Decision support model for one-way floor slab design: A sustainable approach

• A decision support model to assist in the design of one-way slabs is presented.
• A decision criterion based on the embodied CO2 and the total cost is established.
• Decision trees represent a useful tool to select design parameters in the slabs.
• Response surface plots estimate the embodied CO2 reduction and the cost increase.

Flooring system design has traditionally focused on reducing weight and minimizing costs. However, in recent years, the focus of this sector has shifted to include improving the environmental performance of building materials and construction systems. In this paper, we propose a decision support model for selecting design parameters for one-way floor slabs. This study aims to determine environmentally-friendly and cost-effective solutions that take into account the regulatory codes, materials and manufacturing process normally applied in Spain. To this end, we established a decision criterion based on the embodied CO2 and the overall cost of one-way floor slabs. Three decision trees were created to formulate useful rules to guide decisions on the design of one-way floor slabs. Finally, this case study conducted in Spain indicates that embodied CO2 can be reduced by almost 20% with a cost increase of less than 6%.