Ground bearing industrial floor slabs
- Slabs cast directly on prepared ground for warehouses, factories and storage units.
- Designed for uniform loads, forklift traffic and rack line loads.
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Commercial and industrial projects • Concrete floor slab design
Industrial concrete floor slab design engineer for warehouses, factories and commercial units
If you need a safe concrete floor slab for a warehouse, factory or commercial unit, you need the loads, joints and ground conditions checked properly. We design industrial concrete floor slabs for forklifts, pallet trucks, racking and heavy machinery.
As an industrial concrete floor slab design engineer service, we deliver Building Control ready calculations and drawings within three to five working days for most projects.
- Ground bearing and suspended concrete slabs designed for forklifts, pallet trucks, racks and machinery.
- Slab thickness, reinforcement, joints and bearing pressures checked for your soil and load conditions.
- Fixed fee industrial slab calculation packs with clear drawings your contractor can follow on site.
We support developers, occupiers and contractors across the UK, providing industrial concrete floor slab design that satisfies Building Control and warranty providers and keeps projects moving on site.
What we design – industrial and commercial concrete floor slabs
We design concrete floor slabs for new industrial units, refurbishments and change of use projects across the UK.
Suspended concrete slabs
- Slabs spanning between beams or walls where the floor is above ground level.
- Used for mezzanines, plant rooms, service decks and car parks.
Heavy duty and high point load slabs
- Local thickening and reinforcement for machinery bases and racking legs.
- Checks for punching shear, crack control and long term settlement.
Slabs over poor or variable ground
- Concrete floor slabs designed to span over soft spots, fill or made ground.
- Options for ground improvement, sub base and reinforcement layout.
External service yards and loading bays
- Slabs and joint details for HGV access, loading docks and service yards.
- Surface finishes and falls to suit the drainage layout.
Commercial extensions and fit outs
- New slabs for commercial extensions, basements and plant rooms.
- Slab infills and strengthening for change of use from light to heavy loading.
Concrete floor slab engineering – how we design your slab
Every slab is designed around the loads, soil and how the floor will be used now and in the future.
Loads and use
- Forklift and pallet truck wheel loads and axle loads.
- Rack leg loads, point loads and line loads from machinery and partitions.
- Uniform storage loads and any future loading allowance you want to keep.
Ground and slab behaviour
- Soil type, bearing capacity and settlement risk from trial pits or ground reports.
- Slab thickness, reinforcement, sub base and subgrade preparation.
- Joint layout, crack control, edge thickening and load transfer at joints.
Industrial slab design across Romsey, the South East and the wider UK
We already see search traffic for industrial concrete floor slab design engineer in these areas, so they form part of our regular workload.
Romsey and South East
- Romsey and the wider South East region.
- Industrial estates, business parks and mixed use sites.
Andover, Bath and Somerset
- Andover, Bath, Wiltshire and Somerset.
- New units, refurbishments and change of use schemes.
Southampton and Portsmouth
- Southampton, Salisbury, Hampshire and Portsmouth.
- Port related yards, storage areas and logistics floors.
Other UK locations
- Other UK locations on request for industrial estates and commercial parks.
- Remote design available where good drawings and ground data are provided.
How much industrial concrete floor slab design costs
Fees depend on building size, loading and the quality of ground information, but these ranges give a sensible guide.
Small commercial slabs
- Light industrial or small warehouse units.
- Typical fee range: £550 to £850.
Medium warehouse slabs
- Warehouses with forklifts and standard racking.
- Typical fee range: £950 to £1,400.
Heavy duty / complex slabs
- High point loads, poor ground or multiple design cases.
- Typical fees from £1,500 upward, agreed to a fixed scope.
What the fee includes
- Full calculation pack, drawings and specification ready for Building Control.
- Reasonable follow up with your project team and Building Control officer.
You receive a fixed fee before we start. If the scope changes, we agree any update before extra work is carried out.
When you need a structural engineer for concrete slabs
These are the situations where a designed industrial concrete floor slab is essential rather than a simple rule of thumb.
New industrial and commercial buildings
- You are building a new warehouse, factory or commercial unit.
- You are adding an industrial extension or new production area.
Traffic and storage loads
- You have forklifts, pallet trucks or other regular wheeled traffic.
- You have high rack leg loads, heavy machinery bases or point loads.
Poor or variable ground
- The ground is poor, filled or variable and you need the slab to bridge over weak areas.
- You want to avoid excessive settlement or cracking in service.
Compliance and risk
- You are adding a suspended concrete floor or mezzanine to a commercial building.
- Building Control, warranty providers or insurers have asked for slab calculations.
Our industrial slab design process
A simple four step process that takes you from enquiry to a Building Control ready slab design pack.
1. Send your information
- Architect or engineer drawings, ground report or trial pit notes and a short summary of how the slab will be used.
2. Fixed fee and scope confirmation
- We confirm the scope, design outputs and a fixed fee for the industrial concrete floor slab design.
3. Design and checks
- We carry out the calculations, prepare the drawings and check slab behaviour and bearing pressures.
4. Issue pack and answer queries
- You receive the full PDF pack. We then deal with reasonable queries from your project team or Building Control.
Industrial concrete floor slabs – frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions we hear most often about industrial floor slab design and when you need calculations.
Do industrial concrete floor slabs need structural calculations?
Yes. Any slab carrying forklifts, racks or machinery should be designed by a structural engineer. Loads, joints, soil conditions and long term settlement all need to be checked.
How thick should an industrial concrete floor slab be?
Many industrial slabs fall in the range 150 to 250 mm, but the correct thickness depends on wheel loads, rack loads, soil conditions and the type of reinforcement and sub base. We set the thickness as part of the design.
What concrete grade is used for industrial floors?
A common starting point is C30/37 concrete with appropriate reinforcement and cover, but exposure class, durability and loading may lead to a higher or lower grade. The specification is included in your pack.
Do I need expansion or contraction joints in the slab?
Large floor areas and temperature changes usually require joints to control cracking. Joint spacing and details depend on slab size, thickness and reinforcement. We show joint types and locations on the drawings.
How long does a concrete slab take to cure before heavy use?
Concrete gains most of its strength in the first seven days and reaches its design strength at around twenty eight days. Early trafficking may need temporary limits or extra protection. Your contractor will plan this on site with our design strength in mind.
Can you design slabs for future heavier loads?
Yes. If you expect to upgrade forklifts, rack heights or machinery in the future we can include a higher design load now so the slab does not need strengthening later. Mention this when you send your enquiry.
What our industrial and commercial clients say
A few short comments from clients who used us as their industrial concrete floor slab design engineer.
Warehouse extension – Southampton
Forklift slab with rack loading
“We needed a slab design for a new warehouse with forklift traffic and high racks. The calculations and drawings were clear and Building Control approved them first time.”
Industrial unit fit out – Andover
Heavy machinery floor
“They designed a reinforced slab for machinery and set out all the joint details. Communication was good and the contractor said the information was easy to use.”
Distribution centre – Wiltshire
Slab over variable ground
“Ground conditions were not straightforward but they gave us clear options and explained the pros and cons. The final design has performed well in service.”
Request a quote for industrial concrete floor slab design
Use this form to outline your project. Your enquiry goes straight to a structural engineer who specialises in industrial slabs.
Tell us about your concrete floor slab
Share a few details so we can review the drawings and ground information and confirm the right slab type, thickness and a fixed fee for your industrial concrete floor slab design.
This form connects to our central SECalcs email. You will usually hear back from a structural engineer within one working day.
Ready to move your industrial floor slab design forward?
If you are planning a new warehouse, factory or commercial unit and want clear structural calculations for the concrete floor slab, send us a few details and we will confirm the next steps and a fixed fee.
- Head Office: Corwell Lane, Uxbridge, England, UB8 3DE.
- 07359 267907
- info@structuralengineercalcs.com
- Company No: 12653163