Frost Protected Shallow Foundation for garage 1

[m1e9r5c6]

I have been renovating my own place and one of my tasks is to build an attached three car garage. Since money is tight, I have been researching alternative foundation systems and came across this:

http://www.toolbase.org/docs/SubsystemNav/Foundations/4495_RevisedFPSFGuide.pdf

Since I have never dealt with this sort of system I am looking for some input or thoughts. I live in Canada and believe I am in the 4000 AFI range. The build area is glacial till and the heated garage would be approx. 24 x 36 ft.

If properly designed, would this be a feasable alternative to a typical slab/footing design?

 

[apetr26542]

I have seen this adopted by the Residential NYS Building Code, your reference does state that mean annual temp must not be below 32 degrees F.

 

[m1e9r5c6]

Correct on the mean annual temp. Our mean annual temp is above freezing (41*F).

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

In theory it would appear to be ideal for your installation. However, I would want to look at a building that has been constructed using it and been in use for several years before I would want to use it on my house. I suggest calling your local city or county building department and see if they have ever approved using the system and if so where. Then contact the owner and see what the building looks like.

You may also find that your local building department will not allow the system to be used.

 

[Slowzuki]

They are used in my area, my own shop is designed as such. There are quite a few different references out there.

Scandinavian countries have something in the order of 1 million frost protected structures built since the 1960's.