Revised Builder's Guide to Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

Published Thursday, September 30, 2004

A frost protected shallow foundation (FPSF) is a practical alternative to a deeper, more-costly foundation in cold regions with seasonal ground freezing and the potential for frost heave. The International Residential Code® (IRC) includes prescriptive methods for constructing frost protected shallow foundations in heated buildings. By the IRC reference to ASCE 32-01 (American Society of Civil Engineers, Design and Construction of Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations, 2001), FPSFs in semi-heated and unheated buildings that meet the requirements of the IRC may also be designed and constructed.

The objective of the document to which this summary links was written to assist U.S. home builders, remodelers and trade contractors in the design, construction, and code approval of frost protected shallow foundations.

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