Guidance and Industry News
Composite slab design responsibility – Who’s responsible for what? And how can SMD help?
The word ‘design’ can mean different things to different people. In this article useful industry references are used to discuss…
Posted: 28/09/23
Welded Shear Studs or Shot-fired Shear Connectors?
In steel-concrete composite construction, shear connectors, welded or shot-fired, play a crucial role in connecting the concrete slab to the…
Posted: 03/08/23
Composite Slab Cantilevers
Safety over performance Maximum unpropped slab cantilevers are not entirely based on the performance of the deck or slab. The…
Posted: 22/05/23
Why stud tolerance should be important to U!
Shear studs are typically specified at standard spacings. Where the beams are perpendicular to the deck, the profile geometry controls…
Posted: 31/08/22
Design Guidance – Using VoidSafe®
Design Guidance – Using VoidSafe® Helpful Early Design Considerations What is VoidSafe® and why use it? Health and Safety considerations…
Posted: 08/06/22
Totally LIT!
Totally LIT! Our Best Practice Data Sheets are no longer available… find out why? For many years we have provided…
Posted: 11/05/22
Studs on raking beams – Stud placement and spacings
The quantity, or spacing, of shear studs on a composite steel beam is specified by the steel designer and shown…
Posted: 27/04/22
Construction deflections with steel beams, metal decking and concrete slabs
This video demonstrates deflections during the construction phase of a steel frame building with metal deck and concrete slabs, and…
Posted: 14/04/22
Steel fibre reinforcement – The same, but different!
Its been over 15 years since SMD partnered with ArcelorMittal Wire Solutions to develop and test the TAB-Deck® steel fibre…
Posted: 17/11/21
When does a composite slab need additional bottom bars for fire?
In most situations composite slabs are designed for fire using only a light mesh reinforcement in the top of the…
Posted: 25/10/21
Pre-studded beams
The importance of early design communication for pre-studded beams The shear stud provides an important function transferring forces between the…
Posted: 05/05/21
Ferrules and concrete
In the last month, the technical helpdesk has seen an increase in queries about ceramic ferrules and concrete – so…
Posted: 17/02/21
Elements® Floor Deck TutorialElements® Version 2.1, released in March 2018. Floor Deck Design and Calculation Tutorial This tutorial takes you on a step-by-step process… Posted: 05/04/18 
Slab surface finishes & tolerances on metal deckingExpected tolerances It is important to understand the various surface finishes that can be achieved using metal decking, as these… Posted: 28/03/18 
Temporary Construction Loads on Composite SlabsMEWP access and slab design Contractor’s regularly require access to the slab, with MEWPs or other work platforms before the… Posted: 28/03/18 
Openings in Structural Roof DecksRules and design considerations Openings are often required to be formed through structural roof decks. Here are some basic rules… Posted: 28/03/18 
Pouring Composite SlabsDeflections and loadings When pouring a composite slab on metal decking, the process in which it is created will cause… Posted: 28/03/18 
Forming service holes in composite slabsOpenings Openings and service holes are regularly required through composite slabs to allow services to pass from floor to floor. A summary… Posted: 27/03/18 |
