Frost Protected Shallow Foundations

This standard addresses the design and construction of frost-protected shallow foundations in areas subject to seasonal ground freezing. Foundation insulation requirements to protect heated and unheated buildings from frost heave are presented in easy-to-follow steps with reference to design tables, climate maps, and other necessary data to furnish a complete frost-protection design. The advantages of this technology include improved construction efficiency over conventional practices, increased energy efficiency, minimized site disturbance, and enhanced frost protection. A commentary is included to provided background information and important technical insights.

The frost-protected shallow foundation technique (FPSF) is an innovative building technology that offers both lower initial costs & increased energy savings. Although it is new to the U.S., it has been used effectively in Scandinavia in more than one million homes for the last 40 years. FPSFs save money over conventional designs by requiring less excavation to construct a frost-proof foundation. A simplified design method is presented in a form suitable for adoption by the major model building codes. 21 tables & figures.