foundations

When the drawings show an MP1 support, it means a masonry pier — not a concrete pad. Here’s the difference and when each is appropriate.

Where underpinning pours meet, dowel bars provide continuity across the joint. Specification: 2 No. H20 bars at 600 mm total length with 200 mm embedment each side.

A steel column can bear onto an existing or new strip footing rather than a discrete pad — provided the footing is deep enough and a ground beam or strap ties the goals posts together.

When an existing strip footing is too shallow for a goalpost column load, local underpinning at the column position is the solution. Here’s the specification.

What a column pad foundation requires in terms of concrete grade, reinforcement, bearing capacity and positioning — and when a picture frame detail is needed instead.

1 metre is a commonly used baseline foundation depth when ground conditions are unknown. Here’s what it means and how the final depth gets confirmed.