In conventional light frame construction on soil with a load bearing value of 2,000 psf for a one-story building with 8 inch hollow concrete masonry walls, what is the minimum thickness of the spread footing?

In conventional light frame construction on soil with a load bearing value of 2,000 psf for a one-story building with 8 inch hollow concrete masonry walls, what is the minimum thickness of the spread footing?

• A. 24 inches
• B. 12 inches
• C. 6 inches
• D. 15 inches

Answer: (C)

Spread footings work to transfer the wall loads evenly into the soil, so their thickness is set to provide enough concrete section to resist bending and shear from the supported wall. For conventional light-frame construction on soil with a bearing capacity of 2,000 psf, the standard minimum footing thickness is six inches. This size is sufficient for the weight of a one-story structure with 8-inch hollow CMU walls, while keeping the footing practical and not unnecessarily oversized. Larger thicknesses (twelve, fifteen, or twenty-four inches) would be needed only if loads were higher, soil bearing was poorer, or there were more stories, but with the given conditions, six inches is the appropriate minimum.

Spread footings work to transfer the wall loads evenly into the soil, so their thickness is set to provide enough concrete section to resist bending and shear from the supported wall. For conventional light-frame construction on soil with a bearing capacity of 2,000 psf, the standard minimum footing thickness is six inches. This size is sufficient for the weight of a one-story structure with 8-inch hollow CMU walls, while keeping the footing practical and not unnecessarily oversized. Larger thicknesses (twelve, fifteen, or twenty-four inches) would be needed only if loads were higher, soil bearing was poorer, or there were more stories, but with the given conditions, six inches is the appropriate minimum.