[GSBN] New Mexico frost depth

[Dodson Harper]

Tina

As Derek stated, the frost depth will change drastically depending on your elevation. In New Mexico most building departments typically leave the frost depth up to the discretion of the engineer/architect. (Same goes for snow load!) Our favorite foundation system for a flat site is a shallow-frost protected foundation. This is pretty detailed in the International Residential Code in Section 403.3. The air freezing index (what drives the amount of insulation required) for that county is pretty low. Since Sante Fe is up at 7000 feet in elevation, I would consider it to be a bit colder than the table in the IRC. We have also done this type of foundation with just a grade beam under the bale wall and a poured adobe floor instead of a slab. This has been a very effective foundation system for projects in Utah and Colorado. We have also used rubble trench foundations in similar climates to Sante Fe, but the effectiveness is very site dependent since you need a place to move the water from under the building.

Hope this helps-feel free to contact me off-line if you have further questions.

Dodson

Dodson Harper, P.E., S.E.
Principal
Resource Engineering Group, Inc.
Mail: Box 3725
Delivery: 502 Whiterock Ave., Suite 102
Crested Butte, CO 81224 USA
Office: 970-349-1216
Cell: 970-209-3938
dodson at reginc.com 
www.reginc.com

On Mar 11, 2014, at 11:26 AM, tina therrien <strawbus at auracom.com> wrote:

> Hi all! I am going to be helping my sister-in-law build a round straw bale abode just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. I'd love to hear from any New Mexico builders (off-line would be great, thanks!) about the Santa Fe frost line and best foundation options for the region (they're considering rubble trench). I could just google it from way up here in Canada, but I figured it might be quicker, and wiser, to ask builders who know the area. 
> 
> Thanks a bunch!
> 
> tina therrien
> 
> Camel's Back Construction
> Quality, handcrafted homes
> www.strawhomes.ca
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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