Use of flat slab/plates as SMRF in low risk seismic zones

[prsconsultant]

In a low risk seismic zone, can a flat slab / flat plate system be utilized as a Special Moment Resisting Frame System?

My interpretation is that we can utilize flat slab/plate system only either as an ordinary moment frame (OMF) or an intermediate moment frame IMRF). Is this a right assumption?

 

[prsconsultant]

Here is a response I got from ACI technical support staff regarding my question above:

As stated in Paulay and Priestly, Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete and Masonry Buildings, "flat slab systems supported by columns is considered to be unsuitable on its own to provide satisfactory performance under seismic actions because of excessive lateral displacements and the difficulty to providing the adequate and dependable shear transfer between columns and slabs, necessary to sustain lateral forces, in addition to gravity loads."