Floor level (FL)
Contents |
[edit] Floor Level
Floor level is a general, informal term to describe the Finished Floor Level (FFL) of a building, but as it is an informal term it may refer to a bare unfinished floor level also.
[edit] Finished Floor Level (FFL)
Finished Floor Level (FFL) is a planning and setting out term used in the design and construction of buildings, it may sometimes appear shortened to FFL on planning, layout and technical drawings. As it suggests, it indicates the intended level a floor should be at once finished ie once all the different sundry items are installed, for example insulation, screed, underlay and carpet.
[edit] Structural Floor Level (SFL) / Structural Slab Level (SSL)
Structural Floor Level (SFL) or sometimes Structural Slab Level (SSL) in the case of concrete frame buildings, describes the floor level prior to the addition of finishing items such as screed, underlay and flooring. The numerical measure will normally be written next to the abbreviation on a drawing often with a + to indicate vertical increase or - in the case of basements. The figure will be a certain amount above or below whatever the agreed setting out position or datum is. For example the setting out position might be 0.00, the SSL +3.0 and the FFL +3.3.
[edit] Building Ground Level (BGL)
Building Ground Level (BGL) might be used to describe the setting out position for the building ie the 0.00 from which all other levels will be measured. The height of this in relationship to the site itself will depend on the approach taken and agreed by the project team, though it will normally be slightly higher than the Ordinace Survey (OS) Level or Natural Ground Level (NGL) to allow for structural foundations.
[edit] Ordinance Survey (OS) level
Ordinance Survey (OS) level, is based on the accepted levels or measures of the lay of land across the United Kingdom, these are calculated through the use of Ordnance Survey Bench marks (BMs) which are survey marks that are made by Ordnance Survey to record the height of the landscape above Ordnance Datum. Based on these and the process of surveying, the more localised OS or what might be call Natural Ground Levels are calculated and recorded.
[edit] Natural Ground Level ( NGL)
Natural Ground Level ( NGL) is the accepted datum for a site prior to any excavation works to lay the foundations of the building.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Review and comment on the revised draft before July 11.
We are indeed now 10 years old, so go on and be bold !
Write about something you know, help us build and grow !
IHBC's 25th anniversary 2022 Aberdeen School.
A blended event and triumphant return.
New Construction Leadership Council Co-Chair selected.
Mark Reynolds succeeds Andy Mitchell as Co-Chair of CLC
Designing Buildings is 10 years old.
Types of work to existing buildings.
From alteration to deconstruction on DB.
Publication available
BSRIA Conference 2022, June 23.
Refurbishment for Net Zero.
In the sunshine things get hotter.
Understanding temperature in buildings on DB.
Giving power to the consumer on the road to net-zero.
A call for home energy management to be modernised.
How many different types can you think of ?
50th anniversary of the first Pride parade UK.
Looking back and fourth to what still needs to be done.
Cleaning up air quality and the Environment Act 2021.
Targets, impacts and action from ECA member.
Balkrishna Doshi wins Royal Gold Medal 2022.
Pioneering Indian environmental design Architect.
The greenest building is the one already built.
History of Temple Meads rewritten.
UK crying out for female tradespeople says CIOB research.
Currently standing at just 1%.
Find out more with BSRIA.
A cricket pitch is 1 chain long whilst 80 chains is a mile.
What is your pledge ?
Cabman shelters.
Changes come into force for F,L,O and S.
CIAT member reasons on why it matters.
Are there still ‘lessons to learn’ from Grenfell ?
Nine in ten civil engineers think so.
IHBC Annual School, 15-18 June.
The Jubilee® worm drive hose clip or Jubilee clip.
A trusted clip with a long history, worth celebrating.
The new wave of green architectural features in context.
CIAT report on new route to CSCS cards
For built environment professionals.