BRITISH STANDARD BS 8103-1:

1995
Incorporating
Amendment No. 1

Structural design of
low-rise buildings —
Part 1: Code of practice for stability, site
investigation, foundations and ground
floor slabs for housing
BS 8103-1:1995

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted to Technical

Committee B/204, Structural design of low-rise buildings, upon which the
following bodies were represented:

Building Employers’ Confederation

Chartered Institute of Building
Consumer Policy Committee of BSI
Department of the Environment (Building Research Establishment)
Department of the Environment (Construction Directorate)
Federation of Master Builders
House Builders’ Federation
Institute of Building Control
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Structural Engineers
National Council of Building Material Producers
National House-Building Council
Royal Institute of British Architects
Scottish Office (Building Directorate)

The following bodies were also represented in the drafting of the standard,
through subcommittees and panels:

Association of Lightweight Aggregate Manufacturers

Brick Development Association
Council of the Forest Industries of British Columbia

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Sector Board for
Building and Civil Engineering,
was published under the
authority of the Standards
Board and comes into effect on
15 September 1995 Amendments issued since publication
© BSI 12-1998
Amd. No. Date Comments
First published March 1986
Second edition September 1995 8980 November Indicated by a sideline in the margin
1995
The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference B/204
Draft for comment 88/11563 DC

ISBN 0 580 23340 5

 BS 8103-1:1995

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 References 1
3 Definitions 1
4 Symbols 2
5 Stability and connections between elements 2
6 Site investigation 17
7 Foundations 18
8 Ground floor slabs 26
Figure 1 — Plan form and construction of the ground floor box
to give stability 3
Figure 2 — Diagram illustrating the action of wind forces 4
Figure 3 — Walls with a difference in level on opposite sides 5
Figure 4 — Building shape 6
Figure 5 — Maximum height of building 6
Figure 6 — Measurement of storey height of walls in metres 7
Figure 7 — Basic wind speed 8
Figure 8 — Diagram of a house showing location and type of
connections necessary between elements 10
Figure 9 — Timber floor bearing on to wall 12
Figure 10 — Timber floor spanning parallel with a wall 13
Figure 11 — Timber floor supported on standard joist hanger 14
Figure 12 — Concrete suspended floor bearing on to wall 14
Figure 13 — Concrete suspended floor abutting wall 15
Figure 14 — Precast concrete beam and block type floor abutting
or spanning on to wall 15
Figure 15 — Tying of pitched roofs to gable walls 16
Figure 16 — Pitched or flat roof bearing on to a wallplate 17
Figure 17 — Types of foundation 19
Figure 18 — Foundation adjoining a trench 24
Figure 19 — Thickness of foundations 24
Figure 20 — Stepped foundations 25
Figure 21 — Position of walls on foundations 25
Figure 22 — Foundations to walls with projections 26
Figure 23 — In situ concrete ground-supported slab 26
Table 1 — Maximum heights of buildings on normal level sites 9
Table 2 — Maximum heights of buildings on steeply sloping sites 9
Table 3 — Concrete mixes suitable for unreinforced concrete in
strip footings and trench fill foundations subject to sulfates in the
ground or groundwater 20
Table 4 — Wall load categories for 4.5 m floors and 9 m roofs 20
Table 5 — Wall load categories for 6 m floors and 12 m roofs 21
Table 6 — Wall load categories for internal wall foundations 22
Table 7 — Identification of ground material and minimum
foundation widths for wall load categories 23
List of references Inside back cover

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BS 8103-1:1995

Foreword

This Part of BS 8103 has been prepared under the direction of Technical
Committee B/204, Structural design of low-rise buildings.
BS 8103 will be published in four Parts:
— Part 1: Code of practice for stability, site investigation, foundations and
ground floor slabs for housing;
— Part 2: Code of practice for masonry walls for housing;
— Part 3: Code of practice for timber floors and roofs for housing
(in preparation);
— Part 4: Code of practice for suspended concrete floors for housing.
to allow detailed consultation with other BSI Technical Committees responsible
for the structural use of materials. However, it is the intention to combine these
Parts into a single document in due course.
This standard is a revision of BS 8103-1:1986 which is withdrawn. It modifies the
scope and limitations so that they are similar to Section 1 of the Approved
Document A1/2. In particular, maximum clear spans for roofs and floors have
been raised from 9 m and 4.5 m to 12 m and 6 m respectively.
A large proportion of the national building programme is concerned with new
housing and alterations in both the public and private sectors where traditional
methods of construction are used for the majority of houses and it is to these that
this Part of BS 8103 is applicable.
However, when such dwellings are certified by organizations such as the National
House Building Council, reference should in addition be made to the appropriate
documents published by these bodies.
It is assumed that this standard will be used by those with expertise in building
construction but not necessarily in structural engineering design. Houses
constructed within the limitations stated in the relevant clauses will not require
additional specialist advice. For any conditions outside the limitations of this
standard appropriate specialist advice has to be obtained.
Where foundations other than those given in item h) of clause 1 have been
designed by suitably qualified persons, the remainder of the building may be
constructed in accordance with the relevant clauses of this standard.
When using this standard, it is important to ensure that the overall stability of
the house is achieved, and that the work of any specialist engaged is properly
coordinated. The situations included in this standard which require the
consultation of suitably qualified persons are identified in the clauses to which
they relate.
All drawings in this document only show structural details. Other details,
e.g. damp proof courses (d.p.cs), are not included.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 26, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

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 BS 8103-1:1995

1 Scope h) only strip footings or trench fill foundations in

normal ground conditions (see 7.1).
This Part of BS 8103 gives recommendations for the
structural design of low-rise housing and covers the Where foundations other than those given in item h)
stability of the structure, site investigation and have been designed by suitably qualified persons,
foundations and ground floor slabs used in the the remainder of the building may be constructed in
construction. Foundations comprising strip footings accordance with the relevant clauses of this
or trench fill founded in normal ground are the only standard.
type described.
2 References
Low-rise housing comprises detached,
semi-detached and terraced houses and flats 2.1 Normative references
(with not more than four self-contained dwelling This Part of BS 8103 incorporates, by dated or
units per floor accessible from one staircase), of not undated reference, provisions from other
more than three storeys above ground intended for publications. These normative references are made
domestic occupation and of traditional masonry at the appropriate places in the text and the cited
construction with timber roofs and floors of timber publications are listed on the inside back cover. For
or concrete. For the purposes of this standard dated references, only the edition cited applies; any
additional habitable accommodation in the roof subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, the cited
space constitutes a storey of the house. The publication apply to this Part of BS 8103 only when
recommendations also apply to certain single incorporated in it by updating or revision. For
storey, non-residential buildings, e.g. domestic undated references, the latest edition of the cited
garages and annexes to residential buildings with a publication applies, together with any amendments.
floor area not exceeding 36 m2. This standard does 2.2 Informative references
not include the design of basements, but providing
the basement is of one level only and is designed to This Part of BS 8103 refers to other publications
provide a firm platform at ground level the that provide information or guidance. Editions of
provisions of this standard may apply to the these publications current at the time of issue of this
superstructure. standard are listed on the inside back cover, but
reference should be made to the latest editions.
Proprietary housing systems, and houses of timber,
steel or concrete framed construction are not 3 Definitions
covered by this standard.
The structural design recommendations described For the purposes of this Part of BS 8103, the
in this standard are not specifically intended to following definitions apply.
cover other considerations such as fire resistance, 3.1
thermal and sound insulation, resistance to damp buttress
penetration and durability. Reference should be section of wall or pier bonded or securely tied to an
made to other appropriate British Standards and adjacent wall providing support against lateral
statutory regulations and their supporting technical forces acting on the wall
documents (e.g. BS 5628-3:1985 and the
appropriate Approved Documents to the Building 3.2
Regulations) for these and other matters. cavity
In using this standard the following limitations space between two leaves of a cavity wall
apply: 3.3
a) roof: maximum clear span 12.0 m; cavity wall
b) floor: maximum clear span 6.0 m; two parallel single-leaf walls spaced at least 50 mm
c) design wind speed: not exceeding 44 m/s apart and effectively tied together with wall ties
(see 5.3); 3.4
d) no part of wall or roof higher than 15 m above foundation
lowest adjacent ground level; that part of a structure in direct contact with and
e) storey height: maximum 2.7 m; transmitting loads to the ground
f) maximum clear length of a loadbearing wall 3.5
between vertical lateral supports of 9.0 m; foundation depth
g) maximum length of any opening in loadbearing distance between the finished external ground level
walls: 3.0 m; and the underside of the concrete in strip footings or
trench fill construction

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BS 8103-1:1995

3.6 4 Symbols
ground-supported slab
For the purposes of this Part of BS 8103, the
concrete slab constructed directly on and supported following symbols apply:
by the ground to receive material forming or
supporting the wearing surface
a retained height of ground;
3.7
hoggin d depth of fill material;
inert natural mixture usually consisting of gravel, h1 height of main building measured to the
sand and clay highest part of the wall or roof;
3.8 h2 height of wing or annexe measured to the
loadbearing wall highest part of the wall or roof;
wall that carries vertical and/or lateral loads in l length of wall to wing or annexe;
addition to its self weight
p1 projection of wing extending for more than
3.9 one storey;
masonry
p2 projection of single storey wing or annexe;
assemblage of structural units that are bonded or
solidly put together with mortar psf projection of strip footing beyond face of
supported wall;
3.10
nogging s step height in foundations;
solid piece of timber between timber members to t overall thickness of wall;
provide support for an attachment point t1 thickness of leaf 1 of cavity wall;
3.11
t2 thickness of leaf 2 of cavity wall;
pier
integral thickened section located in a wall tsf thickness of strip footing;
3.12 ttf thickness of trench fill;
separating wall w1 width of wall to main building;
wall between two buildings that is common to both
w2 width of wall to single storey wing or
3.13 annexe;
storey height
w3 width of wall to a wing extending for more
the underside to underside distance between floors than one storey.
or between a floor and roof or in the case of a ground
storey the distance between the top of the ground
floor and the underside of the floor above 5 Stability and connections between
elements
3.14
strip footing 5.1 Stability considerations
bed of concrete laid in the bottom of a trench, its This Part of BS 8103 together with BS 8103-2,
thickness being less than its width, that forms a BS 8103-31) and BS 8103-4 gives recommendations
strip foundation to carry a masonry wall on the sizing of individual elements of a house:
foundations, walls, floors and roof in relation to the
3.15
forces acting on them due to dead and imposed
trench fill
loading. In order to provide overall stability of the
deep bed of concrete filling a trench that forms a structure in relation to any likely loading condition
strip foundations to carry a masonry wall it is essential for these elements to be properly
joined together. When considering the plan form of
the building it is essential that the external walls
interact to form the sides of a rigid box completed by
the floors and roof as shown in Figure 1 for the
ground floor. In these forms of construction bracing
in the planes of the roof is a necessary contribution
to the overall stability.

1)
In preparation

2 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 8103-1:1995

Likewise the front and rear walls depend upon the

lateral support provided by the floors and roof
connected to the gable walls.
A house should not be expected to be totally
resistant to the excessive forces that may arise due
to extreme causes such as earth tremors, explosion
or impact by vehicles. Provided that the design
procedures recommended in this standard are
correctly followed, particularly the
recommendations for connections between
elements, then the effects of the excessive forces
should be minimized if they occur.
5.2 Dimensional limits to ensure stability
5.2.1 Ground levels either side of walls
Where a wall is subjected to a lateral load from
retained material due to a difference in levels on
opposite sides, the difference in level above fully
compacted backfill should not exceed the
Figure 1 — Plan form and construction of dimensions shown in Figure 3. The
the ground floor box to give stability recommendations given in Figure 3b do not apply
where there is an adjacent roadway on the upper
Internal masonry walls should be connected so as to level, used other than by private cars, and where the
interact with external walls and brace the structure. roadway for such vehicles is closer than a distance
Internal lightweight partitions should also be equivalent to 1.25 times the retained height. Such
connected so that they contribute to the overall situations are outside the scope of this standard.
stability but they should be discounted in the design Figure 3 does not apply to free-standing walls.
of the masonry. The connections between structural
elements described in 5.4 should be used as 5.2.2 Building shape
necessary to ensure that the elements of the box For residential buildings of not more than three
interact fully so as to transfer and share loads storeys, adequate stability against wind forces is
placed on one element with other elements. achieved if the building dimensions, as shown
It is particularly important to ensure that wind in Figure 4, do not exceed the following values.
loads are transferred to buttress walls, piers and a) The height of the main building (h1) should not
chimneys. be greater than twice the width of the building.
In the situations shown in Figure 2 with the force The width should be taken as w1 if p1 is equal to
derived from wind action at right angles to the or less than w3, or as w3 if p1 is greater than w3.
gable, the gable in isolation is extremely vulnerable. b) The width of the annexe (w2) should not be less
The front and rear walls in combination with the than half the height of the annexe (h2) if its
floor offer substantial lateral support provided that length (p2) is greater than twice its width (w2).
the wind forces from the top of the gable can be
transferred to them. A braced roof, if adequately
connected, laterally restrains the top of the gable
and transfers the loads to the front and rear walls.

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BS 8103-1:1995

Figure 2 — Diagram illustrating the action of wind forces

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Figure 3 — Walls with a difference in level on opposite sides

BS 8103-1:1995
5
BS 8103-1:1995

Figure 4 — Building shape

5.2.3 Height of building The scope of this standard is limited to buildings
The maximum height above the lowest finished subjected to design wind speeds (as defined
ground level adjoining the building should not in CP 3:Chapter V-2) not exceeding 44 m/s.
exceed 15 m as shown in Figure 5. A simplified method of ensuring conformity to this
limitation is as follows.
a) Determine the basic wind speed at the site of
the building from Figure 7.
b) Determine the maximum permissible height of
the building from either Table 1 or Table 2
depending on the basic wind speed and ground
roughness category. (Table 1 and Table 2 are
respectively applicable to normal, level sites and
sloping sites.)
5.4 Connections between structural elements
5.4.1 General
The details of floor or roof to wall connections given
in 5.4.2 provide for the tying together of elements
Figure 5 — Maximum height of building recommended by this standard to ensure overall
house stability and lateral restraint for walls. All
5.2.4 Storey height rafters/roof joists should be fixed to the wall plate,
The maximum height of any storey should not e.g. by framing anchors, and other connections
exceed 2.7 m measured as shown in Figure 6. The should be made at the positions shown in Figure 8
height of substructure walls measured between the with the exception of the cases listed in items a)
top of the foundation and the top of the ground floor to f). Connections, where provided, should be
slabs should also not exceed 2.7 m. inserted throughout the length of the wall at that
level. Depending on the roof or floor construction
5.3 Wind loading
and the location of the connection, the relevant
The magnitude of wind pressure to which a house is detail indicated in Figure 8 should be chosen from
exposed to is dependent on its height, geographical Figure 9 to Figure 16.
location and degree of exposure.

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Figure 6 — Measurement of storey height of walls in metres

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Figure 7 — Basic wind speed

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Table 1 — Maximum heights of buildings on normal level sites

Basic wind Maximum building height
speed m
m/s
Ground roughness category
Open countryside Open countryside with Country with many Surface with large and
with no obstructions scattered windbreaks windbreaks, small towns, frequent obstructions, city
outskirts of large cities centres
36 15 15 15 15
38 15 15 15 15
40 15 15 15 15
42 15 15 15 15
44 15 15 15 15
46 11 15 15 15
48 9 13 15 15
50 7 10 15 15
52 6 9 15 15
54 4.5 8 14 15
56 3 7 13 15
NOTE These data apply to normal level or slightly sloping sites S1 = 1.0 as given in CP 3:Chapter V-2, which can be referred to for
further guidance on applicability of data to particular sites.

Table 2 — Maximum heights of buildings on steeply sloping sites

Basic wind Maximum building height
speed m
m/s
Ground roughness category
Open countryside Open countryside with Country with many Surface with large and
with no obstructions scattered windbreaks windbreaks, small towns, frequent obstructions, city
outskirts of large cities centres
36 8 11 15 15
38 6 9 15 15
40 4 7.5 14 15
42 3 6 12 15
44 5 10 15
46 4 8 15
48 3 6.5 14
50 5 12
52 Outside the scope of this standard 4 10
54 3 8.5
56 7
NOTE These data apply to very exposed hill scope or crests and are based on S1 = 1.36 as given in CP 3:Chapter V-2, which can be
referred to for further guidance on applicability of data to particular sites.

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BS 8103-1:1995

Figure 8 — Diagram of a house showing location and type of connections necessary

between elements
Where the connections take the form of metal c) Vertical restraint straps. Straps for wall plates
restraint straps these should be fixed at centres not and roof to resist uplift forces due to wind are not
exceeding 2 m unless otherwise indicated on required when the dead weight of the roof exceeds
Figure 9 to Figure 16, as appropriate. Internal the uplift. In low-exposure situations houses with
loadbearing walls should be laterally restrained at a roof pitch greater than 15° and clad in slates or
each level by the relevant detail shown in Figure 8 concrete or clay tiles having a laid mass per unit
for external walls at that level. area greater than 50 kg/m2 vertical restraint
Connections may be omitted in the following straps are not required.
circumstances. d) Lateral restraint at ground floor. Where
a) Short lengths of wall. Where a wall is less ground-supported floor slabs are used or where
than 3 m long between buttressing walls. the top of a suspended ground floor is not more
than 1 m above the finished internal or external
b) Openings adjacent to walls. Where an opening
ground level.
occurs in a floor directly adjacent to a loadbearing
wall, e.g. in a stair well, the length of wall without e) Lateral restraint at the ceiling level of the gable.
lateral restraint should not exceed 3 m. Where Straps are not necessary when the height to the
metal restraint straps would have been necessary midpoint of the triangular section of the gable
within the length of the opening to conform to this from the underside of the floor immediately below
standard (see Figure 8), these should be is not greater than 16t where t is the overall
distributed on both sides of the opening in thickness of a solid wall, or in the case of a cavity
addition to those already provided. wall, the sum of the thicknesses of the two leaves
plus 10 mm.

10 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 8103-1:1995

f) Lateral restraint at party wall junctions. Straps They should be fixed to timber members with
are not necessary where floors bear on to either steel 50 mm long × No. 10 wood screws or
solid 200 mm thick or tied cavity party walls from by 75 mm × 4 mm (8 SWG) round nails at not less
both sides at approximately the same level. This than 110 mm centres with a minimum of four
applies irrespective of the means of support, fixings. The first connection should not be less
e.g. direct bearing or joist hangers. Floors than 112 mm from the end face of the timber
spanning parallel to such walls should be member. Where timber members spanning parallel
strapped, however, to transmit forces from the to a wall are to be restrained, the straps should be
front and rear walls. attached to binders or solid noggings fixed firmly to
5.4.2 Metal restraint straps the joists. Additionally there should be a packing
piece between the wall and the nearest joist or
5.4.2.1 Straps providing lateral restraint or rafter.
restraint against uplift of roofs should normally be
Vertical straps resisting uplift only should have a
of low carbon steel protected by galvanizing or other
nominal cross-sectional area of 75 mm2, a minimum
suitably strong and durable materials in accordance
thickness of 2.5 mm, a minimum anchorage length
with 22.7.1 of BS 5628-3:1985.
of 100 mm beyond either a 90° bend, or a vertical
Horizontal straps providing lateral restraint should twist (Figure 16 refers), and a minimum straight
have a nominal cross-sectional area of 150 mm2 or length of 1 000 mm.
greater, a minimum thickness of 5 mm, a minimum
They should be face-fixed to masonry with a
turn down length of 100 mm and a minimum
minimum of four fixings, one of which should be
straight length of 600 mm. For timber members
within 150 mm of the bottom end of the strap. As an
spanning parallel to the wall, sufficient straight
length of strap should be provided to extend over alternative to face-fixings, the strap may be
three joists or rafters. “turned into” the masonry by incorporating an
additional 100 mm anchorage length beyond a 90°
bend at the bottom of the strap.

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Figure 9 — Timber floor bearing on to wall

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Figure 10 — Timber floor spanning parallel with a wall

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Figure 11 — Timber floor supported on standard joist hanger

Figure 12 — Concrete suspended floor bearing on to wall

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Figure 13 — Concrete suspended floor abutting wall

Figure 14 — Precast concrete beam and block type floor abutting or spanning on to wall

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Figure 15 — Tying of pitched roofs to gable walls

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Figure 16 — Pitched or flat roof bearing on to a wallplate

6 Site investigation Site investigation can be a complex exercise and

some site conditions may be outside the scope of this
6.1 General standard.
In order to decide the type of foundation and method The existence of any of the hazards listed in 6.3
of construction suited to a particular site, site located under, or close to, the site of the building
investigation should be undertaken at an early may cause the ground to behave in an abnormal
stage. The investigation should also be concerned fashion, in which case a suitably qualified person
with determining those features necessary to plan should be employed to carry out the site
the siting of dwellings as well as determining soil investigation and foundation design.
properties and identifying potential hazards which
will affect the eventual design of the foundation.

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6.2 Methods of site investigation c) areas such as old refuse tips containing
Site investigation should normally fall into the material that is subject to internal combustion,
following two parts. chemical change or bacteriological decay, or
which includes toxic wastes;
a) Desk study. A study of available documents
relating to the site such as maps, geological d) underground watercourses or buried water
reports, aerial photographs and records held by courses and ponds.
the Local Authority and the Public Utilities. e) existing services such as sewers, gas and water
Reference should also be made to British Coal mains, electricity or British Telecommunications
and other mining authorities. cables;
The Electricity, Gas and Water Authorities, f) pits, both natural such as swallow holes, or due
British Telecommunications and also the British to mining or quarrying; also bomb craters and
Pipeline Agency should be approached to provide soft spots where trees have been taken up;
information relating to existing mains or sewers g) areas liable to subsidence caused by mining or
on or near the site. mineral extraction below the site;
b) Physical exploration of the site. This should h) wells, mine shafts, etc.;
include a survey of ground levels and services as
i) old foundations or other concealed
well as visual inspection and should be primarily
constructions;
concerned with identifying the nature of the
ground and any hazardous features. j) on clay soils, the presence, introduction or
recent removal of trees or heavy vegetation2);
The ground is best examined by means of
boreholes or trial pits which should be sufficient k) areas liable to flooding or where the
in number to show any likely variation over the water-table level is above the expected level of the
site. They should be located having regard to the foundations;
proposed layout of the site but not under or close l) areas where past experience has shown the
to proposed foundation positions. The depth of presence of high sulfate concentrations or other
trial pits should be at least 2 m. naturally occurring potentially deleterious
If at this depth the ground is unsuitable for the substances mainly in clay soils, in sufficient
proposed foundation a suitably qualified person concentrations, or in circumstances that would
should be consulted. The suitability of the cause damage.
ground should be determined by the simple field
tests described in Table 7. 7 Foundations
NOTE More detailed information on site investigations may be 7.1 Types of foundation
found in BS 5930.
This standard covers the design and construction of
6.3 Hazardous ground conditions requiring foundations only in normal ground, i.e. for which the
special consideration use of strip footings or trench fill foundations using
The following hazardous ground conditions should unreinforced concrete, as shown in Figure 17, are
be given special consideration: sufficient. For sites where hazardous conditions
a) slopes subject to slip or creep which can occur exist as described in 6.3 and which may require
on clay sites with slopes greater than 1 in 10; reinforced strip footings, rafts or piled foundations,
a suitably qualified person should be consulted.
b) areas liable to long-term consolidation of the
ground, particularly when this may be made-up
or reclaimed ground or where layers of peat are
encountered;

2)
Further guidance on precautions to take when building near trees can be obtained from National House Building Council
Standard, Chapter 4.2:1992 Building near trees [1]; and from BS 5837.

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Figure 17 — Types of foundation

7.2 Foundation materials 7.3.2 Minimum width of foundations
Concrete used in foundations in non-aggressive soils For the purposes of this standard, foundation loads
should be either a GEN 3 designated mix are subdivided into nine load categories A to J
conforming to BS 5328-2, or, if the concrete is to be representing line loads at the base of the wall. Load
batched at the site, an ST 3 standard mix categories for the different forms of wall
conforming to BS 5328-2 for strip footings, or construction should be determined from Table 4,
an ST 4 standard mix for trench fill foundations. Table 5 and Table 6. The minimum widths of
Concrete mixes for use in strip footings should have foundations should be obtained from Table 7 using
a nominal slump of 75 mm while those used in the appropriate soil classification and load category.
trench fill foundations should have a nominal slump Where necessary, foundation widths in excess of the
of 125 mm. design minimum should be used to allow for setting
Where sulfates are present in the ground or out and construction tolerances. A
groundwater in sufficient quantities to be foundation 150 mm wider than the wall thickness is
damaging, suitable concrete mixes as given considered to be a practical minimum dimension.
in BS 8110-1 and BRE Digest 363:1991[2],
appropriate to the sulfates concentration, should be
used. Table 3 provides simplified guidance on
concrete mixes which are in contact with sulfate
bearing soils.
7.3 Foundation design for sites without
hazardous conditions
7.3.1 General
Where no hazards have been identified during a
preliminary exploration, foundation design can
proceed in accordance with 7.3.2 to 7.3.7. The
design may have to be amended to suit unforeseen
hazardous conditions found during construction.

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Table 3 — Concrete mixes suitable for unreinforced concrete in strip footings and trench fill
foundations subject to sulfates in the ground or groundwater
Ground condition by sulfates classification
Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5
Concrete mix GEN 3 or ST3 or ST4 FND 2 FND 3 FND 4 Not applicable. Refer
appropriate (see 7.2) to specialist advice
Recommended workability 75 or 125 as 75 75 75
(nominal slump in mm) appropriate (see 7.2)
NOTE 1 Sulfates classification is in accordance with BS 8110-1 and BRE Digest 363:1991.
NOTE 2 GEN 3, FND 2, FND 3 and FND 4 are designated mixes and should conform to BS 5328-2.
NOTE 3 ST3 and ST4 are standard mixes and should be in accordance with BS 5328-2.
NOTE 4 Concrete mixes for class 1 sulfate conditions are those given in 7.2 for normal ground and the design guidance is the same.

Table 4 — Wall load categories for 4.5 m floors and 9 m roofs

Number Upper Ground floor Front/rear walls Separating walls Gable walls
of storeys floor construction
Type Type Load arrangement on Load arrangement on Load arrangement on
(see note) walls walls walls
Floors Floor Ground Floors Floor Ground Floors Floor Ground
and only Floor and only Floor and only Floor
roof and roof and roof and
roof roof roof
1 N/A GS slab A A A B A B B A B
1 N/A Timber B A B C B C B A B
1 N/A Precast C B C E D E C B C
1 N/A In situ C C C F F F D C D
2 Timber GS slab B B B D C C C B C
2 Timber Timber C B B E D D D C C
2 Timber Precast D C D G F F E D D
2 Timber In situ E D D J H H E D E
2 Precast GS slab C B B E D C D C C
2 Precast Precast E D D H H F E D D
2 Precast In situ E D D a J H F E E
3 Timber GS slab D C C F E D E D D
3 Timber Timber D C C G F E E D D
3 Timber Precast E D D J J G F E E
3 Timber In situ F E E a a J G F F
3 Precast GS slab E D C J H D F E D
3 Precast Precast G F D a a G G F E
3 Precast In situ G F E a a J G F E

NOTE GS denotes “ground supported”.

a
Loading outside the scope of this standard.

20 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 8103-1:1995

Table 5 — Wall load categories for 6 m floors and 12 m roofs

Number Upper Ground floor Front/rear walls Separating walls Gable walls
of storeys floor construction
Type Type Load arrangement on Load arrangement on Load arrangement on
(see note) walls walls walls
Floors Floor Ground Floors Floor Ground Floors Floor Ground
and only Floor and only Floor and only Floor
roof and roof and roof and
roof roof roof
1 N/A GS slab A A A B A B B A B
1 N/A Timber B A B D B D C B C
1 N/A Precast D B D G E G D C D
1 N/A In situ E D E J H J F E F
2 Timber GS slab C B B E D D D C C
2 Timber Timber C B C F E E D C C
2 Timber Precast E D D J H H F E F
2 Timber In situ F E F a a a G F G
2 Precast GS slab D C B G E D E C C
2 Precast Precast F E D a J H G F E
2 Precast In situ G F F a a a H G G
3 Timber GS slab D C C G F E E D D
3 Timber Timber E D D H G F F E E
3 Timber Precast F E E a a J G F F
3 Timber In situ H G G a a a J H H
3 Precast GS slab F E C a J E G F D
3 Precast Precast H G E a a J J H F
3 Precast In situ J H G a a a a J H
NOTE GS denotes “ground supported”.
a
Loading outside the scope of this standard.

© BSI 12-1998 21
BS 8103-1:1995

Table 6 — Wall load categories for internal wall foundations

Number of Roof load Upper floor Ground floor Total floor spana
storeys
m
Type Type (see note) 4.5 6 9 12
Load category
1 Timber NONE GS slab A A A A
1 Timber NONE Timber A A B B
1 Timber NONE Precast B C D E
1 Timber NONE In situ C D F H
2 Timber Timber GS slab A A B C
2 Timber Timber Timber B B C D
2 Timber Timber Precast C C E G
2 Timber Timber In situ D E G b

2 Timber Precast GS slab B B C D

2 Timber Precast Precast C D G J
2 Timber Precast In-situ E F J b

2 Timber NONE GS Slab A A A A

2 Timber NONE Timber A A B C
2 Timber NONE Precast B C D F
2 Timber NONE In situ C D G J
2 NONE Timber GS slab A A A A
2 NONE Timber Timber A A B C
2 NONE Timber Precast B C D F
2 NONE Timber In-situ C D G J
2 NONE Precast GS Slab A B C C
2 NONE Precast Precast C D F G
2 NONE Precast In situ D E H b

3 Timber Timber GS slab B B B C

3 Timber Timber Timber B B C D
3 Timber Timber Precast C D F G
3 Timber Timber In situ D E H b

3 Timber Precast GS slab B C D E

3 Timber Precast Precast D E G J
3 Timber Precast In situ E F J b

3 Timber NONE GS slab A A B B

3 Timber NONE Timber B B B C
3 Timber NONE Precast C C E F
3 Timber NONE In situ D E G J
3 NONE Timber GS slab A A B B
3 NONE Timber Timber B B B C
3 NONE Timber Precast C C E F
3 NONE Timber In situ D E G J
3 NONE Precast GS slab B B C D
3 NONE Precast Precast C D F H
3 NONE Precast In situ E F H b

NOTE GS denotes “ground supported”.

a
The total span is the sum of the spans on each side of the wall in question at each level. The greatest total span combination at
any supported floor level should be taken when using this table.
b
Loading outside the scope of this standard.

22 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 8103-1:1995

Table 7 — Identification of ground material and minimum foundation widths for wall load
categories
Rock or soil Simple field test Minimum foundation widtha, in mm, for load category
(kN per metre run)
Type Condition A B C D E F G H J
(20) (30) (40) (50) (60) (70) (80) (90) (100)
Rock Hard Requires at least a Equal to width of wall
pneumatic or other
mechanically
operated pick for
excavation
Gravel  Compact Requires pick for 250 300 400 500 600 650 800 900 1 000
Sand  excavation. Wooden

peg 50 mm square
hard to drive more
than 150 mm
Clay  Stiff Cannot be moulded 250 300 400 500 600 650 800 900 1 000
Sandy clay  in the fingers.

Requires pick or
pneumatically
operated spade for
excavation
Clay  Firm Can be moulded with 300 350 450 600 750 850 950
Sandy clay  substantial pressure

with the fingers and
excavated with a
spade
Sand Loose Dry lumps may have 400 600
Silty sand slight cohesion but
Clayey sand easily breaks up in
fingers. Readily
excavated with
spade. 50 mm peg
can be easily driven.
Silt Soft Easily moulded in 450 650
Clay the fingers and
Sandy clay readily excavated
Silty clay
Silt Very soft Exudes between 600 850
Clay fingers when
Refer to specialist advice
Sandy clay squeezed in fist
Silty clay
Peat —
Made ground —
a In no case should the foundation width be less than the width of the wall nor should the wall oversail the foundation.

© BSI 12-1998 23
BS 8103-1:1995

7.3.3 Minimum depth of foundations

The minimum depth of foundations should be
determined as the greatest of the following.
a) A depth to the selected bearing stratum.
b) In clays subject to seasonal moisture
movement, a depth not less than 1.0 m.
(See also BS 5837.)
c) In sands, chalk and other frost-susceptible
soils, a depth below the zone of frost action, which
may normally be taken as a minimum of 450 mm.
In upland areas and other areas known to be
subject to long periods of frost an increase in
depth may be advisable.
d) Where foundation adjoins a service trench, the Figure 19 — Thickness of foundations
layout shown in Figure 18 should be followed. 7.3.5 Stepped foundations
On sloping sites, or where the bearing stratum
slopes or where local proximity to a service trench
requires a greater depth, foundations may be
stepped. Each length of foundation between steps
should be horizontal and the height of steps should
not exceed the thickness of the foundation. The face
of the step in the soil should be as near vertical as
possible. The minimum length of the overlap and
the maximum step height should be as shown
in Figure 20.
7.3.6 Position of walls on foundations
In general, walls should be positioned such that the
centre of the wall is on the centre line of the
Figure 18 — Foundation adjoining a trench foundation (see a) or b) in Figure 21).
Where the external face of a wall is at or near the
The susceptibility of soils to moisture movement, edge of the foundation, for example where the
the action of frost or changes in water table varies foundation position is determined by a boundary to
widely and the advice of the approving authority an adjacent property, (see Figure 21c) it is sufficient
should always be sought. to ensure that the centre of the wall is within the
Except as indicated in 7.3.5, the underside of middle third of the foundation width as
foundations should be maintained at a uniform recommended in 7.3.2.
level. 7.3.7 Foundations to walls with projections
7.3.4 Minimum thickness of foundations Foundation widths should be increased where piers
The minimum thickness of foundations should be or chimneys project beyond the general line of the
the greater of 150 mm or the projection from the face wall. The foundation should be widened so that the
of the substructure wall to the adjoining edge of the distance from the edge of the concrete to the face of
foundation as shown in Figure 19. masonry remains constant as shown in Figure 22.
7.3.8 Foundations on clay soils close to trees
Damage can occur to foundations on clay soils in
proximity to trees or where trees have been
removed. Foundations should not generally be
affected if they are located a distance further from a
tree equivalent to its mature height. Where a row of
trees is concerned, this distance should be increased
to 1.5 times the height. In all other cases the site
should be considered as hazardous and special
precautions should be taken (see 6.1).

24 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 8103-1:1995

Figure 20 — Stepped foundations

Figure 21 — Position of walls on foundations

© BSI 12-1998 25
BS 8103-1:1995

Figure 22 — Foundations to walls with projections

8 Ground floor slabs

In situ concrete ground-supported slabs may be
used in the majority of sites except where the depth
of fill exceeds 600 mm or other circumstances
dictate the use of suspended construction.
The minimum thickness of a concrete
ground-supported slab should be 100 mm. The slab
should be constructed on a minimum of 100 mm of
inert well-graded fill material, such as hoggin or
other suitable fill, blinded with fine material,
see Figure 23. Fill material should be compacted in
layers not greater than 225 mm thick and should
not contain any pieces that will not pass through
a 75 mm diameter ring.
Any material containing sulfates easily soluble in
ground water should not be regarded as inert.
The concrete mix for the ground-supported slab
should be a GEN 4 designated mix or an ST4
standard mix in accordance with BS 5328-2. The
recommended workability for this use is a 75 mm
nominal slump. For ground-supported floor slabs
containing any embedded metal (e.g. reinforcement
used nominally or as a crack control option), the
concrete mix should be an RC35 designated mix in
accordance with BS 5328-2. The recommended Figure 23 — In situ concrete
workability for this use is a 75 mm nominal slump. ground-supported slab
For sites where hazardous conditions exist as
described in 6.3 which, for example, may require the
provision of suspended slabs or the use of concrete
materials that are resistant to sulfate attack, a
suitably qualified person should be consulted.
Loadbearing internal partitions or walls should
have separate foundations independent of the floor
slabs.

26 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 8103-1:1995

List of references

Normative references

BSI publications
BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION, London

BS 5328, Concrete.
BS 5328-2:1991, Methods for specifying concrete mixes.
BS 5628, Code of practice for use of masonry.
BS 5628-1:1992, Structural use of unreinforced masonry.
BS 5628-3:1985, Materials and components, design and workmanship.
BS 8110, Structural use of concrete.
BS 8110-1:1985, Code of practice for design and construction.
CP 3, Code of basic data for the design of buildings.
CP 3:Chapter V, Loading.
CP 3:Chapter V-2:1972, Wind loads.

Other references

[2] BRE Digest 363:1991, Sulphate and acid resistance of concrete in the ground3).

Informative references

BSI publications
BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION, London

BS 5837:1991, Guide for trees in relation to construction.

BS 5930:1981, Code of practice for site investigations.
BS 8103, Structural design of low-rise buildings.
BS 8103-2:1995, Code of practice for masonry walls for housing.
BS 8103-4:1995, Code of practice for concrete suspended floors for housing.

Other references

[1] National House-Building Council Standard, Chapter 4.2:1992, Building near trees4).

3) Available from the Building Research Establishment, Garston, Watford, Herts WD2 7JR.
4) Available from NHBC, Buildmark House, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham, Bucks HP6 5AP.

© BSI 12-1998
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