ICC 500 Foundations

[archeng59]

I have designed several storm shelters per ICC 500 requirements, and per FEMA guidelines prior to ICC 500 being issued. All have been peer reviewed since ICC 500 was issued and a some before then, too. The latest peer reviewer required that the foundation for the shelter be totally separated from the host building foundation. The reviewer cited section 304.9 requirements as being applicable to the separation of elements and components between the host building and shelter. While I believe that section is applicable to the framing systems, it doesn't seem to make sense to me regarding the foundations. Especially, since none of the previous peer reviewers mentioned that as being a requirement. I am revising the foundation on this project accordingly, but curious about others' interpretation of ICC 500 section 304.9.