Floor load = dead load (slab self-weight plus finishes) and live load, combined with your code's factors. A 150 mm slab at 2,500 kg/m³ weighs 3.68 kN/m²; with 1.5 kN/m² of finishes and a 2.0 kN/m² live load, IS 456 gives 1.5 × (5.18 + 2.0) = 10.77 kN/m². A beam carrying a 4 m strip then takes 43.1 kN/m.
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Line load on the beam
43.07kN/m
End reaction (simply supported)
107.7 kN
Maximum bending moment (wL² ÷ 8)
134.6 kN·m
Slab self-weight
3.68 kPa
Dead load D (self-weight + finishes)
5.18 kPa
Live load L
2.00 kPa
Factored load per area
10.77 kPa
Preliminary loads for sizing only. Add the beam self-weight, check other load cases and continuity, and have a structural engineer design the member.
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Reaction = wL ÷ 2 = 107.7 kN; moment = wL² ÷ 8 = 134.6 kN·m (span 5.00 m)
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Formula
Self-weight = slab thickness × density × gDead load D = self-weight + finishes, partitions and servicesASCE 7: w = max(1.4D, 1.2D + 1.6L) IS 456: w = 1.5(D + L) EN 1990: w = 1.35G + 1.5QBeam: line load = w × tributary width; reaction = wL ÷ 2; moment = wL² ÷ 8Column: load = w × tributary area × floors
Worked Example
A beam carrying a 4 m strip of a 150 mm slab, 5 m span, IS 456:
Imposed Floor Loads, IS 875 (Part 2): 1987, Table 1
Occupancy
Uniform load (kN/m²)
Concentrated load (kN)
Dwelling houses: all rooms and kitchens
2.0
1.8
Dwelling houses: toilets and bathrooms
2.0
–
Dwelling houses: corridors, passages, staircases, store rooms
3.0
4.5
Dwelling houses: balconies
3.0
1.5 per metre run at the outer edge
Hotels and hostels: living rooms, bedrooms, dormitories
2.0
1.8
Hotels and hostels: dining rooms, cafeterias, restaurants
4.0
2.7
Hotels and hostels: office rooms
2.5
2.7
Educational buildings: classrooms and lecture rooms
3.0
2.7
Garages for cars up to 2.5 tonnes
2.5
9.0
For the US, take live loads from ASCE 7 Table 4.3-1 (IBC Table 1607.1); for the UK and Europe, from EN 1991-1-1 and its national annex.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between dead load and live load?
Dead load is the permanent weight of the structure and fixed finishes: slab, screed, tiles, ceilings, partitions and services. Live (imposed) load is what the use puts on the floor: people, furniture and stored goods, taken from the loading code for that use.
Which load factors should I use?
Use the combination from the code you design to: ASCE 7 (LRFD) 1.2D + 1.6L and at least 1.4D in the US; IS 456 1.5(D + L) in India; EN 1990 equation 6.10, 1.35G + 1.5Q, with the national annex in the UK and Europe.
How do I find the tributary area?
Draw lines halfway to the next beam or column on each side. A beam with beams 4 m away on both sides carries a strip 4 m wide; an inside column on a 5 × 5 m grid carries 25 m² per floor.
What live load should I use for a house?
Take it from your code for the room use. IS 875 Part 2 gives 2.0 kN/m² for rooms and kitchens in dwelling houses and 3.0 kN/m² for corridors, stairs and balconies. In the US, use ASCE 7 Table 4.3-1 (also IBC Table 1607.1).
How much does a concrete slab weigh?
Thickness × density × gravity. A 150 mm slab at 2,500 kg/m³ is 0.15 × 2,500 × 9.81 ÷ 1,000 = 3.68 kN/m²; a 6 in slab at 150 lb/ft³ is 75 psf.
Can I design a beam with these results?
Use them for preliminary sizing only. A structural engineer must check the full load cases, the member's own weight, continuity, deflection and the code's design rules.
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