Introduction to Foundation Design
- Course Number: C1033
- Credits: 2 hours
- Instructor: Ellen Huang, PE
- Price: $20
Course Outline
The foundation of a house is a somewhat invisible and sometimes ignored component of the building. It is increasingly evident, however, that attention to good foundation design and construction has significant benefits to both the homeowner and the builder, and can avoid some serious future problems. This course introduces major foundation design issues: structural integrity, moisture control, radon mitigation, and termite control. Other issues such as energy conservation and thermal comfort are also discussed.
At the end of this course, there will be a multiple-choice, open-book quiz, which is designed to enhance your understanding of the course material.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Know the four basic foundation types;
- Understand the decision-making process for foundation design;
- Know vapor, radon, and termite control techniques; and
- Understand the principles that can be applied to minimize pressure differences across the building foundation envelope.