4.

SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

4.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

A shallow foundation should be structurally adequate to sustain all the applied loads
and transmit them safely to the ground without undue settlement. It should generally
be constructed of reinforced concrete, and rest on a rock or soil stratum with adequate
bearing capacity at a shallow depth from ground level.

A shallow foundation should neither overload the foundations or structures of

adjacent buildings or the ground supporting such foundations or structures, nor render
any instability to any hillside or slope, nor interfere with any drain, nullah, sewer or
other services in its vicinity.

4.2 ALLOWABLE BEARING PRESSURE AND SETTLEMENT

The allowable bearing pressure of rock or soil supporting a shallow foundation should
be determined in accordance with Clause 2.2.

The settlements of the foundation should be estimated and checked in accordance with
Clauses 2.3.1 and 2.3.2 respectively.

4.3 STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS

Structural design of shallow reinforced concrete foundations should be carried out in

accordance with the Code of Practice for Structural Use of Concrete.

The stability of shallow foundations should satisfy the provisions of Clause 2.5.3.

4.4 COMMON TYPES OF SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

There are three types of shallow foundations commonly used in Hong Kong, namely
pad footing, strip footing and raft foundation.

4.4.1 PAD FOOTINGS

In the design of pad footings not founded on rock, the probable total settlements of
individual footings and the probable differential settlements between footings should
be estimated and checked in accordance with Clauses 2.3.1 and 2.3.2 respectively. In
some cases, it may be necessary to enlarge some footings in order to avoid significant
differences in bearing pressures and settlements among footings supporting the same
building. Where differential settlements may occur between these individual footings,

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 the elements of the superstructure should be adequately designed for the bending
moments and shear forces caused by the differential settlements.

4.4.2 STRIP FOOTINGS

The requirements for pad footings should also apply to strip footings.

The founding conditions for a strip footing should be consistent to avoid differential
settlements along its length. However, where differential settlements along its length
may occur, the strip footing should be designed with adequate strength to resist the
effect of the differential settlement.

4.4.3 RAFT FOUNDATIONS

The requirements for pad and strip footings should also apply to raft foundations.

Where it is necessary to design a raft for differential settlements, the raft should be
designed with adequate strength to resist the effect of the differential settlements in
both directions.

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