What is a Strip Foundation?
Foundations provide support for structures, transferring their load to layers of soil or rock that have sufficient bearing capacity and suitable settlement characteristics.
Very broadly, foundations can be categorized as either shallow foundations or deep foundations. Shallow foundations are typically used where the loads imposed by a structure are low - relative to the bearing capacity of the surface soils.

Strip foundations (or strip footings) are a type of shallow foundation that are used to provide a continuous and level (or sometimes stepped) strip of support to a linear structure, such as a wall or closely-spaced rows of columns built centrally above them.
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Strip foundations can be used for most subsoils, but are most suitable for soil which is of relatively good bearing capacity. They are particularly suited to light structural loadings such as those found in many low-to-medium rise domestic buildings - where mass concrete strip foundations can be used. In other situations, reinforced concrete may be required.
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Very broadly, the size and position of strip foundations is typically related to the wall’s overall width. The depth a traditional strip foundation is generally equal to or greater than the overall wall width, and the foundation width is generally three times the width of the supported wall. The principle design features of a strip foundation are based on the fact that the load is transmitted at 45 degrees from the base of the wall to the soil.
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Pad Foundations:
Pad foundations are generally shallow foundations, but can be deep depending on the ground conditions. They are a form of spread foundation formed by rectangular, square, or sometimes circular concrete ‘pads’ that support localized single-point loads such as structural columns, groups of columns, or framed structures. This load is then spread by the pad to the bearing layer of soil or rock below. Pad foundations can also be used to support ground beams.
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Pad foundations are generally of a uniform thickness, but sometimes the upper face may be sloped or stepped. Their planned shape will depend on the nature of the applied load and the allowable bearing capacity of the layers below. Their thickness must be sufficient to distribute the load across the planned shape. They are generally reinforced on all but the smallest structures, with the reinforcement allowing higher loads to be imposed and the construction of shallower pads which require less excavation and use less concrete.​