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Concrete expands when heated and contracts when cooled. Roads are built with gaps filled in with rubber, tar or other flexible mass which will not wash away when it rains. This prevents them from cracking into pieces as they contract in winter and prevents and buckling when it is hot in summer and the slabs expand. Bridges have gaps, usually a set of metal 'teeth' to prevent them from crushing themselves.

If the gap is at vertical columns it is because the slab must be isolated from the columns so that when the building moves it will not crack the slab. The boxes (or diamonds) are lined around the perimeter of the opening with 1/2" expansion material and around the column to all movement (including the expansion and contraction of the slab itself).

There are reasons to leave other holes such as for future Plumbing work etc.

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