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Rigid foam extends under the full slab and lines the inside edges of the foundation walls.

Rigid foam extends under the full slab and lines the inside edges of the foundation walls.

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Assembly Sequence for Slab-on-Grade Foundation with Integral Grade Beam and Exterior Insulation

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Video animation showing an assembly sequence for slab-on-grade foundation with integral grade beam and exterior insulation.

Four inches of rigid foam separate the concrete slab from the ground and the foundation walls.

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Right - Rigid foam insulation is installed along the exterior edge of an existing foundation slab.

Right - Rigid foam insulation is installed along the exterior edge of an existing foundation slab.

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Concrete slab-on-grade foundation with a turn-down footing insulated on its top surface, showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

Concrete slab-on-grade foundation with a turn-down footing insulated on its top surface, showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

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Right - Additional potential locations for slab-on-grade insulation include (a) under the slab and outside the perimeter with optional underground moisture block, (b) under the whole foundation, or (c) on top of the slab.

Right - Additional potential locations for slab-on-grade insulation include (a) under the slab and outside the perimeter with optional underground moisture block, (b) under the whole foundation, or (c) on top of the slab.

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Externally insulated post-tensioned concrete slab-on-grade foundation wall with a turn-down footing showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

Externally insulated post-tensioned concrete slab-on-grade foundation wall with a turn-down footing showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

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Externally insulated post-tensioned concrete slab-on-grade foundation wall with a turn-down footing showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

Externally insulated post-tensioned concrete slab-on-grade foundation wall with a turn-down footing showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

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Assembly can be used in IECC CZ 3 and above to thermally isolate garages in multifamily row houses with slab foundations. For unheated garages, it is unnecessary to insulate wall between garage and exterior of slab or slab underneath garage.

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Technology Solutions Case Study: Exterior Rigid Foam Insulation at the Edge of a Slab Foundation, Fresno, California

Case Study

Case study describing installation of exterior rigid foam insulation on a slab foundation.

Right - The slab-on-grade foundation is insulated with two layers (R-20) of XPS foam under the-slab and R-10 on the exterior of the stem walls.

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Right – Rigid foam was attached to the tops of the precast foundation walls to form an insulated edge for the floor slab.

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ICF foundation walls wrap the floor slab in R-22 of insulation while the entire space under the slab is covered with 4.3 inches of closed-cell spray foam.

ICF foundation walls wrap the floor slab in R-22 of insulation while the entire space under the slab is covered with 4.3 inches of closed-cell spray foam.

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Right - Flood resistant slab and crawlspace foundations elevate the floor above the design flood elevation.

Right - Flood resistant slab and crawlspace foundations elevate the floor above the design flood elevation.

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Spray foam extends down the inside of the foundation wall to the uninsulated slab; because the wall lacked exterior perimeter drainage, the slab was cut and an interior footing drain was installed.

Spray foam extends down the inside of the foundation wall to the uninsulated slab; because the wall lacked exterior perimeter drainage, the slab was cut and an interior footing drain was installed.

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The floor slab is completely insulated with ICF foundation walls and R-20 (3 inches) of closed-cell foam that is sprayed directly onto the ground before pouring the slab.

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Basic foundation types: deep basement, submerged crawl space, flush crawl space, and slab-on-grade

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Spray foam insulation extends down the foundation wall to the slab, which has been retrofitted by cutting the slab to install drainage mat against the wall and a new perimeter footing drain, along with rigid foam plastic above the slab.

Spray foam insulation extends down the foundation wall to the slab, which has been retrofitted by cutting the slab to install drainage mat against the wall and a new perimeter footing drain, along with rigid foam plastic above the slab.

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The concrete slab is thermally isolated from the concrete foundation stem wall and the stem wall is insulated for cold climates

The concrete slab is thermally isolated from the concrete foundation stem wall and the stem wall is insulated for cold climates

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Right – Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) provide the insulated stem wall for the slab-on-grade foundation for this SIP house.

Right – Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) provide the insulated stem wall for the slab-on-grade foundation for this SIP house.

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Brick veneer framed wall supported by a concrete slab-on-grade foundation with a turn-down footing insulated on its top surface, showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

Brick veneer framed wall supported by a concrete slab-on-grade foundation with a turn-down footing insulated on its top surface, showing anchorage of the wall to the foundation for seismic resistance

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This Texas homes uses a slab foundation including a 4-in.-thick post-tensioned monolithic slab with turned-down edges poured over a 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier and capillary break; slab edge insulation is not used due to termite risk.

This Texas homes uses a slab foundation including a 4-in.-thick post-tensioned monolithic slab with turned-down edges poured over a 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier and capillary break; slab edge insulation is not used due to termite risk.

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The goal of foundation moisture management is to construct the basement, crawlspace, or slab in a way that keeps moisture from getting in in the first place

The goal of foundation moisture management is to construct the basement, crawlspace, or slab in a way that keeps moisture from getting in in the first place

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A concrete slab-on-grade foundation with exterior insulation, which can be elevated above the local grade as a flood-prevention strategy.

A concrete slab-on-grade foundation with exterior insulation, which can be elevated above the local grade as a flood-prevention strategy.

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Spray foam and rigid foam were used under the slab while rigid foam wraps the exterior of the foundation walls.

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Right – R-20 of XPS and polyiso rigid foam were added on the slab shelf that is part of this precast foundation wall system.

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New Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Exterior Rigid Foam Insulation at the Edge of a Slab Foundation, Fresno, California

Case Study

Case study describing application of exterior rigid foam insulation on a foundation system.

This house design in the Hot-Humid climate uses a slab foundation, masonry walls, and an Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) cladding.

This house design in the Hot-Humid climate uses a slab foundation, masonry walls, and an Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) cladding.

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FORTIFIED Home Eligibility Requirements—Foundations - Eligibility Requirements and Retrofit Requirements for Elevated-Floor (Not Slab-on-Grade) Houses

Reference

Checklist intending to clarify FORTIFIED Home™ eligibility requirements that relate to a home’s foundation.

Any holes through the vapor barrier installed over the basement floor slab are thoroughly sealed as part of the foundation water barrier system.

Any holes through the vapor barrier installed over the basement floor slab are thoroughly sealed as part of the foundation water barrier system.

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