Division B
Acceptable Solutions

Part 9 — Housing and Small Buildings

Section 9.15. Footings and Foundations

9.15.1. Application

9.15.1.1. General

1) Except as provided in Articles 9.15.1.2. and 9.15.1.3., this Section applies to

a) concrete or unit masonry foundation walls and concrete footings not subject to surcharge

i) on stable soils with an allowable bearing pressure of 75 kPa or greater, and

ii) for buildings of wood-frame or masonry construction,

b) wood-frame foundation walls and wood or concrete footings not subject to surcharge

i) on stable soils with an allowable bearing pressure of 75 kPa or greater, and

ii) for buildings of wood-frame construction, and

c) flat insulating concrete form foundation walls and concrete footings not subject to surcharge (see A-9.15.1.1.(1)(c) and 9.20.1.1.(1)(b) in Appendix A)

i) on stable soils with an allowable bearing pressure of 75 kPa or greater, and

ii) for buildings of light-frame or flat insulating concrete form construction that are not more than 2 storeys in building height, with a maximum floor to floor height of 3 m, and containing only a single dwelling unit.

BC2012  2012-01-01 R1NC2010  2010-01-01 R1

1) Except as provided in Articles 9.15.1.2. and 9.15.1.3., this Section applies to

a) concrete or unit masonry foundation walls and concrete footings not subject to surcharge

i) on stable soils with an allowable bearing pressure of 75 kPa or greater, and

ii) for buildings of wood-frame or masonry constructionconstruction,

b) wood-frame foundation walls and wood or concrete footings not subject to surcharge

i) on stable soils with an allowable bearing pressure of 75 kPa or greater, and

ii) for buildings of wood-frame constructionconstruction, and

c) flat insulating concrete form foundation walls and concrete footings not subject to surcharge (see A-9.15.1.1.(1)(c) and 9.20.1.1.(1)(b) in Appendix A)

i) on stable soils with an allowable bearing pressure of 75 kPa or greater, and

ii) for buildings of light-frame or flat insulating concrete form constructionconstruction that are not more than 2 storeys in building height, with a maximum floor to floor height of 3 m, and containing only a single dwelling unit.

1) Except as provided in Articles 9.15.1.2. and 9.15.1.3., this Section applies to

a) concrete or unit masonry foundation walls and concrete footings not subject to surcharge

i) on stable soils with an allowable bearing pressure of 75 kPa or greater, and

ii) for buildings of wood-frame or masonry constructionconstruction,

b) wood-frame foundation walls and wood or concrete footings not subject to surcharge

i) on stable soils with an allowable bearing pressure of 75 kPa or greater, and

ii) for buildings of wood-frame constructionconstruction, and

c) flat insulating concrete form foundation walls and concrete footings not subject to surcharge (see A-9.15.1.1.(1)(c) and 9.20.1.1.(1)(b) in Appendix A)

i) on stable soils with an allowable bearing pressure of 75 kPa or greater, and

ii) for buildings of light-frame or flat insulating concrete form constructionconstruction that are not more than 2 storeys in building height, with a maximum floor to floor height of 3 m, and containing only a single dwelling unit.

2) Foundations for applications other than as described in Sentence (1) shall be designed in accordance with Section 9.4.

9.15.1.2. Permafrost

1) Buildings erected on permafrost shall have foundations designed by a designer competent in this field in accordance with the appropriate requirements of Part 4.

9.15.1.3. Foundations for Deformation-Resistant Buildings

1) Where the superstructure of a detached building conforms to the requirements of the deformation resistance test in Z240.2.1, “Structural Requirements for Manufactured Homes,” the foundation shall be constructed in conformance with

a) the remainder of this Section, or

b) CSA Z240.10.1, “Site Preparation, Foundation, and Anchorage of Manufactured Homes.”

9.15.2. General

9.15.2.1. Concrete

1) Concrete shall conform to Section 9.3.

9.15.2.2. Unit Masonry Construction

1) Concrete block shall conform to CAN/CSA-A165.1, “Concrete Block Masonry Units,” and shall have a compressive strength over the average net cross-sectional area of the block of not less than 15 MPa.

2) Mortar, grout, mortar joints, corbelling and protection for unit masonry shall conform to Section 9.20.

3) For concrete block foundation walls required to be reinforced,

a) mortar shall be Type S, conforming to CAN/CSA-A179, “Mortar and Grout for Unit Masonry,”

b) grout shall be coarse, conforming to CAN/CSA-A179, “Mortar and Grout for Unit Masonry,” and

c) placement of grout shall conform to CAN/CSA-A371, “Masonry Construction for Buildings.”

9.15.2.3. Pier-Type Foundations

1) Where pier-type foundations are used, the piers shall be designed to support the applied loads from the superstructure.

2) Where piers are used as a foundation system in a building of 1 storey in building height, the piers shall be installed to support the principal framing members and shall be spaced not more than 3.5 m apart along the framing, unless the piers and their footings are designed for larger spacings.

3) The height of piers described in Sentence (2) shall not exceed 3 times their least dimension at the base of the pier.

4) Where concrete block is used for piers described in Sentence (2), they shall be laid with cores placed vertically, and where the width of the building is 4.3 m or less, placed with their longest dimension at right angles to the longest dimension of the building.

9.15.2.4. Wood-Frame Foundations

1) Foundations of wood-frame construction shall conform to

a) CAN/CSA-S406, “Construction of Preserved Wood Foundations,” or

b) Part 4.

(See Appendix A.)

NC2010  2010-01-01 R1

1) Foundations of wood-frame constructionconstruction shall conform to

a) CAN/CSA-S406, “Construction of Preserved Wood Foundations,” or

b) Part 4.

(See Appendix A.)

9.15.3. Footings

9.15.3.1. Footings Required

1) Footings shall be provided under walls, pilasters, columns, piers, fireplaces and chimneys that bear on soil or rock, except that footings may be omitted under piers or monolithic concrete walls if the safe loadbearing capacity of the soil or rock is not exceeded.

9.15.3.2. Support of Footings

1) Footings shall rest on undisturbed soil, rock or compacted granular fill.

2) Granular fill shall not contain pyritic material in a concentration that will damage the building to a degree that would adversely affect its stability or the performance of assemblies. (See also Article 9.4.4.4. and A-9.4.4.4.(1) in Appendix A.)

9.15.3.3. Application of Footing Width and Area Requirements

1) Except as provided in Sentence 9.15.3.4.(2), the minimum footing width or area requirements provided in Articles 9.15.3.4. to 9.15.3.7. shall apply to footings, where

a) the footings support

i) foundation walls of masonry, concrete, or flat insulating concrete form walls,

ii) above-ground walls of masonry, flat insulating concrete form walls or light wood-frame construction, and

iii) floors and roofs of light wood-frame construction,

b) the span of supported joists does not exceed 4.9 m, and

c) the specified live load on any floor supported by the footing does not exceed 2.4 kPa (see Table 4.1.5.3.).

NC2010  2010-01-01 R1

1) Except as provided in Sentence 9.15.3.4.(2), the minimum footing width or area requirements provided in Articles 9.15.3.4. to 9.15.3.7. shall apply to footings, where

a) the footings support

i) foundation walls of masonry, concrete, or flat insulating concrete form walls,

ii) above-ground walls of masonry, flat insulating concrete form walls or light wood-frame constructionconstruction, and

iii) floors and roofs of light wood-frame constructionconstruction,

b) the span of supported joists does not exceed 4.9 m, and

c) the specified live load on any floor supported by the footing does not exceed 2.4 kPa (see Table 4.1.5.3.).

2) Except as provided in Sentence 9.15.3.4.(2), where the span of the supported joists exceeds 4.9 m, footings shall be designed in accordance with Section 4.2.

3) Where the specified live load exceeds 2.4 kPa, footings shall be designed in accordance with Section 4.2.

9.15.3.4. Basic Footing Widths and Areas

1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3) and in Articles 9.15.3.5. to 9.15.3.7., the minimum footing width or area shall comply with Table 9.15.3.4.

2) Where the supported joist span exceeds 4.9 m in buildings with light wood-frame walls, floors and roofs, footing widths shall be determined according to

a) Section 4.2., or

b) the following formula

where

W= minimum footing width,

w= minimum width of footings supporting joists not exceeding 4.9 m, as defined by Table 9.15.3.4.,

Σ sjs= sum of the supported joist spans on each storey whose load is transferred to the footing, and

storeys= number of storeys supported by the footing.

(See Appendix A.)

3) Where a foundation rests on gravel, sand or silt in which the water table level is less than the width of the footings below the bearing surface,

a) the footing width for walls shall be not less than twice the width required by Sentences (1) and (2), and Articles 9.15.3.5. and 9.15.3.6., and

b) the footing area for columns shall be not less than twice the area required by Sentences (1) and (2) and Article 9.15.3.7.

Table 9.15.3.4. Minimum Footing Sizes Forming part of Sentence 9.15.3.4.(1)
No. of Floors Supported	Minimum Width of Strip Footings, mm		Minimum Footing Area for Columns Spaced 3 m o.c.,(1) m2
	Supporting Exterior Walls(2)	Supporting Interior Walls(3)
1	250	200	0.4
2	350	350	0.75
3	450	500	1.0

9.15.3.5. Adjustments to Footing Widths for Exterior Walls

1) The strip footing widths for exterior walls shown in Table 9.15.3.4. shall be increased by

a) 65 mm for each storey of masonry veneer over wood-frame construction supported by the foundation wall,

b) 130 mm for each storey of masonry construction supported by the foundation wall, and

c) 150 mm for each storey of flat insulating concrete form wall construction supported by the foundation wall.

NC2010  2010-01-01 R1

1) The strip footing widths for exterior walls shown in Table 9.15.3.4. shall be increased by

a) 65 mm for each storey of masonry veneer over wood-frame constructionconstruction supported by the foundation wall,

b) 130 mm for each storey of masonry constructionconstruction supported by the foundation wall, and

c) 150 mm for each storey of flat insulating concrete form wall constructionconstruction supported by the foundation wall.

9.15.3.6. Adjustments to Footing Widths for Interior Walls

1) The minimum strip footing widths for interior loadbearing masonry walls shown in Table 9.15.3.4. shall be increased by 100 mm for each storey of masonry construction supported by the footing.

NC2010  2010-01-01 R1

1) The minimum strip footing widths for interior loadbearing masonry walls shown in Table 9.15.3.4. shall be increased by 100 mm for each storey of masonry constructionconstruction supported by the footing.

2) Footings for interior non-loadbearing masonry walls shall be not less than 200 mm wide for walls up to 5.5 m high and the width shall be increased by 100 mm for each additional 2.7 m of height.

9.15.3.7. Adjustments to Footing Area for Columns

1) The footing area for column spacings other than shown in Table 9.15.3.4. shall be adjusted in proportion to the distance between columns.

9.15.3.8. Footing Thickness

1) Footing thickness shall be not less than the greater of

a) 100 mm, or

b) the width of the projection of the footing beyond the supported element.

9.15.3.9. Step Footings

1) Where step footings are used,

a) the vertical rise between horizontal portions shall not exceed 600 mm, and

b) the horizontal distance between risers shall not be less than 600 mm.

9.15.4. Foundation Walls

9.15.4.1. Permanent Form Material

1) Insulating concrete form units shall be manufactured of polystyrene conforming to the performance requirements of CAN/ULC-S701, “Thermal Insulation, Polystyrene, Boards and Pipe Covering,” for Type 2, 3 or 4 polystyrene.

9.15.4.2. Foundation Wall Thickness and Required Lateral Support

1) Except as required in Sentence (2), the thickness of foundation walls made of unreinforced concrete block or solid concrete and subject to lateral earth pressure shall conform to Table 9.15.4.2.A for walls not exceeding 3.0 m in unsupported height.

Table 9.15.4.2.A Thickness of Solid Concrete and Unreinforced Concrete Block Foundation Walls Forming part of Sentence 9.15.4.2.(1)
Type of Foundation Wall	Minimum Wall Thickness, mm	Maximum Height of Finished Ground Above Basement Floor or Crawl Space Ground Cover, m
		Height of Foundation Wall Laterally Unsupported at the Top(1)(2)	Height of Foundation Wall Laterally Supported at the Top(1)(2)
		≤ 3.0 m	≤ 2.5 m	> 2.5 m and ≤ 2.75 m	> 2.75 m and ≤ 3.0 m
Solid concrete, 15 MPa min. strength	150	0.8	1.5	1.5	1.4
	200	1.2	2.15	2.15	2.1
	250	1.4	2.3	2.6	2.5
	300	1.5	2.3	2.6	2.85
Solid concrete, 20 MPa min. strength	150	0.8	1.8	1.6	1.6
	200	1.2	2.3	2.3	2.2
	250	1.4	2.3	2.6	2.85
	300	1.5	2.3	2.6	2.85
Unreinforced concrete block	140	0.6	0.8	—	—
	190	0.9	1.2	(3)	(3)
	240	1.2	1.8	(3)	(3)
	290	1.4	2.2	—	—

Notes to Table 9.15.4.2.A:
(1)	See Article 9.15.4.3.
(2)	See Article 9.15.4.6.
(3)	See Table 9.15.4.2.B

2) The thickness of concrete in flat insulating concrete form foundation walls shall be not less than the greater of

a) 140 mm, or

b) the thickness of the concrete in the wall above.

3) Foundation walls made of flat insulating concrete form units shall be laterally supported at the top and at the bottom.

4) The thickness and reinforcing of foundation walls made of reinforced concrete block and subject to lateral earth pressure shall conform to Table 9.15.4.2.B and Sentences (5) to (8), where

a) the walls are laterally supported at the top,

b) average stable soils are encountered, and

c) wind loads on the exposed portion of the foundation are no greater than 0.70 kPa.

Table 9.15.4.2.B Reinforced Concrete Block Foundation Walls Laterally Supported at the Top(1) Forming part of Sentence 9.15.4.2.(4)
Maximum Height of Finished Ground Above Basement Floor or Crawl Space Ground Cover, m(2)	Size and Spacing of Continuous Vertical Reinforcement, m at mm o.c.
	190 mm Minimum Wall Thickness			240 mm Minimum Wall Thickness
	Foundation Wall Height			Foundation Wall Height
	≤ 2.5 m	≤ 2.75 m	≤ 3.0 m	≤ 2.5 m	≤ 2.75 m	≤ 3.0 m
0.8	(3)	(3)	(3)	(3)	(3)	(3)
1	(3)	1-15M at 1 800	1-15M at 1 800	(3)	(3)	(3)
1.2	(3)	1-15M at 1 600	1-15M at 1 600	(3)	1-20M at 2 000	1-20M at 2 000
1.4	1-15M at 1 600	1-15M at 1 600	1-15M at 1 600	(3)	1-20M at 1 800	1-20M at 1 800
1.6	1-15M at 1 400	1-15M at 1 400	1-15M at 1 400	(3)	1-20M at 1 600	1-20M at 1 600
1.8	1-15M at 1 400	1-15M at 1 400	1-15M at 1 200	(3)	1-20M at 1 600	1-20M at 1 600
2	1-15M at 1 200	1-15M at 1 000	2-15M at 1 200	1-20M at 1 600	1-20M at 1 600	1-20M at 1 600
		or
		1-20M at 1 200
2.2	2-15M at 1 200	2-15M at 1 000	2-15M at 1 000	1-20M at 1 400	1-20M at 1 400	1-20M at 1 400
2.4	2-15M at 1 000	2-15M at 1 000	2-15M at 800	1-20M at 1 400	1-20M at 1 400	1-20M at 1 200
2.6	n/a	2-15M at 800	2-15M at 800	n/a	1-20M at 1 000	1-20M at 1 000
		or	or
		1-25M at 1 000	1-25M at 1 000
2.8	n/a	n/a	1-20M at 600	n/a	n/a	1-20M at 800
						or
						2-15M at 1 000
3	n/a	n/a	1-20M at 400	n/a	n/a	2-15M at 800
			or
			1-25M at 600

5) For concrete block walls required to be reinforced, continuous vertical reinforcement shall

a) be provided at wall corners, wall ends, wall intersections, at changes in wall height, at the jambs of all openings and at movement joints,

b) extend from the top of the footing to the top of the foundation wall, and

c) where foundation walls are laterally supported at the top, have not less than 50 mm embedment into the footing, if the floor slab does not provide lateral support at the wall base.

6) For concrete block walls required to be reinforced, a continuous horizontal bond beam containing not less than one 15M bar shall be installed

a) along the top of the wall,

b) at the sill and head of all openings greater than 1.20 m in width, and

c) at structurally connected floors.

7) In concrete block walls required to be reinforced, all vertical bar reinforcement shall be installed along the centre line of the wall.

8) In concrete block walls required to be reinforced, ladder- or truss-type lateral reinforcement not less than 3.8 mm in diameter (no. 9 ASWG) shall be installed in the bed joint of every second masonry course.

9.15.4.3. Foundation Walls Considered to be Laterally Supported at the Top

1) Sentences (2) to (4) pertain to lateral support for walls described in Sentence 9.15.4.2.(1).

2) Foundation walls shall be considered to be laterally supported at the top if

a) such walls support a solid masonry superstructure,

b) the floor joists are embedded in the top of the foundation walls, or

c) the floor system is anchored to the top of the foundation walls with anchor bolts, in which case the joists may run either parallel or perpendicular to the foundation walls.

3) Unless the wall around an opening is reinforced to withstand earth pressure, the portion of the foundation wall beneath an opening shall be considered laterally unsupported if

a) the opening is more than 1.2 m wide, or

b) the total width of the openings in the foundation wall constitutes more than 25 per cent of the length of the wall.

NC2010  2010-01-01 R1

3) Unless the wall around an opening is reinforced to withstand earth pressure, the portion of the foundation wall beneath an opening shall be considered laterally unsupported if

a) the opening is more than 1.2 m wide, or

b) the total width of the openings in the foundation wall constitutes more than 25 per cent 25% of the length of the wall.

4) For the purposes of Sentence (3), the combined width of the openings shall be considered as a single opening if the average width is greater than the width of solid wall between them.

5) Flat insulating concrete form foundation walls shall be considered to be laterally supported at the top if the floor joists are installed according to Article 9.20.17.5.

9.15.4.4. Foundation Walls Considered to be Laterally Supported at the Bottom

1) Flat insulating concrete form foundation walls shall be considered to be laterally supported at the bottom where the foundation wall

a) supports backfill not more than 1.2 m in height,

b) is supported at the footing by a shear key and at the top by the ground floor framing, or

c) is doweled to the footing with not less than 15M bars spaced not more than 1.2 m o.c.

9.15.4.5. Reinforcement for Flat Insulating Concrete Form Foundation Walls

1) Horizontal reinforcement in flat insulating concrete form foundation walls shall

a) consist of

i) one 10M bar placed not more than 300 mm from the top of the wall, and

ii) 10M bars at 600 mm o.c., and

b) be located

i) in the inside half of the wall section, and

ii) with a minimum cover of 30 mm from the inside face of the concrete.

2) Vertical reinforcement in flat insulating concrete form foundation walls shall be

a) provided in accordance with

i) Table 9.15.4.5.A for 140 mm walls,

ii) Table 9.15.4.5.B for 190 mm walls, and

iii) Table 9.15.4.5.C for 240 mm walls,

b) located in the inside half of the wall section with a minimum cover of 30 mm from the inside face of the concrete wall, and

c) where interrupted by wall openings, placed not more than 600 mm from each side of the openings.

3) Cold joints in flat insulating concrete form foundation walls shall be reinforced with no less than one 15M bar spaced at not more than 600 mm o.c. and embedded 300 mm on both sides of the joint.

4) Reinforcing around openings in flat insulating concrete form foundation walls shall comply with Article 9.20.17.3. or 9.20.17.4.

9.15.4.6. Extension above Ground Level

1) Exterior foundation walls shall extend not less than 150 mm above finished ground level.

9.15.4.7. Reduction in Thickness

1) Where the top of a foundation wall is reduced in thickness to permit the installation of floor joists, the reduced section shall be not more than 350 mm high and not less than 90 mm thick.

2) Where the top of a foundation wall is reduced in thickness to permit the installation of a masonry exterior facing, the reduced section shall be

a) not less than 90 mm thick, and

b) tied to the facing material with metal ties conforming to Sentence 9.20.9.4.(3) spaced not more than

i) 200 mm o.c. vertically, and

ii) 900 mm o.c. horizontally.

3) The space between wall and facing described in Sentence (2) shall be filled with mortar.

9.15.4.8. Corbelling

1) Corbelling of masonry foundation walls supporting cavity walls shall conform to Article 9.20.12.2.

9.15.4.9. Crack Control Joints

1) Crack control joints shall be provided in foundation walls more than 25 m long at intervals of not more than 15 m.

2) Joints required in Sentence (1) shall be designed to resist moisture penetration and shall be keyed to prevent relative displacement of the wall portions adjacent to the joint.

9.15.4.10. Interior Masonry Walls

1) Interior masonry foundation walls not subject to lateral earth pressure shall conform to Section 9.20.

9.15.5. Support of Joists and Beams on Masonry Foundation Walls

9.15.5.1. Support of Floor Joists

1) Except as permitted in Sentence (2), foundation walls of hollow masonry units supporting floor joists shall be capped with not less than 50 mm of solid masonry or concrete, or have the top course filled with mortar or concrete.

2) Capping required in Sentence (1) need not be provided

a) in localities where termites are not known to occur,

b) when the joists are supported on a wood plate not less than 38 mm by 89 mm, and

c) when the siding overlaps the foundation wall not less than 12 mm.

9.15.5.2. Support of Beams

1) Not less than 190 mm depth of solid masonry shall be provided beneath beams supported on masonry.

2) Where the beam referred to in Sentence (1) is supported below the top of the foundation walls, the ends of such beams shall be protected from the weather.

9.15.5.3. Pilasters

1) Pilasters shall be provided under beams that frame into unit masonry foundation walls 140 mm or less in thickness.

2) Pilasters required in Sentence (1) shall be not less than 90 mm by 290 mm and shall be bonded or tied into the wall.

3) The top 200 mm of pilasters required in Sentence (1) shall be solid.

9.15.6. Parging and Finishing of Masonry Foundation Walls

9.15.6.1. Foundation Walls below Ground

1) Concrete block foundation walls shall be parged on the exterior face below ground level as required in Section 9.13.

9.15.6.2. Foundation Walls above Ground

1) Exterior surfaces of concrete block foundation walls above ground level shall have tooled joints, or shall be parged or otherwise suitably finished.

9.15.6.3. Form Ties

1) All form ties shall be removed at least flush with the concrete surface.