The ground slab is the foundation of a building — a horizontally cast reinforced concrete structure that transfers all building loads to the subgrade. Unlike individual and strip foundations, the ground slab distributes loads across an area, making it ideal for soils with low bearing capacity. Typical thicknesses: 15–30 cm for residential buildings, up to 200 cm for high-rises.
The construction sequence includes: excavation (excavator), bearing layer (compacted gravel), leveling layer (lean concrete), waterproofing (bituminous or plastic membranes), reinforcement (steel mats or individual bars) and concreting (concrete pump or bucket). Modern construction methods often use water-impermeable concrete (WU-concrete per DIN 1045), which combines waterproofing and structural function.
For the equipment operator, the ground slab is a critical milestone: the quality of bearing layer compaction (verified by plate bearing test) determines long-term settlement performance. Concrete cover over reinforcement must also be precisely maintained — it protects steel from corrosion and ensures structural integrity.