<P> Over 45,000 m (58,900 cu yd) of concrete, weighing more than 110,000 tonnes (120,000 short tons; 110,000 long tons) were used to construct the concrete and steel foundation, which features 192 piles; each pile is 1.5 metre in diameter by 43 m in length, buried more than 50 m (164 ft) deep . The foundation was designed to support the total building weight of approximately 450,000 tonnes (500,000 short tons; 440,000 long tons). This weight was then divided by the compressive strength of concrete of which is 30 MPa which yielded a 450 sq. meters of vertical normal effective area, which then yielded to a 12 meters by 12 meters dimensions . A cathodic protection system is under the concrete to neutralize the groundwater and prevent corrosion . </P> <P> The Burj Khalifa is highly compartmentalised . Pressurized, air - conditioned refuge floors are located every 13 floors (in floors G, 13, 26, 39, 52 etc .) where people can shelter on their long walk down to safety in case of an emergency or fire . </P> <P> Special mixes of concrete were made to withstand the extreme pressures of the massive building weight; as is typical with reinforced concrete construction, each batch of concrete was tested to ensure it could withstand certain pressures . CTLGroup, working for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, conducted the creep and shrinkage testing critical for the structural analysis of the building . </P> <P> The consistency of the concrete used in the project was essential . It was difficult to create a concrete that could withstand both the thousands of tonnes bearing down on it and Persian Gulf temperatures that can reach 50 ° C (122 ° F). To combat this problem, the concrete was not poured during the day . Instead, during the summer months, ice was added to the mixture and it was poured at night when the air was cooler and the humidity was higher . Cooler concrete cures more evenly and is therefore less likely to set too quickly and crack . Any significant cracks could have put the entire project in jeopardy . </P>

The tallest building in the world burj khalifa