9.15.4.3 — Foundation Walls Considered to be Laterally Supported at the Top

(1) Except as required in Sentence (2), the thickness of foundation walls made of unreinforced concrete block or solid concrete and subject to lateral earth pressure shall conform to Table 9.15.4.2.A. for walls not exceeding 3.0 m in unsupported height. (2) The thickness of concrete in flat insulating concrete form foundation walls shall be not less than the greater of, (a) 140 mm, or (b) the thickness of the concrete in the wall above. (3) Foundation walls made of flat insulating concrete form units shall be laterally supported at the top and at the bottom. (4) The thickness and reinforcing of foundation walls made of reinforced concrete block and subject to lateral earth pressure shall conform to Table 9.15.4.2.B. and Sentences (5) to (8) where, (a) the walls are laterally supported at the top, (b) average stable soils are encountered, and (c) wind loads on the exposed portion of the foundation are no greater than 0.70 kPa. (5) For concrete block walls required to be reinforced, continuous vertical reinforcement shall, (a) be provided at wall corners, wall ends, wall intersections, at changes in wall height, at the jambs of all openings and at movement joints, (b) extend from the top of the footing to the top of the foundation wall, and (c) where foundation walls are laterally supported at the top, have not less than 50 mm embedment into the footing, if the floor slab does not provide lateral support at the wall base. (6) For concrete block walls required to be reinforced, a continuous horizontal bond beam containing at least one 15M bar shall be installed, (a) along the top of the wall, (b) at the sill and head of all openings greater than 1.2 m in width, and (c) at structurally connected floors. (7) In concrete block walls required to be reinforced, all vertical bar reinforcement shall be installed along the centre line of the wall. (8) In concrete block walls required to be reinforced, ladder or truss type lateral reinforcement not less than 3.8 mm in diameter (No. 9 ASWG) shall be installed in the bed joint of every second masonry course.

(1) Floor joists supported on the side of flat insulating concrete form walls shall be supported with joist hangers secured to wood ledger boards. (2) The ledger boards described in Sentence (1) shall be not less than, (a) 38 mm thick, and (b) the depth of the floor joists. (3) Anchor bolts shall be used to secure ledger boards to flat insulating concrete form walls and shall be, (a) embedded in the wall to a depth not less than 100 mm, and (b) spaced in accordance with Table 9.20.17.5. (4) Floor joists and building frames supported on top of flat insulating concrete form walls shall be anchored in conformance with Article 9.23.6.1.