THUMB RULE For Column SIZE

For columns/walls, this is usually the rule of thumb I use to estimate preliminary sizes of
columns. I will try to explain it in a manner to show you how I came up with these rules:
The ACI equation is as follows:
0.65 x 0.8 x [0.85 f’c( Ag-Ast) + Ast Fy]. Considering Fy = 500 MPa.
1. For 0% Steel: Ultimate Capacity = 0.442 f’c Ag

2. For 1% Steel: Ultimate Capacity = 0.4375 f’c Ag + 2.6 Ag
3. For 2% Steel: Ultimate Capacity = 0.43316 f’c Ag + 5.2
4. For 3% Steel: Ultimate Capacity = 0.42874 f’c Ag + 7.8 Ag
Standard Compressive Strength in buildings: 20 MPa, 30 MPa, 40 MPa, 50 MPa
Now to give you an example of how that works.
Say you have a 30 story Residential building, and you column is supporting a tributary area of
8 x 8 Square meters, then the calculation would be as follows:
A good estimate for ultimate load in residential building is around 20 KPa.
So your load would be around 20 x 8 x 8 x 30 = 38400 KN
Say you are planning to use an f’c of 40 MPa and you’re making estimate based on 2% steel,
then you simply divide 38400/2.25264 = 17046
For a square column, Sqrt(17046) = 130.56 So a column 130 cm x 130 cm would suffice.
In other words, say you have a column that is 50 x 80. (The dimensions are in centimeters).
Then the capacity would be 50 x 80 x 2.25264 = 9010 KN.
These usually work in high rise buildings because compression is usually the critical value.
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What is the thumb rule for footing size, column size and reinforcement design for
construction work of a ground floor + two stories bungalow?
Sampath N, former Asst. Professor at Velammal Engineering College '10 (2010-2015)

Answered March 22, 2019
There is no thumb rule. Do a structural analysis, do the design. It depends on span
If the column spacing are less than or equal to 3 m , you can follow below
Column
At basement = 230×300
Above GL = 230×230
Steel 4 no. 12 dia
Beam
230x300
Footing
Interior = 1200×1200
Exterior = 1000×1000
Corner = 900×900
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How should I assume the initial size of RCC columns and beams of a building by the
thumb rule?
Beam effective depth= Span/12 (or anything between span/15 to span/10 is good to start
with)
Beam width= C/C distance between adjacent slabs (perpendicular to the span direction)/12.
Generally architect will ask to restrict width to 250 mm (little more than width of wall).
Suppose you got the width of the beam as 350mm by using the above stated thumb rule and
the effective depth of the beam was 700 mm (as per the effective depth thumb rule). Then,
use the following equation to determine the increased effective depth. 350 x 700^2=250 x
d^2.
I'm not sure if there is a thumb rule for column design. I think it depends on the load path of
your structure. However, it is easy to design column using SP16. Moreover, it's quickly done.
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What is the standard size of a column for building?
First of all , the question is which type of column you are using timber , concrete etc .
Now a days RCC columns are widely used ,here is the detail about it.
The size of the columns depends on the total load on the columns.
Minimum size of the column should not be less than 9”x9”.
9”x9” columns are to be used for a single storey structure with M15 (1:2:4) (cement : sand : aggregate ) grade of concrete.
In case, 9”x9” column size is to be used for 1 and half storey structure, then it is advised to use M20 (1:1.5:3) (cement : sand :
aggregate ) grade concrete.
A safe and structurally sound column size for a 1 and half storey structure should not be less than 12”x9” using M15 grade
concrete. This should be in your most preferred and practical options list.
Distance between the columns
Try to maintain equal distance between the centres of two columns. Always plan a column layout on a grid.
The distance between two columns of size 9”x9” should not be more than 4m centre to centre of column.
If larger barrier free distances are required then going for larger column size is to be used.
The size of the columns increase because of two factors:
1 . Increase in the distance between two columns (This increases the dimensions of the columns as well the depth of the
beam.)
2 . Height of the building (Increase in the number of floors is directly proportional to the dimensions of the columns.
Alignment of Columns
A rectangular grid is to be made for placing the columns. This helps in avoiding mistakes and placing in columns can be done
in the right way.
The columns can preferably be arranged in two different fashions:
1 . In a straight line with the help of a grid

2 . In a circular fashion for circular buildings.
Zigzag arrangement of columns is an absolutely wrong way of working out Structural design. It should be remembered that
when columns are erected, beams are laid connecting the columns.
The Zigzag column placement causes three major issues:
1 . Unbalanced load transfer

2 . Problems in wall construction
3 . Problems in laying beams
(This picture shows a rough design of columns for multistory buildings )
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What is the size of the column reinforcement for a two-storey building with a span
of 4.5 meters?
For a Residential Building max column stress applied = 15kN/m2
im assuming a span of 4.5m x4.5m span in both sides of the column .(imagine the column in
plan view and and from the center of the column to another column is 4.5m in both
horizontal and vertical direction)
hence the tributary area = 4.5m x 4.5m
Number of floors = 3 (Ground Level to Level 2)

1) assume the columns are short
2) and Asc=0 (meaning no reinforcement)
fcu = 25N/mm2
N = 15 x 4.5 x 4.5 x 3 =911.25 kN (Axial Force approximately)
using BS8110 equation 39,
N= 0.35fcu x Acc + 0 ——→(N should be in newtons ,because it uses SI dimensions)
solve for Acc, Acc = 104,142.85 mm2
get the squareroot of Acc=322.71mm2,
Keep note that we neglected that there is no steel reinforcement available in column.Hence
we can adapt the column size to 325mm x 325mm.this size is very conservative.
usually in a column,the steel reinforcement area is 2% (typically) of Acc. using this assumption
we can further reduce the column size ,
N = 0..5fcu x Acc + 0.67 x Asc x fy————-> Asc = 0.02Acc
solve for Acc, Acc=48,823.94mm2 and take square root
then column width is =220.96mm,
therefore you can adapt for 225mm x 225mm for 1 Hour fire resistance.
i hope this helped. if there are any doubts please comment below, thank you.
[ DO NOT REDUCE THE COLUMN WIDTH IN A RIDICULE WAY,BECAUSE THE MINIMUM WIDTH OF COLUMN DEPENDS ON
HOURS IN FIRE RESISTANCE,refer figure 3.2 in BS8110.]
you can use for 225mm x 225mm column reinforcement as 4T12 + 4T16 .this is a rough calculation only.
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What is the size of footing for a 3 story building?
This is a general question and the answer is subject to many factors as such.
The answer is tentatively 2.0 metres x 2.0 metres isolated footing.
The foremost criterion is the Safe Bearing Capacity(SBC) of soil(bearing stratum).
Secondly the Final reaction coming to the column. That depends on factors like type of
construction like walls, type of occupancy for live loads, dead load intensity and most
important the span of beams(spacing of columns).
Assuming a load of 300KN/floor and SBC of 250KN/SqM , 2 metrex 2 metre footing is

satisfactory. Generally 1.5m x1.5 m to 2.0mx2.0m is applicable.
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What depth of foundation is needed in a 3-storey building?
Astitwa Sharma, B.Tech Civil Engineering, Visvesvaraya Technological University

(2015)
Answered July 5, 2017
The depth of foundation depends on several factors, the soil type (cohesive/non
cohesive), angle of repose, safe bearing capacity, standard penetration value to
begin with. These site specific parameters will govern the minimum depth of
foundation by using Rankine's formula. Other factors like stability of slopes, soil
liquefaction, settlement and faults should also be considered for the design of
foundations. By thumb rule 1.5-2 meters depth is adequate for a three storey
building, however, this is not always the case. A proper soil inspection would
extract the necessary parameters and substantiate whether or not the design is
safe.

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For columns/walls, this is usually the rule of thumb I use to estimate preliminary sizes of

The ACI equation is as follows:

1. For 0% Steel: Ultimate Capacity = 0.442 f’c Ag

Now to give you an example of how that works.

A good estimate for ultimate load in residential building is around 20 KPa.

So your load would be around 20 x 8 x 8 x 30 = 38400 KN

Then the capacity would be 50 x 80 x 2.25264 = 9010 KN.

Sampath N, former Asst. Professor at Velammal Engineering College '10 (2010-2015)

Steel 4 no. 12 dia

What is the standard size of a column for building?

Minimum size of the column should not be less than 9”x9”.

Distance between the columns

The size of the columns increase because of two factors:

The columns can preferably be arranged in two different fashions:

1 . In a straight line with the help of a grid

The Zigzag column placement causes three major issues:

1 . Unbalanced load transfer

(This picture shows a rough design of columns for multistory buildings )

For a Residential Building max column stress applied = 15kN/m2

hence the tributary area = 4.5m x 4.5m

Number of floors = 3 (Ground Level to Level 2)

2) and Asc=0 (meaning no reinforcement)

N = 15 x 4.5 x 4.5 x 3 =911.25 kN (Axial Force approximately)

using BS8110 equation 39,

N= 0.35fcu x Acc + 0 ——→(N should be in newtons ,because it uses SI dimensions)

solve for Acc, Acc = 104,142.85 mm2

get the squareroot of Acc=322.71mm2,

N = 0..5fcu x Acc + 0.67 x Asc x fy————-> Asc = 0.02Acc

solve for Acc, Acc=48,823.94mm2 and take square root

then column width is =220.96mm,

What is the size of footing for a 3 story building?

The answer is tentatively 2.0 metres x 2.0 metres isolated footing.

The foremost criterion is the Safe Bearing Capacity(SBC) of soil(bearing stratum).

Assuming a load of 300KN/floor and SBC of 250KN/SqM , 2 metrex 2 metre footing is

What depth of foundation is needed in a 3-storey building?

Astitwa Sharma, B.Tech Civil Engineering, Visvesvaraya Technological University

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