Concrete Slab Analysis Case Study
Overcoming Challenges in Slab Analysis for Facility Upgrades
- Customer: Large Material Handling Facility
- Project: Steel equipment platforms and structures; second opinion on slab analysis
- Challenge: A poorly executed 3rd-party slab analysis resulted in a 5-month delay in design and construction and unnecessary costs.
A major facility upgrade required slab evaluation to support multiple equipment and platform structures. Steele Solutions (SSI) provided critical column, base plate, and loading data at the outset, but the slab analysis was assigned to a 3rd-party civil engineer hired by the project owner.
- Miscommunication delayed the slab evaluation process by over 2 months.
- The final analysis was overly conservative, recommending costly design changes such as additional support columns, enlarged base plates, and column relocations.
- The conservative slab analysis resulted in significant rework.
- The delays and rework put the project another month behind schedule.
To compound the issue, on-site inspections later revealed discrepancies in the slab data, requiring re-evaluation. The final analysis determined that new foundations were necessary, leading to further delays and increased costs.
Steele Solutions’ Role
As a partner on the project, Steele Solutions stepped in to help, providing:
- Comprehensive Load Information: SSI delivered precise column, base plate, and loading data to streamline the slab evaluation process.
- Industry Expertise: SSI’s team consistently provided detailed feedback and coordination support, mitigating further disruptions.
- Integrated Communication: While not directly responsible for the initial slab analysis, SSI worked closely with all parties to align objectives, reduce miscommunication, and address gaps caused by the 3rd-party engineer.
The Result
The project faced a 5-month delay and a 5% increase in structural costs due to miscommunication, inaccurate building information, and a conservative slab analysis from a 3rd party. However, SSI’s continued coordination ensured:
- Minimization of additional delays during re-evaluation.
- A second-opinion slab analysis to accurately meet the high-concentration loads of the new steel structures.
- Successful implementation of a revised design, meeting project requirements despite initial challenges.
Client Feedback
The owner acknowledged the critical role Steele Solutions played in minimizing further disruptions. They recognized SSI’s ability to streamline communication, offer industry-specific expertise, and provide accurate slab analysis data as instrumental in salvaging the project timeline and budget.
“By consolidating slab analysis and structural design under one trusted partner, projects can avoid delays, unexpected expenses, and unnecessary complexity.”
Contact Steele Solutions today to learn how we can support your next project with expert slab analysis and structural design services.