Building Inspection Division Hand Outs
Concrete Foundation
"Concrete Foundation Sample Plan" located at bottom of this page.
General Notes:
Use fill with P. I. ( Plasticity Index) not to exceed 20: except where water table is encountered, use gravel, crushed stone or comparable material.
Exterior and interior beams shall be a minimum depth below natural grade of 6”. (Exception: when the exterior
beams are placed on a compacted fill of 90% standard proctor density beams shall not be required to extend below natural grade, but shall be required to extend below finished grade a minimum of 6” into the compacted fill.) Exterior beams shall have a minimum of 9" of cover from the bottom of the beam. (See Detail A)
All concrete shall be of a design mix to have a 28-day compressive strength of 3,000 psi.
Dead end beams not allowed except for corner support beams. Corner support beams shall pass through one intersecting beam and may dead end after connecting with the next intersecting beam. (See Detail on Concrete Foundation Sample Plan)
All beam and slab reinforcing shall maintain minimum clearance of 2” from exterior forms on sides.
All beam and slab reinforcing shall maintain minimum clearance of 3" from bottom of beam.
Beam reinforcing shall be tied and supported every 4’-0” minimum.
Top corner reinforcing steel (bars) required at all perimeter beams. (See Typical Corner Bar Detail)
LAP splices shall be in accordance with the following:
- LAP #3 reinforcing steel (3/8” diameter bars) minimum 15”
- LAP #4 reinforcing steel (1/2” diameter bars) minimum 20”
- LAP #5 reinforcing steel (5/8” diameter bars) minimum 25”
- LAP #6 reinforcing steel (3/4" diameter bars) minimum 30"
- LAP #7 reinforcing steel (7/8" diameter bars) minimum 35"
- Anchor bolts - spacing 6’-0” O. C. (on center) maximum, 12” from corners, 1/2”x8” minimum size bolts.
Provide chairs or other suitable supports for slab and beam reinforcing.
All reinforcing except #3 reinforcing steel shall conform to ASTM grade 60-type steel. #3 reinforcing steel may be grade 40-type steel.
Minimum slab thickness to be 4” and minimum reinforcing to be # 3 bars at 18” B.W. (Both Ways)
Beam sizes, spacing and reinforcing steel (bars) shall conform to the beam schedule. P.I. (Plasticity Index) shall be determined for each proposed building site in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Services Soil Survey of Taylor County, Texas, 1976. Exception: One soil test per 2500 square foot of foundation footprint shall be collected and tested by an approved testing agency. Spacing of multiple tests shall be in accordance with accepted engineering practices. Foundations for structures resting on soils with a P.I. greater than 40 shall be designed by an engineer licensed by the State of Texas.
A Foundation Plan will be required for all construction.
Staff Contacts:
Building Inspection
(325) 676-6275
(325) 676-6353
Printable Version
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Concrete Foundations Sample Plan (PDF - 714KB)
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