Upper-floor structure — columns, beams and slabs you have to climb up to see

The upper-floor structure follows almost the same sequence as the ground floor. What changes is that everything is higher up. You can see the whole ground floor standing on the ground, but upstairs you have to climb the scaffolding, so people automatically inspect less — tradespeople and homeowners alike. This page therefore doesn't…

• This page contains
• The upper-floor sequence — and five moments when you should go up and look
• Column steel joints between floors
• Lap position — the answer depends on the design used
• Three ways to carry column steel up to the next floor — and dowel bars that must not be smaller than the upper column's
• Ties at the top and bottom of columns — where columns always fail first
• Transferring column centres to the upper floor
• Pouring upper-floor columns — a vibrator hose that's too short means honeycombing at the column base
• Upper-floor beam side forms — condition, prop spacing and leaks
• Steel in upper-floor slabs — three zones reinforced differently
• Propping upper-floor slabs — also a matter of people's safety
• What's exactly the same as the ground floor — no need to waste time re-inspecting