Triassic Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 (edited) I'm starting to pull together a package of information for the Building Regs guy for the main house. The one area I'm struggling with is foundations, what sort of information and drawings will he require? When I built the cabin he simple came and inspected the dig prior to concreting, no doubt he'll require more information, but what? Edited March 2, 2017 by Triassic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 These days it's normally a structural engineer that specifies the foundations, type, depth, type of concrete, reinforcing mesh etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 26 minutes ago, ProDave said: These days it's normally a structural engineer that specifies the foundations, type, depth, type of concrete, reinforcing mesh etc. So I thought that too @ProDave but using private BCO they had last say as to whether it was ok and I was happy with that as they are also assuring for the warranty. On easy ground it's 600x600 here, any more than that is unusual as it's sand/gravel. Even near trees we only went 1.4 and the BCO was surprised at that as he thought it was overkill ..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vijay Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 I was really surprised when the private BCO looked at my footings so far, he just commented that as long as I've done what the SE has specified, he's fine with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 I had no S.E. for my foundations I simply asked the BI before digging what he wanted and he said 800 deep and 700 wide ( normally 600 wide but we had 200 cavity) for our type of ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 So that's one for BC and one for SE...?! I'd be interested to see what further calcs or data an SE needs or produces over and above a "600 by 600 is fine" result in 90% of cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 I think it depends on the foundation type, if it's " normal" I.e. Trench then the BI will know what he wants for that type of ground, if it's anything else he may well require an S.E. to sign it off, Triassic have you been in touch with the BI yet, ours is great and very helpful and just a chat may sort this for you. Are you not using an architect? As a local architect should already know what's required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triassic Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 (edited) We are using (maybe that should say 'we were using') an architect, but he passed us off to a SE for the foundation design. The SE company then said that they wanted boreholes in three locations, this without visiting the site. I pointed out that there was bedrock in one of the locations and a trial pit in another location shows clay within 200mm of the surface. I've rather lost confidence in them. I've got the feeling they have and the architect have bigger fish to fry. The other problem is the cost £2100 for the boreholes, soil testing and a report and the foundation design. My next call will be to the private BC guy, he's been helpful in the past, so fingers crossed he'll be helpful again! Edited March 2, 2017 by Triassic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Our SE visted the site and I dug 3 test pits for him with the digger, down to 2 metres. What this showed was once we got through the organic top soil, we were into a sandy clay with a lot of rocks and boulders, but didn't hit bedrock even at 2 metres. So he was happy to specify strip foundations, the only depth stipulation being we were down into the sandy clay, and he specified the concrete mix and reinforcing mesh to be used. I never questioned the reason for the mesh as the present house, build 2 doors away on much the same ground has strip foundations without any mesh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Temp Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 If they are reasonably standard strip foundations, no trees or shrinking clay, I'd tell the BCO what you plan to dig and let him decide if he wants more info. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Technical Manual Section 5 from LABC has some really good info on standard foundation detail - TM Foundations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 (edited) For simple jobs like a house lots of BC officers will let you agree the foundation depth with them on site once it's dug. The exceptions are usually when the ground bearing capacity in an area is known to be poor (e.g. peat) so a designed foundation solution will be required. Ring them and ask. Edited March 3, 2017 by Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triassic Posted March 19, 2017 Author Share Posted March 19, 2017 Just a quick update. I've talked to the private BC guy and he's visited an looked in my trial pits, He's happy for my to dig down to the clay and agrees 600mm wide foundations are OK. That's good as it saves me quite a bit of money to spend elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 On 19/03/2017 at 22:13, Triassic said: Just a quick update. I've talked to the private BC guy and he's visited an looked in my trial pits, He's happy for my to dig down to the clay and agrees 600mm wide foundations are OK. That's good as it saves me quite a bit of money to spend elsewhere. Good result! Nice one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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