[GSBN] New Mexico frost depth

[tina therrien]

Thanks, Derek & Dodson!

It's such a relief to be able to have queries answered so quickly on  
this site- thank you GSBN!

tina

On 11-Mar-14, at 2:11 PM, Dodson Harper wrote:

> 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
> <*REG Resume Logo.jpg>
> 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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