Concrete slab terminology
Understanding floor slab terminology is essential for architects, engineers, and construction professionals working on international building projects. Concrete is the most common and useful material on the planet and slabs form the horizontal structural elements in buildings—supporting loads, defining floor levels, and creating functional spaces throughout a structure.
This guide covers the most common slab types in construction English, from simple slabs to complex two-way structural systems. Practice vocabulary you’ll need to discuss slab construction methods, structural behavior, and design considerations when communicating with project teams, reviewing construction documents, or coordinating building systems.
Take a look at the concrete floor structural systems below. Which do you know and which names are you unsure about?
waffle slab with two-way beams
waffle slab
flat slab with drop panels and column capitals
flat slab with drop panels
one-way joists with beams
Test your knowledge
Match the names of the systems with the letters A, B, C, D, E in the drawing.
A. flat slab with drop panels
B. flat slab with drop panels and column capitals
C. waffle slab (two-way)
D. waffle slab with two-way beams
E. one-way joists with beams
