Frost Depth for Grade Sloping Away from Building

[EngSD]

Is there a certain distance out from a building that grade elevation must be maintained to make sure a foundation is at frost depth. I ask this because I had designed a perimeter stem wall and footing for a building with the bottom of footing placed at frost depth, but I have found out that there is going to be pretty decent grade slope away from the building. I could not find anything in the IBC that covered this.

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

We use the wording " xxx inches below the nearest adjacent grade." In your case, measure from the bottom of the footing to the nearest point on the slope. That distance should be less than your frost depth.

Mike Lambert

 

[shobroco]

Frost doesn't work by gravity, draw a radius equal to required cover from the exterior toe of your footing. Insulation can replace soil depth, sometimes a lot more economically.