What is the slab foundation?

Preparing slab on the ground for the building of a new house!

Depending on the type of terrain, you can opt for the slab foundation, also called plate foundations or foundation feet.

The slab has a main reinforcement in the upper part with which it counteracts the counter-pressure of the ground and the pressure of groundwater. In the case of soils with little resistance for foundations (less than 1 kg/cm2) it may happen that the footings of the insulating pillars tend to come together.

The slab foundation is a good solution when:

• The construction has a small surface in relation to the volume (buildings, warehouses, silos).
• The calculated foundation base is such that the load transmission at 45º represents an excessive depth.
• The land has uneven stratification and irregular settlements are foreseeable
• The foundation ground is loose and very thick and the piles to be placed would be excessively long.

Using a construction system such as the Baupanel System, which allows loads to be distributed over the entire structure, slab foundation is a good option.

Foundation thickness per slab

The slab foundation must have a minimum thickness of 30 cm on a poor or clean concrete base, according to the foundation regulations. Although usually in traditional construction the slabs can have edges ranging from 50 to 120 cm, depending on the type of building they support.

Slab foundations act through a continuous support surface that equalizes the pressures and forms bracing at all support points.

Foundation structure

These foundations are built with reinforced concrete to reduce possible settlements. This structure responds best to soils with a substantially uniform formation and when the building distributes the stresses over the slab using a mesh that maintains geometric symmetry.

It is also chosen when you want to build a dry basement in a job based on the water table (bucket excavation).

This alternative is provided by arranging a wave foundation platform that transfers the loads of the building to the ground through a surface equal to or greater than the work surface.

Maximum rigidity can be achieved with little consumption of material by proceeding as is usual in hollow-piece floors: enveloping a system of hollow or filler pieces in concrete.

Baupanel® System concrete house, on a foundation slab, Granada. Ref: 106-2022