buildingsfloors

Building floors are the horizontal levels that make up a structure, from basements to rooftop levels. Each floor provides a defined area of usable space and is separated from adjacent levels by a floor slab. Terminology varies by region: in many places the word floor is common, while some regions use the term storey or story for levels above ground. Basements typically house storage, parking, or mechanical spaces; the ground floor often includes entry lobbies or retail, and upper floors are used for offices, residences, hotels, or data centers. Some buildings include mechanical floors dedicated to housing building services.

Each floor plate is supported by the building’s structural system, such as columns and beams or load-bearing walls, and finished with a floor surface. Typical finished floor-to-floor heights range around 2.7 to 3.0 meters for commercial spaces, with shorter heights for residential areas. Floor layouts aim to optimize circulation, daylight, and service distribution. Common floor types include office floors, residential floors, parking levels, and mezzanines. In taller buildings, a separate mechanical floor may house HVAC equipment, generators, and other systems to simplify maintenance and reduce noise.

Vertical circulation is provided by stairs and elevators, usually concentrated in a central core. Fire safety requires compartmentalization, fire-resistance ratings, and protected egress routes. Accessibility standards mandate an accessible route to all occupiable floors and functional elevators for higher levels. Floor design also considers acoustics, thermal performance, and services routing for electrical, plumbing, and data systems. In high-rise construction, repetitive floor plates help manage cost and resilience within regional codes and occupancy requirements.