FOUNDATION PLAN

VIDEOS OF failed FOUNDATION

PLAN
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All structures are required to have a foundation. The
foundation provides a base to distribute the weight of
the structure into the soil. The weight, or load, must be
evenly distributed over enough soil to prevent it from
compressing the soil. In addition to resist the load from
gravity, the foundation must resist floods, winds, and
earthquakes. Where flooding is a problem, the
foundation system must be designed for the possibility
that much of the supporting soil may be washed away.
The foundation must also be designed to resist any
debris that may be carried by floodwaters.
FOUNDATION PLAN
The foundation plan is a plan view drawing, in
section, showing the location and size of
footings, piers, columns, foundation walls, and
supporting beams.
A foundation plan ordinarily includes the
following: Footings for foundation walls, piers,
and columns (hidden lines)
Pier

solid support
designed to sustain
vertical pressure.
FOOTING

The footing is the part of the

foundation that transfers the
load to a larger soil area. It's
the part of the foundation
that is in actual contact with
the soil.
• FOUNDATION WALL

A foundation wall for a

building can be a cast-
in-place concrete
retaining wall, or a
structural wall complete
with load bearing
pilasters.
COLUMN

A column or pillar in
architecture and structural
engineering is a structural
element that transmits,
through compression, the
weight of the structure above
to other structural elements
below. In other words, a
column is a compression
member.
Important role of Foundation Plan

The foundation primarily supports the structure

on top of it and to make sure it stays in place.
If it isn’t laid properly, it will be difficult to build
on top of it, leading to additional costs and
severe safety risks.
Foundation plans are crucial for the success of a construction project because they ensure the
structural integrity and stability of a building:
Structural soundness
Foundation plans ensure that the building is structurally sound and meets local building codes
and regulations.
Construction guide
Foundation plans provide a detailed blueprint for construction crews to follow, helping to
ensure that the foundation is built as designed.
Durability
A strong foundation is necessary for a building to be reliable, durable, and last a long time.
Resistance to the elements
Foundation plans ensure that the structure is resistant to wind, rain, and earthquakes.
Longevity
Detailed foundation plans help ensure that the foundation is placed and constructed
accurately, which prevents structural issues that can arise from an inaccurate or insufficiently
robust foundation design.
• What are foundations?
• Before you learn more about foundation plans, knowing what a foundation is in the
first place is a must. A foundation is the lowest portion of a structure located between
the ground and the building. The primary function of a foundation is to distribute the
load from the structure to the soil to endure the building’s overall weight. Most of the
time, foundations are constructed using poured concrete or masonry, such as
concrete blocks or brick. Masonry can resist damage from moisture and soil and
boasts high compressive strength, and protect other materials as they extend above
the ground. These foundations are typically reinforced with other materials like metal.

• Foundations can also be constructed using treated wood posts or piers, either driven
deep into the soil or rested on rock or concrete pads. Posts and piers are typically
used in flood-prone areas or with buildings constructed near or on a body of water. If
you don’t invest in a solid foundation plan, your property will risk expensive repairs,
modifications, or foreclosure. Poor foundations have a domino effect; if they don’t act
as a stable starting point, the base, support beams, and walls will soon follow suit.
Factors that affect the foundation depth
There are various types of building foundations. Most foundations are installed at various
depths except for those laid at ground level (slab-on-grade).

Several factors affect the required depth of a foundation:

Frost depth (frost line): refers to the depth to which the ground freezes during the year’s coldest
times. Frost depth is usually used to identify the minimum depth for different foundation types.
Groundwater table: a high groundwater table can dictate which foundation type can be used
and how deep the foundation can be installed. A soil study usually includes the groundwater
height.
Minimum depth: even without considering other factors, a foundation’s minimum depth is
often not less than 18 inches to account for ground-level variations and topsoil removal.
Soil bearing capacity: the soil bearing capacity determines the amount of load, force, or weight
that the existing soil will be able to endure.
Soil type: every type of soil has distinct properties that may affect its suitability to support a
foundation.
Common materials used for foundations
Foundations are often constructed with either masonry, brick or concrete block,
or poured concrete. Masonry materials provide high compressive strength and are
more resistant to damage from soil and moisture than metal and wood materials.
A masonry foundation often extends on top of the ground to protect the building
materials from moisture and other risky effects of contact with the ground.
Masonry foundations often have internal reinforcement using metal rebar or
other materials.

Most contractors typically use hydraulic cement when sealing around raceways
and pipes penetrating the concrete and masonry foundation. Some building
foundations can also be constructed with piers or treated wood posts. In these
cases, the foundation supports rest on concrete or rock pads or are driven deep
down into the earth. Piers and posts are often used when building on or near
water or flood-risk areas. The base or the sub-base of the inorganic material laid
right below the foundation is among the most critical foundation materials.
• Submerged clay and soil generally have limited bearing capacity and
cannot withstand the loads that a building imposes. This means the
soils get dug away to be replaced with a uniform, dry, dense material
like crushed stone or gravel that provides maximum bearing capacity
and shear resistance. Unlike soil, these base materials allow
subsurface water drainage and don’t expand with high moisture
levels.
oundation load transfer
A foundation must be designed to transfer the building load to the
ground uniformly, and the loading capacity must never go beyond the
soil’s bearing capacity. The foundation plans consider the projected
settling from the building to ensure every movement is controlled to
avert structural damage. The foundation’s overall design, ground
characteristics, and superstructure are studied to determine strategies
for construction.
Requirements for foundation plans
The following is a checklist of essential foundation plan features. While this list is not exhaustive, it can serve as a
helpful guide:

Dimensions and notes

Door locations and sizes
Drains and sump (if necessary)
Dwarf walls
Existing attached structures
Exterior walls
Fireplace location
Footings for foundation columns, piers, and walls
Heating appliances
Plumbing location
Room names and sizes
Smoke alarm
Window locations and sizes
Woodstove location
Steps for creating a foundation plan

Choose the location of the structure.

Choose the scale for the foundation drawing.
Find the outline of the foundation walls based on the floor plan.
Draw the foundation piers, walls, and columns.
Use the breaks in walls to indicate access holes, vents, windows, and doors.
Draw the footings for the foundation walls first, then the footings for the piers and
columns, and lastly, for the fireplaces and chimneys.
Draw the supporting beam using the centerline symbol if required.
Display the size, spacing, and direction of the floor joists or trusses.
Add in any necessary sections and dimensions.
Letter the required notes.
Shade the wall drawings.
Good practices in making
foundation plan
• Site investigation is the most important step, as
it provides the necessary information about the
soil and groundwater conditions, as well as
potential hazards and constraints. Foundation
analysis is where the foundation type and size
are determined based on load and soil data,
design criteria, and codes.
VIDEOS IN CREATING A
FOUNDATION PLAN

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Activity 101: Make a Foundation
Plan out of this Floor Plan.
Guide Dimensions
1. Column Offset – 0.50m
2. Wall Offset – 0.30m