Pad foundations are normally needed to transfer concentrated loads to the founding material. For portal framed buildings these are normally required beneath the portal and gable columns. The number of designs needed for any particular job will vary, but as a guide, only one design will be needed for all of the portal frame foundations (of the same span), only one design will be needed for all of the gable column foundations and only one design will be required for any internal column foundations.

We need the following information to design a pad foundation:

details of the ground conditions (preferably a site investigation report)

a copy of the foundation loadings from the steelwork designer

the distance between the foundation and any boundary

Design information

If no site investigation information is available then we can still design the foundations based on assumptions that will need to be verified on site prior to construction

All design work is carried out in accordance with BS 8110 (The structural use of concrete) and BS 8004:1986 (The code of practice for foundations)

You should satisfy yourself that the excavation for the foundations will not undermine any adjacent foundations or neighbouring ground

Excavations may fall under the Party Wall Act Please seek specialist advice. click for party wall act information