Pole Building - Concrete Floor Slab

[endz87]

I have a client who wants to build a wood post pole building for his new business. I do not have alot of experience with pole building design, so I have a question regarding the concrete floor slab heaving. If there is no frost wall, what prevents the slab edge from heaving? The building will be conditioned, so do you rely on the heat from the building to keep the soil under the slab from freezing? Should I put rigid insulation horizontally around the perimeter of the slab? Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[msquared48]

Just extend the edge of the slab down below frost.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[endz87]

I considered extending the slab edge below frost, but here in PA the frost depth is approx. 36". At that point, it almost negates the cost savings of using a pole building structure. I might as well just use conventional frost wall construction with conventional framing. Do you have any other suggestions as far as insulating the slab edge somehow? Thanks for your help!

 

[shobroco]

You can insulate out horizontally and cover the insulation with soil, however concrete floors and pole buildings are a poor combination in most circumstances. As a farm building it might be acceptable, but not for commercial use.

 

[JAE]

And this is just me picking on pole buildings - most of them that I have looked at do not meet min. standards of building codes (structurally) - they are used beyond cities in agricultural areas so be careful if you are taking "responsibility" for the building.

 

[endz87]

JAE, i agree with you on pole buildings. Exactly why I don't have much experience dealing with them. It was a request from the owner. My approach may be to try to sway the owner back to conventional framing. It just makes more sense I think in the long run. Thanks everyone for your comments....much appreciated!