What is the minimum and maximum center to center distance between the two columns in RCC building?

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By Shravan

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What is the minimum and maximum center to center distance between the two columns in RCC building?

Center to center distance between columns is the measurement of length between two columns in building. Columns are the vertical components in the building structure which is used to support the slab section for the building model. The column sections related to the rectangular, square, circular or polygon sections are basically used in RCC structure design. As per the structural design considerations square column sections are having more advantage than rectangular, circular or polygon section because the loading distribution will be same in case of square columns than other sections. In this article I will explain you what are the factors that are effects the center to center distance between the RCC column sections. And what is the minimum center to center distance, maximum center to center distance between two column sections.

center to center distance
Distance between two columns

The distance between the two RCC column sections depends upon the following factors.

  1. Loading on the structure
  2. Architectural specifications
  3. Use of the building
  4. Height of the building

1. Loading on the structure

Basically loads are classified in to gravity loads and lateral loading conditions. The loading condition which is applied through the gravitational force is come under gravity loading and the loading condition which comes perpendicular to the gravity loading is comes under the lateral loading condition.

Under the gravity loading conditions the loads related to the dead load, live load and floor loads are considered and the loads related to the seismic load and wind loads are comes under the lateral loading condition case.

Due to the effect of the gravity loading effect like dead load, live load and floor loads in the building structure the deflection is occurred in vertical direction. And due to lateral loading conditions  like seismic loading effect and wind loading effect the defection of the building will occur in the horizontal case through length and the width of the building structure.

If the loading condition is high on the building the less values of center to center distance is considered, and if the loading condition is less than the higher values of center to center distance considered for basic RCC building structures.

2. Architectural specifications

The center to center distance between RCC column sections is also depends upon the architectural plan and specifications of the building structure. Depending upon the requirements of the customer or client the distance between the two column sections increases or decreases.

Column distance
                       Column sections in the site

If the client is required high center to center distance between the column section the depth of the beam section increases for the building in order to resist the total loading condition on the building structure. At the same time it effects on the cross section of the column in the building structure.

The complete concepts of depth and width of the beam section is explained in my precious article please click here to see.

3. Use of the building

There are the different types of the related to the residential buildings, educational buildings, institutional buildings, assembly buildings, business buildings, mercantile buildings, industrial buildings and storage buildings. Depends upon building type considerations the number of columns and center to center distance between RCC column sections increases or decreases.

For the industrial buildings, assembly buildings and storage buildings the center to center distance is assumed as high values when we compared with other type of structures like residential, business buildings etc.

4. Height of the building

The height of the building structure is the last and fourth factor we will consider in building design. If the building height is increases the total loading on the building also increases due to that reason the distance between two columns are decreases. But for specific buildings under specified conditions this factor will not effects the center to center distance.

What is the center to center distance between two RCC columns? What is the distance between RCC columns?

The distance between the two RCC column sections is classified in to three types.

  1. Normal condition distance
  2. Minimum distance
  3. Maximum distance

Normal condition center to distance

For normal building structure the regular center to center distance between two column sections are considered as   12’0” to 16’0” distance, which is approximately 3m to 5m distance under normal condition.

Minimum center to distance

The minimum distance is the least value of center to center distance considered in building design. For the building structures the minimum value is taken as approximately 8’0” distance, which is approximately 2.5m as the least value in design of building.

Maximum center to center distance

The maximum distance is the higher value of center to center distance considered in building design. For the building structures the maximum distance between two RCC columns design is taken as approximately of 24’0” which is 7.5m in distance.

The complete concepts of distance between two RCC column sections is explained in my YouTube channel Civil engineering by shravan please click here to see.

Conclusions for center to center distance between two RCC columns

Well now the above explained concepts are related to the minimum, maximum and normal center to center distance between two RCC column sections.

It is dived in to 3 types related to the Normal condition distance, minimum center to center distance and maximum center to center distances. Basically four factors are considered in building design mainly loading on the structure, architectural specifications, use of the building and height of the building.

Under the normal condition center to center distance is considered as 12’0” to 16’0”, for the minimum condition the center to center distance between column section is taken as 8’0” which is approximately equal to 2.5m and for the maximum case the distance between the columns is assumed as 24’0” which is approximately equal to the 7.5m.

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