Selection of one-way floor slabs based on technical, economic and sustainability criteria

This paper presents a method for finding the optimal floor slabs according to the requirements of the Spanish Building Code (CTE), the Spanish Structural Concrete Code (EHE-08) and good building practices. This method is applied to the case of one-way floor slabs with on-site cast ribs according with the characteristics and performance parameters usually offered by firms in the industry. The initial data and the variables involved in the process cover the technical viability, sustainability and monetary cost of slabs by incorporating specific ratios to assess the suitability of each solution. The method set out here may prove helpful to construction specialists who need to select optimal-cost floor slabs with the lowest environmental impacts.