Lateral Footings

Last updated April 19, 2023
By Ian Story

Tips and tricks for designing grade beams to prevent shear wall overturning:

• Foundations generally do not need to be designed for overstrength: https://www.structuremag.org/?p=17288 (see section titled: “Does ASCE 7 require foundations to be designed for the overstrength factor?”)
• IBC 1806.1 allows presumptive soil load-bearing pressures to be increased by 33% when using load combinations that include wind or earthquake loads (geotechnical reports typically include a similar provision)
• ASCE 7-16 12.13.4 allows a 25% reduction in overturning forces at the soil-foundation interface in most cases. This effectively reduces bearing forces at the ends of the grade beam

Resources for further review:

• https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=496607
• https://www.skghoshassociates.com/blog/foundation-overstrength-factor/
• https://www.structuremag.org/?p=8972