Column

Summary

Column - a vertically spanning, load bearing element which supports a structure above the concrete slab.

Technical Information

In warehouses, the columns are usually a prefabricated steel H sections which form part of the steel superstructure of the warehouse. They are usually bolted into a concrete foundation or pedestal below ground level. At surface level, the concrete slab is cast around the column.

Because columns are a fixed element of the structure, they can cause problems for the surrounding concrete slab post-construction, as they restrain the movement of the slab as it shrinks. If nothing is done to remedy this, it can lead to cracking in the slab. Therefore, it is important to create encasements and isolation details around columns so that they cause no restraint to the movement of the rest of the concrete slab.

The end-user of the warehouse usually prefers to position their racks in line with columns in order to maximise the space available in the aisles for Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) movement.