Laserfiche WebLink
Catholic Housing Services JN 16298 <br /> November 1, 2016 Page 10 <br /> DRAINAGE CONSIDERATIONS <br /> Footing drains should be used where: (1) Crawl spaces or basements will be below a structure; (2) <br /> A slab is below the outside grade; or, (3) The outside grade does not slope downward from a <br /> building. Drains should also be placed at the base of all earth-retaining walls. These drains should <br /> be surrounded by at least 6 inches of 1-inch-minus, washed rock that is encircled with non-woven, <br /> geotextile filter fabric (Mirafi 140N, Supac 4NP, or similar material). At its highest point, a <br /> perforated pipe invert should be at least 6 inches below the bottom of a slab floor or the level of a <br /> crawl space. The discharge pipe for subsurface drains should be sloped for flow to the outlet point. <br /> Roof and surface water drains must not discharge into the foundation drain system. A typical drain <br /> detail is attached to this report as Plate 9. For the best long-term performance, perforated PVC <br /> pipe is recommended for all subsurface drains. <br /> If the structure includes an elevator, it may be necessary to provide special drainage or <br /> waterproofing measures for the elevator pit. If no seepage into the elevator pit is acceptable, it will <br /> be necessary to provide a footing drain and free-draining wall backfill, and the walls should be <br /> waterproofed. If the footing drain will be too low to connect to the storm drainage system, then it <br /> will likely be necessary to install a pumped sump to discharge the collected water. Alternatively, <br /> the elevator pit could be designed to be entirely waterproof; this would include designing the pit <br /> structure to resist hydrostatic uplift pressures. <br /> As a minimum, a vapor retarder, as defined in the Slabs-On-Grade section, should be provided in <br /> any crawl space area to limit the transmission of water vapor from the underlying soils. Crawl space <br /> grades are sometimes left near the elevation of the bottom of the footings. As a result, an outlet <br /> drain is recommended for all crawl spaces to prevent an accumulation of any water that may <br /> bypass the footing drains. Providing even a few inches of free draining gravel underneath the <br /> vapor retarder limits the potential for seepage to build up on top of the vapor retarder. <br /> The excavation and site should be graded so that surface water is directed off the site and away <br /> from the tops of slopes. Water should not be allowed to stand in any area where foundations, <br /> slabs, or pavements are to be constructed. Final site grading in areas adjacent to building(s) <br /> should slope away at least 2 percent, except where the area is paved. Surface drains should be <br /> provided where necessary to prevent ponding of water behind foundation or retaining walls. A <br /> discussion of grading and drainage related to pervious surfaces near walls and structures is <br /> contained in the Foundation and Retaining Walls. <br /> GENERAL EARTHWORK AND STRUCTURAL FILL <br /> All building and pavement areas should be stripped of surface vegetation, topsoil, organic soil, and <br /> other deleterious material. The stripped or removed materials should not be mixed with any <br /> materials to be used as structural fill, but they could be used in non-structural areas, such as <br /> landscape beds. We don't anticipate that any significant use of structural fill will be needed for this <br /> project except for possibly as utility line backfill. <br /> Structural fill is defined as any fill, including utility backfill, placed under, or close to, a building, <br /> behind permanent retaining or foundation walls, or in other areas where the underlying soil needs <br /> to support loads. All structural fill should be placed in horizontal lifts with a moisture content at, or <br /> near, the optimum moisture content. The optimum moisture content is that moisture content that <br /> results in the greatest compacted dry density. The moisture content of fill is very important and <br /> must be closely controlled during the filling and compaction process. <br /> GEOTECH CONSULTANTS,INC. <br />