![]() ![]() For a heated building, the careful placement of insulation around the exterior perimeter of the footing and foundation wall captures warmth from the building and geothermal heat to temper the soil under the footings and effectively “elevate” the frost depth. Comparison of traditional, below-frost-depth foundation (48" deep) on right, frost-protected shallow foundation (14" deep) on left. The International Residential Code (IRC) has recognized the FPSF method since 2000 with prescriptive requirements for heated buildings, and through reference to ASCE standard 32-01 for semi- and unheated structures.įigure 1. The method has been in use for more than 50 years in northern Europe. Because it uses insulation to prevent frost from developing under the footings, the method also saves energy by slowing heat loss into the ground from a conditioned structure. ![]() (See Figure 1 below.) The method saves money and material resources. ![]() The frost-protected shallow foundation (FPSF) method allows footings averaging about 16" deep or less in most areas of the continental United States. ![]()
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