Foundation for light pole embedment

[Samwise Gamgee]

I wanted to get some clarity of the embedment depth requirements per IBC. Is the embedment requirement need to be followed only when the pole are directly embedded into the soil ?

Can we design a base plate and anchor bolts to resist the lateral loads and avoid using the required embedment ?

 

[GC_Hopi]

Of course you can provide an engineered solution, just remember its not only the base plate and anchors, you need to design the foundation. Ensuring the design can resist the moment at all elements is important.

 

[KootK]

Can we design a base plate and anchor bolts to resist the lateral loads and avoid using the required embedment ?

In general, I would say no. The embedded part of your structure usually needs to be designed to resist shear and overturning irrespective of whether:

1) The embedded portion of your structure is just a continuation of the structure above or;

2) Your above grade structure is a different system fastened to your below grade structure.

The IBC method isn't the only way to get this done but some method needs to be employed to ensure shear and overturning resistance in the foundation element.