What is a grade beam in construction?
A grade beam or grade beam footing is a component of a building’s foundation. It consists of a reinforced concrete beam that transmits the load from a bearing wall into spaced foundations such as pile caps or caissons.
What does grade beam mean?
Definition of grade beam : a sill of structural steel or reinforced concrete atop the foundation of a building and supporting a wall at or near ground level.
What is the difference between beam and grade beam?
A ground beam refers to a grade beam, a beam that usually span poor soil conditions to fix two or more other foundation elements to support a slab or walls that would otherwise not be acceptable by the soil. Both are different to each other.
Where are grade beams located?
Grade beams are used to connect column foundations together, whether the columns are supported on individual spread footings, individual piles, or pile groups. Trenches in the soil will act as forms for reinforced concrete grade beams. Wood forms are only needed for the above ground portions of the grade beam.
How do you form a grade beam?
Grade beam are easily formed using STAY-FORM® and rebar or lumber as bracing. Some contractors prefer to backfill 75 to 90 percent up the grade beam prior to the concrete pour in order to minimize the required bracing. Backfilling acts as the bracing which will stop the formwork from spreading during the pour.
How big is a grade beam?
Grade Beam Construction Grade beams must be a minimum of 200mm by 600mm (8” x 24”) with 2 – 15M bars top and bottom. Thickened edge slabs are not acceptable as a grade beam without an Engineer’s seal. An acceptable void form must be placed under all grade beams.
How do you make a grade beam?
1. Preparation and excavation for grade beam
- 1:Completion of trench excavation for the construction of grade beams between piles.
- 2: Grade beam excavated along with footings.
- 3: Placement of reinforcement on flat soling bricks.
- 4: Shuttering bottom and one side of grade beam and placed reinforcement.
What is a garage grade beam?
A grade beam is a reinforced concrete beam that distributes the weight from the bearing wall. Unless you are building foundations it isn’t super important to know the engineering specifications or the construction process but they will have an impact the aesthetic appeal of your garage or concrete spaces.
How do you calculate grade beam formwork?
- Take the cross-section of beam and measure the lengths of the two sides and base of beam.
- Sum the three measurements.
- Measure the span of the beam.
- Multiply the span length by sum of the three measurements (beam base two vertical sides) gives the shuttering area of beam.
What is a grade beam?
Grade Beams are Constructed and designed with concrete and mainly acts as horizontal ties between the two footings. The grade beam is generally used in the areas where the surface bearing capacity of the soil is less. Grade beam connects the column with each other.
What is the minimum depth of a grade beam?
The size and the depth of the grade beam depend upon the type and the intensity of the load coming on the beam and the bearing capacity of the soil on the construction sit e. The minimum depth of the grade beam should be 150 mm. The grade beams are stronger than the plinth beams.
What are the steps involved in the construction of grade beams?
1 The first step on the excavation is done for the construction of the grade beams. 2 The construction of the grade beam is done on the prepared base surface. 3 If the grade beam is used to connect between two piles then the Construction of the grade beam will begin after the Construction of pile foundation.
What is the minimum reinforcement required in a grade beam?
The minimum reinforcement which is required in the grade beam at the top and the bottom side is 3 bars of 10 mm diameter. The steps which are involved in the construction process of the grade beams are as follows.