The Development of a New ASCE Standard for the Design of Foundations – Ep 061

In this episode, we talk to Scott J. DiFiore, P.E., P.Eng. (AB), D.GE, Principal at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc., about the development of the new ASCE Standard for the design of foundations for buildings and other structures. Engineering Quotes: Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Scott: Can you please tell our listeners a bit more about yourself, and what you do daily at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.? You chair the committee for essentially all things geotech, from shallow/deep foundations and ground improvement to seismic and special inspection considerations, just to name a few. How does your involvement with these committees benefit your engineering career? How do you make sure you are getting all the right people to the table for this new standard? Do you know what the milestones are going to be and is there an anticipated release date? What prompted the decision to make a new standard for the design of foundations? Compared to ASCE7, is making the new standard a bigger job? How often do the 60 committee members meet? What is the range of experience needed for people who want to join in on making the new standard? Do you see other benefits of this project in terms of other civil disciplines working together in the future? What final advice would you like to give to geotechnical engineers out there? Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About the Development of a New ASCE Standard for the Design of Foundations: The SEI Codes and Standards Committee has been developing the design of foundations for buildings and other structures that is like the ASCE 7 standard. SEI and Geo-Institute committee professionals, contractors, and building officials were all on the committee. It is not an update of an existing standard, but a new standard that comes with its challenges. Many professionals from different geographic areas and different disciplines are on the committee. It was important to have both structural and geotechnical professionals on the committee to bring their different perspectives to the table. It is a requirement to have certain contractors, design professionals, building professionals, and professors on the committee. The committee is comprised of 60 professionals who can reach out to other external professionals if any input is needed. There is also a public process of balloting to address and resolve comments from the public. A normal standard cycle is five years, but this new standard for the design of foundations is a bigger project than updating an existing standard. The new standard could be released sometime in the next decade, maybe around four or five years from now, because there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. The idea of making a new standard for the design of foundations came about because many kinds of foundations are not covered in the current design codes and standards. The current codes have been modified so many times over the years, causing them to become disjointed and inconsistent. To make the new standard, we need to address the systems that are missing and add the foundation types that are missing. ASCE 7 was a monster of a project to complete, with hundreds of people on the committee. The new standard for the design of foundations is also a mammoth project, but it is almost impossible to compare the two. The committee members collectively started out meeting monthly until the various chapters were determined. Now the chapters have monthly virtual meetings; the committee members meet two to three times a year virtually but started having in-person meetings last year. Engineers of any experience level can help with making the new standard. There is always something that someone can help with. There are different tasks available that will suit yo...