled by combined shear and bending. The computer
generated tables show a maximum unshored span of 9.27'.

Example Problem 2. Composite section properties

Calculate the composite section properties and the allowable uniform load for the deck slab
combination of Example Problem Number 1. The clear span is 9'. No negative
bending reinforcing is used over the beams, so the composite slab will be a simple span.
and l are per foot of width.
Determine the "cracked" I. This calculation is the standard ASD calculation which assumes all
concrete below the neutral axis is cracked. The concrete is transformed into equivalent steel.

Moments (of areas) about the neutral axis (N.A.) are summed in order to locate the N.A.
Solving for a shows

The cracked section modulus

shows 1.26, which checks.

Determine the "uncracked" moment of inertia

steel.

The table printout

The concrete is again transformed into equivalent

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Example Problems
Using the top of the slab as the reference line:

and the uncracked l is:

Calculate the Unfactored (allowable) live load for the case with no studs. The clear span is 9'.
The factored moment is;
, where
is the section modulus of the cracked section as
previously determined, and the f factor is 0.85.
inch pounds = 35.34 inch kips. The printout shows 35.43 which
checks within 1%.
Unless negative bending reinforcement is present, the composite slab is assumed to be single span.
For a single span, the Unfactored uniform (live) load
is found by:

Solving for

shows

rounded to the nearest 5 psf.

Check the deflection if the applied load is 150 psf.

With no negative reinforcing, the composite slab is a single span.
which is

and should be OK

Check the factored vertical shear capacity:

Check the concrete shear control limit:

5450 < 6080 pounds. (The tabulated value is 5450 - checks)
The Unfactored (allowable) live load if shear controls
is found by:
So obviously shear does not control the Unfactored live
load.
The number of studs required to develop 100% of the factored moment is given by:
the numerator of this equation is specific to the deck
being used and the denominator is AISC equation 15-1. For this 20 gage 2" x 12" deck
(The printout shows 0.43 because of round off.)
The inverse 1.0/0.43 = 2.33 which means a stud is required every 2.33' in order to achieve the full
factored moment.
The full factored moment is
In this equation a is the depth of the concrete
compression block and is given by
where b is 12".
a = 0.54(33000)/(0.85 x 3000 x 12) = 0.58"; d is measured from the top of the slab to the centroid of
the deck and is 3.5".
The printout shows 48.60 inch kips, which
checks.
Since
studs spaced at 1' and 2' will develop the full factored moment of
48.60 inch kips, and with no studs the composite slab develops 35.43 inch kips. If studs are spaced at
3' (1/3 =0.33 studs per foot) then the composite slab capacity is found by interpolation:

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Example Problems
Example Problem 3. Point Load

This problem is designed to demonstrate how to check the ability of a composite slab to carry a
2000 lb point load over an area of 4.5" x 4.5" occurring anywhere in the span. (See figure 6 for distribution
formulas.)
There will be no other live load acting simultaneously, and there is no negative bending reinforcement present
over the supports, therefore we assume a single span condition.
For this example the following data obtained from problems 1 and 2 are used:
Clear Span Slab Thickness -

9 ft.
4.5 in.
35.43 in.k
48.60 in.k
42 psf
6.3 in4/ft

Thickness of concrete cover over the top of the deck

Thickness of any additional topping
Total thickness exclusive of topping

For moment and for determining the distribution steel, put the load in the center of the span.
where x is the location of the load x = l/2
However
in feet
therefore
Check vertical shear: Put the load one slab depth away from the beam

For Moment
For Shear
Live load moment (per foot of width) = Pl/4 = (1.6)(2000)(9/4)(12/59)(12)/1000
Pl/4 = 17.54 in.k ;
1.6 is the load factor and 12/59 is the distribution factor
1.2 is the load factor.

Dead load moment

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Example Problems
Factored resisting moment when studs are not present on the beams

Find the required distribution steel (welded wire mesh)

Assume the wire mesh is located 1/2 in above top of deck.

is the area per foot of the wire mesh which has an of 60 ksi. If
the bars are being investigated the would have to be adjusted
accordingly.
NOTE:

in ACI but SDI uses 0.85

b=12in.
Assume
is the area of 6x6w1.4x1.4 mesh, which is SDI and ASCE
minimum

2816 > 2582

O.K.

SDI minimum welded wire mesh is sufficient

Check Deflection under concentrated load:

Put load in center of span and use concentrated load coefficients

Should be O.K.

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Load Tables - 2 x 12" DECK

145 pcf concrete

DECK PROPERTIES

The Deck Section Properties are per foot of width. The l

value is for positive bending (in.4); t is the gage thickness in
inches; w is the weight in pounds per square foot; and

Gage

As

22
20

0.0295

1.5

0.0358

1.8

0.440
0.540

19
18
16

0.0418
0.0474
0.0598

2.1
2.4
3.1

studs
0.338
0.420
0.490
0.560
0.700

0.630
0.710
0.900

0.284
0.367
0.445
0.523
0.654

0.302
0.387
0.458
0.529
0.654

714
1010
1330
1680
2470

1990
2410
2810
3180
3990

0.36
0.43
0.51
0.57
0.72

are the section moduli for positive and negative bending

(in.3);

and

are the interior reaction and the shear in

COMPOSITE PROPERTIES

Slab
Depth

"uncracked" moments of inertia of the transformed

composite slab; in.4 per foot of width. The transformed

section analysis is based on steel; therefore, to calculate

deflections the appropriate modulus of elasticity to use is
29.5 x 106 psi.
is the factored resisting moment of the
composite slab if there are no studs on the beams (the
deck is attached to the beams or walls on which it is
resting) inch kips (per foot of width).
is the factored
vertical shear resistance of the composite system; it is the
sum of the shear resistances of the steel deck and the
concrete but is not allowed to exceed
pounds
(per foot of width). The next three columns list the
maximum unshored spans in feet; these values are
obtained by using the construction loading requirements of

the SDI; combined bending and shear, deflection, and

interior reactions are considered in calculating these
values.
is the minimum area of welded wire fabric
recommended for temperature reinforcing in the composite
slab; square inches per foot.

20 gage

number of studs as shown in the upper table are in place;

inch kips (per foot of width). is the area of concrete
available to resist shear, in.2 per foot of width. Vol. is the
volume of concrete in ft.3 per ft.2 needed to make up the
slab; no allowance for frame or deck deflection is included.
W is the concrete weight in pounds per ft.2. is the section
modulus of the "cracked" concrete composite slab; in.3 per
foot of width. is the average of the "cracked" and

4.50
5.00
5.25
5.50
6.00

6.25
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50
5.00
5.25
5.50
6.00
6.25
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50

4.50

19 gage

bottom of the steel deck to the top of the slab in inches as

shown on the sketch. U.L. ratings generally refer to the
cover over the top of the deck so it is important to be aware
of the difference in names.
is the factored resisting
moment provided by the composite slab when the "full"

18 gage

composite slab. The slab depth is the distance from the

16 gage

The Composite Properties are a list of values for the

22 gage

pounds (per foot of width); studs is the number of studs

required per foot in order to obtain the full resisting moment,

5.00
5.25
5.50

6.00
6.25

6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50
5.00
5.25
5.50
6.00
6.25
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50

5.00
5.25
5.50
6.00
6.25
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50

Max. unshored spans, ft.

1span 2span 3span
40.27
46.44
49.53
52.61

58.78
61.87
64.95
71.12
74.21
77.29
48.60
56.18

59.96
63.75
71.32
75.11

78.90
86.47
90.26
94.05
55.85
64.68
69.10
73.52
82.35
86.77
91.19
100.03
104.44
108.86
62.08
72.04
77.02
82.00
91.95
96.93
101.91
111.87
116.85
121.83

32.6
37.5

0.292
0.333

40.0
42.6
48.0
50.8
53.6
59.5
61.9
64.3
32.6
37.5
40.0
42.6
48.0
50.8
53.6
59.5
61.9
64.3
32.6
37.5
40.0
42.6
48.0
50.8
53.6

0.354
0.375
0.417
0.438
0.458
0.500
0.521
0.542
0.292

59.5
61.9
64.3
32.6
37.5
40.0
42.6
48.0
50.8
53.6
59.5
61.9

64.3
32.6

62.08
72.04 37.5
77.02 40.0
82.00 42.6
91.95 48.0
96.93 50.8
101.91 53.6
111.87 59.5
116.85 61.9
121.83 64.3

0.333
0.354
0.375
0.417
0.438
0.458
0.500
0.521
0.542

0.292
0.333
0.354
0.375
0.417
0.438
0.458
0.500
0.521
0.542
0.292
0.333
0.354
0.375
0.417
0.438
0.458
0.500
0.521
0.542
0.292
0.333
0.354
0.375
0.417

0.438
0.458
0.500
0.521
0.542

42
48
51
54
60
63
66
73
76
79
42
48

51
54

60
63
66
73
76
79
42
48
51
54
60
63
66
73
76
79
42
48
51
54

60
63

66
73
76
79

42
48
51
54
60
63
66
73
76
79

1.05
1.23
1.32
1.42
1.61
1.71
1.81
2.01
2.11
2.21
1.26
1.48
1.60
1.71
1.95
2.07
2.19
2.43
2.55
2.67
1.45
1.71
1.84
1.97
2.24
2.38
2.52
2.80
2.94

3.08
1.62
1.90
2.05
2.20
2.50
2.66

2.81
3.13
3.28
3.44
1.99
2.35
2.53

5.9
8.0
9.2
10.5
13.5
15.3
17.1
21.2
23.5
26.0
6.3
8.6

29.40
34.53
37.16
39.81
45.21
47.95
50.70
56.26
59.07
61.88
35.43
41.65

9.8

44.84

11.3
14.5
16.3
18.2
22.6
25.0
27.6
6.7
9.0
10.4
11.9
15.2
17.1
19.2
23.8
26.3
29.0
7.0
9.5
10.9
12.4
15.9
17.9
20.0
24.8
27.4
30.2
7.7
10.4
11.9

48.07

2.72
3.10

13.6

3.29
3.48
3.88

19.5
21.8

4.08

4.28

17.4

27.0
29.8
32.8

54.63
57.96
61.31

68.09
71.50
74.93
40.69
47.87
51.56
55.30
62.90
66.76
70.65
78.50
82.46

86.45
45.34
53.36
57.48
61.66
70.18
74.50
78.85
87.66
92.10
96.57
45.34
53.36
57.48
61.66
70.18
74.50
78.85

87.66
92.10

96.57

5030
5480
5720
5960
6460
6720
6980
7530
7750
7970
5450
5900
6140
6380
6880
7140
7400
7950
8170
8390
5850
6300
6540
6780
7280
7540
7800
8350
8570
8790
6080
6670
6910
7150
7650
7910
8170
8720
8940
9160
6080
6980
7450
7940
8460
8720
8980
9530
9750
9970

16-16
2003 by American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. All rights reserved.
This publication or any part thereof must not be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.

5.82
5.54
5.41
5.30
5.09
5.03
4.97
4.85
4.79
4.74
6.81
6.47
6.32
6.18
5.94
5.86
5.79
5.65
5.58
5.52
7.65
7.26
7.09
6.93
6.65
6.56
6.48
6.32
6.24
6.17
8.42
7.98
7.79
7.61
7.30
7.20
7.11
6.93
6.85
6.77
9.58
9.08
8.85
8.65
8.29
8.17
8.07
7.86
7.77
7.67

7.83
7.47
7.31
7.16
6.89
6.76
6.65
6.43
6.32
6.22
8.97
8.55
8.36
8.18
7.85
7.70
7.56
7.29
7.17
7.05
9.76
9.30
9.09
8.90
8.54
8.38
8.23
7.94
7.81
7.68
10.48
9.99
9.77
9.56
9.18
9.01
8.85
8.54
8.40
8.26
11.63
11.10
10.85
10.63
10.21
10.02
9.84
9.50
9.35
9.20

7.92
7.56
7.39
7.24
6.97
6.84
6.72
6.51
6.41
6.31
9.27
8.83
8.63
8.45
8.11
7.95
7.80
7.53
7.41
7.28
10.08
9.61
9.39
9.19
8.83
8.66
8.50
8.20
8.07
7.94
10.83
10.32
10.10
9.88
9.49
9.31
9.14
8.82
8.68
8.54
12.02
11.47
11.22
10.98
10.55
10.35
10.17
9.82
9.66
9.50

0.023
0.027
0.029
0.032
0.036
0.038
0.041
0.045
0.047
0.050
0.023
0.027
0.029
0.032
0.036
0.038
0.041
0.045
0.047
0.050
0.023
0.027
0.029
0.032
0.036
0.038
0.041
0.045
0.047
0.050
0.023
0.027
0.029
0.032
0.036
0.038
0.041
0.045
0.047
0.050
0.023
0.027
0.029
0.032
0.036
0.038
0.041
0.045
0.047
0.050

Load Tables - 2 x 12" DECK

145 pcf concrete

L, Uniform Live Loads, psf *

19 gage

20 gage

22 gage

Slab
Depth
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25

16 gage

18 gage

7.50

4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00

7.25

16 gage

18 gage

19 gage 20 gage

22 gage

7.50

4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50

5.00
5.50
6.00

6.50
7.00
7.25

7.50
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50
5.00

5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50

40.27
46.44

52.61
58.78
64.95
71.12
74.21
77.29
48.60

56.18
63.75
71.32
78.90
86.47
90.26
94.05
55.85
64.68
73.52
82.35
91.19

100.03
104.44
108.86
62.08
72.04
82.00
91.95
101.91
111.87
116.85
121.83
62.08
72.04
82.00
91.95
101.91
111.87
116.85
121.83
29.40
34.53
39.81
45.21
50.70
56.26
59.07
61.88
35.43
41.65
48.07
54.63
61.31
68.09
71.50
74.93
40.69
47.87
55.30
62.90
70.65
78.50
82.46
86.45
45.34

53.36
61.66
70.18
78.85
87.66
92.10
96.57
45.34
53.36
61.66
70.18
78.85
87.66
92.10
96.57

6.00

6.50

7.00

7.50

8.00

8.50

9.00

9.50

10.00

10.50

11.00

11.50

12.00

400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

365

310
360
400
400
400
400
400
400
380
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

265
305
350
390
400
400
400
400
325
380
400
400
400
400
400
400
380
400
400

230
265
300
335

200

175

200
230
255
285
310

95
110
125
140

400
400
400

400
400
400

400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
215
255
295
340
380
400
400
400
270
315
365

400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

120
140
155
175
195
215
225
230
150
175
200
225
245
270
285
295
180
205
235
265
295
320
335
350
200
235
265
300
335
365
385
400
200
235
265
300
335
365
385
400
80
95
110
125
140
155
165
175
100
120
140
160
180
200
210
225
120
145
165
190
215
240
255
265

105

230

135
155
175
200
220
240
250
260
170
195
225
250
280
305
320
330
200
230
265
295
330
360
375
395
225
260
300
335
375
400
400
400
225
260
300
335
375
400
400
400
90
105
125
140
160
180
190
200
115
135
160
180
205
230

85
95
110
125
135
150
155
165
110
125
140
160
175
195
205
210
130
150
170
190
210
235
245
255
145
170
195
220
245
270
280
290
145
170
195
220
245

400
400
400

400
400
400

400
400
400
400

400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

400
400
400
400
400
400

400
400
400
400
400
400

305
360
400
400
400
400
400
400

400
255
305
350
400
400
400
400
400

375

315

400
400
400
400
400
400
400

400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

375
400
400
400
400
400
400
370
400

400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

400
400

400
400

400
315
370
400
400
400
400
400
400
350
400
400
400

400
400
400
400
350
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

400

185
220
255
290
325
360
380
400
230
270
315
360
400
400
400
400

270
315
365
400
400
400
400
400
300
355
400
400

400
400
400
400
300
355
400
400
400
400
400
400

370

400
400
400

285
330
375
400
400
400
400
400
330
385
400
400
400
400
400
400
370
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
370
400
400
400
400
400
400

400
160
185
215
250
280
310
325
345
200
235
270
310
350
390
400
400

230
275
320
365
400
400
400
400
260
310
360
400
400
400
400
400
260
310
360
400
400
400
400
400

260
295
325
355
370
385
245
285
325
365
400
400
400
400
290
335
380
400
400
400
400
400
325
375
400
400
400
400
400
400
325
375
400
400
400
400
400
400
135
160
190
215
240
270
285
295
170
205
235

340
215
250
285
320
355
390
400
400
255
295
335
375
400
400
400
400
285
335
380
400
400
400
400
400
285
335
380
400
400
400
400
400
120
140
165
185
210
235
245
260
150
175
205

155
175
200
225
250
275
285
295
190
220
250
285
315
345
360
375
225
260
295
335
370
400
400
400
255
295
335
375
400
400
400
400
255
295
335
375
400
400
400
400
105
120
140
160
185
205
215
225
130
155
180

270
300

235
265

205
230

335
355
370
200
240
275
315
355
395
400
400

295
310
325
175
210
240
275
310
350
365
385
200
235
275
315
355
395
400
400
200
235
275
315
355
395
400
400

260

230
270

315
360
400
400
400
400
230
270
315
360
400
400
400
400

325

270
285

155
185
215
245
275
305
320
340
175
210
240
275
310
350
365
385
175
210
240
275
310
350
365
385

240

250
135
160
190
215
245
270
285
300
155
185
215
245
275
310
325
340
155
185
215
245
275
310
325
340

140
165
190
220
245
275

290
305
140
165
190
220
245
275
290
305

125
140
155
175
190
200
205

135
155
175
200
220
240
255
265
160
185
210
235
265
290
300
315
180
210
240
270
300
330
345
360
180
210
240
270
300
330
345
360
70
80
95
110
125
140
145
155
90
105
125
140
160
180
190
200
105
125
150
170
190
215
225
235
125
145
170

195
220
245
260
270
125
145
170
1a95
220
245
260
270

155

170
175
185
120
140
160

180
195
215
225
235
145
165
190
215
235
260
270
280
160
190
215
245
270
295
310
325
160
190
215
245
270
295

310
325
60
70
85
95
110
120
130
135
80
95
110
125
140

160
165
175
95
115
130
150
170
190
200
210
110
130
150
175
195
220
230
245
110
130
150
175
195
220
230
245

270

280
290
50
65
75
85
95
105
115
120
70
85
95
110
125
140
150
155
85
100
120
135
155
170
180
190
100
115
135
155
175
195

210
220
100
115
135
155
175
195
210
220

area above the arrow

indicates 1 STUD/FT.
area below arrow
indicates NO STUDS
* The Uniform Live Loads are based on
the LRFD equation
Although there are other load
combinations that may require
investigation, this will control most of
the time. The equation assumes there
is no negative bending reinforcement
over the beams and therefore each
composite slab is a single span. Two
sets of values are shown;
is used
to calculate the uniform load when the
full required number of studs is present;
is used to calculate the load when
no studs are present. A straight line
interpolation can be done if the
average number of studs is between
zero and the required number needed
to develop the "full" factored moment.
The tabulated loads are checked for
shear controlling (it seldom does), and
also limited to a live load deflection of
1/360 of the span.
An upper limit of 400 psf has been
applied to the tabulated loads. This has
been done to guard against equating
large concentrated to uniform loads.
Concentrated loads may require
special analysis and design to take
care of servicibility requirements not
covered by simply using a uniform load
value. On the other hand, for any load
combination the values provided by the
composite properties can be used in
the calculations.
Welded wire fabric in the required
amount is assumed for the table values.
If welded wire fabric is not present,
deduct 10% from the listed loads.
Refer to the example problems for the
use of the tables.

16-17
2003 by American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. All rights reserved.
This publication or any part thereof must not be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.

Load Tables - 2 x 12" DECK

145 pcf concrete

lav
in4

Slab
depth

wc
psf

Sc

in3

lbs.

in

4.50
5.00

42
48
54
60
66
73
76
79

1.26
1.48
1.71

5448
5902

32.6

6.3

37.5
42.6
48.0
53.6

8.6
11.3
14.5
18.2
22.6
25.0
27.6

5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50

Ac

6379
6879
7403
7950

1.95
2.19
2.43
2.55

8171

8392

2.67

59.5
61.9
64.3

Max. Unshored Spans, ft.

1 spans 2 spans 3 spans
6.81
6.47

6.18
5.94
5.79
5.65
5.58
5.52

8.97

9.27

8.55
8.18
7.85
7.56
7.29
7.17

8.83
8.45
8.11
7.80
7.53

0.023
0.027
0.032
0.036
0.041
0.045
0.047
0.050

7.41
7.28

7.05

WWF

Superimposed Live Load, psf

no studs

3 feet

2 feet

1 foot

Slab
Depth
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50
4.50
5.00
5.50
6.00
6.50
7.00
7.25
7.50

48.60

56.18
63.75
71.32

78.90
86.47
90.26
94.05
48.60
56.18
63.75
71.32
78.90
86.47

90.26
94.05
45.57

52.83
60.14
67.48
74.84
82.23
85.93
89.64
35.43
41.65
48.07
54.63
61.31

68.09
71.50
74.93

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

9.5

10.0

10.5

11.0

11.5

12.0

400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
375
400
400
400
400
400
400
400

400

380
400
400
400

325
380
400

285
330
375
400
400

245

215
250
285
320
355
390

190
220
250
285
315
345
360
375
190
220
250
285
315
345
360
375
175
205
235
265
295
325
340
355
130
155
180
205
230
260
270
285

170
195
225
250
280

150

135

120

175
200

225

155
175
200

140
160
180

245
270
285
295
150
175
200
225
245
270
285
295
140
160
185
210
230
255
265
280
100
120
140
160
180
200
210
225

220
240
255
265
135
155
175
200
220
240
255
265
125
145
165
185
205
225
240
250
90
105
125
140
160
180
190
200

195
215
225
235
120
140
160
180
195
215
225
235
110
130
145
165
185
205
215
220
80
95
110
125
140
160
165
175

110
125
140
160
175
195
205
210
110
125
140
160
175
195
205
210
100
115
130
150
165
180
190
200
70
85
95
110
125
140
150
155

400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
315
375
400
400
400

400
400
400

400
400
400
400
380
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
355
400
400
400
400
400
400
400
270
315
365
400
400
400

400
400

400
400
400
400
400
325
380
400
400
400
400
400
400
305

355
400
400
400
400
400
400
230
270
315
360
400
400

400
400

400
400
400
285
330
375
400
400
400
400
400
265
305
350
395
400
400
400
400
200
235
270
310
350

390
400
400

285
325
365
400
400
400
400
245
285
325
365
400
400
400
400
230
265
305
340
380
400
400
400
170
205
235
270
300
335
355
370

400
400
215
250
285
320
355
390

400
400
200

235
265
300
335
365
385
400
150
175
205
235
265
295

310
325

305
320
330
170
195
225
250
280
305
320
330
155
180
210
235
260
285
300
315
115
135
160
180
205
230
240
250

16-18
2003 by American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. All rights reserved.
This publication or any part thereof must not be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.