floor
Let an agent handle floors as building elements with structure, finish, load capacity and safety properties, and resolve floor as surface from floor as storey.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle floors as building elements with structure, finish, load capacity and safety properties, and resolve floor as surface from floor as storey.
The walking surface of a room or storey, and the structural layer that supports it; also, a storey or level of a building.
What it is for: Supporting people and furniture, and dividing a building into levels.
It can be walk and place things on it; finish it, with tiles, boards or coverings; load it, within its rated capacity; repair or replace it.
Distinguishing features
Horizontal and load-bearing
Structure and finish are separate layers
Has fire, acoustic and slip requirements
The word also names a storey of a building
What it looks like
A flat horizontal surface of timber, tile, stone, concrete, vinyl or carpet, over a structural deck or slab.
Physical character
imposed load: 1.5-7.5 kN/m2 - homes low, storage and assembly higher
slip resistance: PTV 36+ for low risk pendulum test value
slab thickness: 100-300 mm - concrete slabs
How it is recognised
Horizontal surface underfoot
Finishes such as floorboards, tiles or tataki earthen floors
Floor numbers and plans identify storeys
Related models
is part of - floors bound rooms
is confused with - a level of a building
is regulated by - loads, fire and acoustics
supports - the loads
In practice
Families and kinds
by structure: timber joist, concrete slab, composite, mixed wood-concrete
by finish: wood, tile, stone, vinyl, carpet, earthen
by position: ground, suspended, roof floor
raised access floors
Standards and regulation
Eurocode 1 imposed loads and national equivalents
Slip resistance standards
Fire and acoustic regulations for separating floors
Failure modes and hazards
Slips and trips
Overloading and structural failure
Rot and damp in timber floors
Noise transmission between dwellings
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.floor-attribute
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Structure What holds it up.
Structure decides capacity and life.
Structural type
Joists, slab, composite.
Structure
The structural form.
- What is the floor structure? definition
- How is it supported? definition
Capacity
Loads.
Load capacity
Design loads.
- What load is the floor designed for? measurement
- What happens with heavy items such as safes or tanks? boundary
Finish The walking surface.
The finish decides safety, comfort and cleaning.
Finish material
Wood, tile, vinyl.
Finish
The finish and its condition.
- What is the floor finish, and what condition is it in? measurement
- How should it be cleaned? action
Slip resistance
Safety of the surface.
Slip rating
Slip test results.
- What is its slip resistance, wet and dry? measurement
- Where is extra care needed? boundary
Performance Fire, sound and heat.
Separating floors must meet fire and acoustic rules.
Fire
Fire resistance.
Fire rating
The fire resistance period.
- What fire resistance does the floor provide? measurement
- Have penetrations been sealed? boundary
Acoustics and insulation
Sound and heat.
Acoustic rating
Sound and thermal performance.
- How well does it block impact and airborne sound? measurement
- Is the ground floor insulated? definition
Levels Floor as storey.
Floor numbering differs between countries and confuses people.
Numbering
Ground floor conventions.
Numbering convention
The numbering convention used.
- Which numbering convention does the building use? definition
- Is the ground floor 0 or 1 here? boundary
Access between floors
Stairs and lifts.
Vertical access
How floors are reached.
- How is this floor reached, and is there step-free access? definition
- What is the evacuation plan? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should floor as surface and floor as storey be separate entries?
- How should floor load capacity be recorded for users?
- Is the Wikidata plane for this entry correct, given it sits under media?