According to CBC, what is the minimum thickness required for a concrete foundation wall supporting a three-story wood frame building?
Correct Answer
B) 10 inches
CBC requires minimum 10-inch thickness for concrete foundation walls supporting three-story construction to provide adequate structural capacity and stability.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The CBC specifies a minimum 10-inch thickness for cast-in-place concrete foundation walls when supporting three stories of wood-frame construction. This thickness provides the structural capacity needed to resist both vertical loads and lateral soil pressure without additional engineering.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 12 inches
12 inches is required for four-story or heavier structural systems, not a standard three-story wood frame. Selecting 12 inches would be over-conservative and does not match the CBC prescriptive table for this scenario.
Option C: 8 inches
8 inches is acceptable for a one- or two-story wood frame building. Adding a third story increases loads beyond what an 8-inch wall can handle prescriptively under the CBC.
Option D: 6 inches
6 inches is the minimum for lightly loaded single-story applications and is far too thin for the cumulative gravity and lateral demands of a three-story structure.
Memory Technique
Use a stair-step: 1 story = 6 in, 2 stories = 8 in, 3 stories = 10 in, 4+ stories = 12 in. Add 2 inches per additional story tier as a memory shortcut.
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