Gap Filler Detail

1961 – National Archives of Canada


10-36-80/5 (DCEP)

8 February 1961

WH Crandall & Associates,
PO Box 36,
Moncton, NB

Re: Standard Foundation Design for Buildings & Towers
Gap Filler Radar Station Maritimes.

Dear Sirs:

One set of prints of the following drawings are enclosed for your use in preparing special foundation plans when the standard foundation design is not applicable due to site conditions:

Standard Radar BuildingS-13-1104-1 & 2
Standard Power & Accommodation BuildingS-22-1048-1
Standard Radar Tower AB-637S-13-1102-1 & 2
Joint Radar & Forestry Tower AB-645 and AB-554S-13-1103-1 & 2

Standard Radar Building

Drawing S-13-1104-2 shows three "types" of foundations to be used for this building, depending upon site conditions.

"Type I" will be the standard perimeter wall and slab on fill, with the footing of the perimeter wall below the frost line. It will not be necessary to prepare a special foundation plan for this condition, but merely indicate the finished floor elevation and that of the bottom of the footing on the Siting Instruction Plan and in the Supplementary Specifications, except where a stepped footing would be more economical.

Type II" will be a modified perimeter wall and slab on fill to be used on reasonably level rocky sites. A special foundation plan will be required for this condition, showing the four views of the perimeter wall with elevations.

Type III" will be a steel frame and mill floor to be used on irregular rocky sites, on which it would be uneconomical to use "Type II". A special foundation plan will be required for this condition, showing the complete details fo the 18 reinforced concrete piers. Generally, there will be no need to modify or redraw the structural floor shown on the above noted drawing. If necessary, these piers shall be doweled to the rock and reinforced for shear and bending moment to resist the wind load on the building. Building may be backfilled if possible economically, otherwise timber stairs are to be provided to doors.

Standard Power & Accommodation Building

Drawing S-22-1048-1 shows two "types" of foundations to be used for this building, depending upon site conditions.

"Type I" will be the standard perimeter wall and slab on fill, with the footing of the perimeter wall below the frost line. It will not be necessary to prepare a special foundation plan for this condition but merely indicate the finished floor elevation and that of the bottom of the footing on the Siting Instruction Plan and in the Supplementary Specifications.

"Type III" will be a modified perimeter wall and slab on fill to be used on rocky sites. A special foundation plan will be required for this condition, showing the four views of the perimeter wall with elevations.

Standard Radar Tower AB-637

Drawing S-13-1102-1 shows the standard foundation to be used when 10'6" of soil ballast over the footings can be assured. It will not be necessary to prepare a special foundation plan for this condition but merely indicate the elevation of the "work point" of the piers on the Siting Instruction Plan and in the Supplementary Specifications.

If solid rock occurs below the surface, but less than 12 feet down, a special pier type foundation shall be designed complete with dowelled rock anchors. Such design shall properly provide for the combined stresses due to vertical and horizontal loads acting on the top of the piers.

Instructions for grounding will be issued later.

Joint Radar & Forestry Tower AB-645 & AB-554

Drawing S-13-11-3-1 shows the standard foundation to be used when 10'0" of soil ballast over the footings can be assured. It will not be necessary to prepare special foundation plan for this condition but merely indicate the elevation of the top of the piers on the Siting Instruction Plan and in the Supplementary Specifications.

Drawing S-13-1103-2 shows the modified foundation to be used on rocky sites. A special foundation plan will be required for this condition, showing the complete details of the four piers.

If solid rock occurs below the surface, but less than 12 feet down, a special pier type foundation shall be designed complete with dowelled rock anchors. Such design shall properly provide for the combined stresses due to vertical and horizontal loads acting on the top of the piers.

Instructions for grounding will be issued later.

Yours truly,

(JW Griffith)
Group Captain,
for Chief of the Air Staff.


APPENDIX "A" to
10-36-80/5 (DCEP)
8 February 1961

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
GAP FILLER RADAR STATIONS

The following general instructions shall apply to the design of special foundations for the buildings and towers when the standard design is not applicable due to site conditions.

Design Requirements - Generally

All design shall be in accordance with the latest edition of National Building Code and CSA Specifications referenced therein.

If a required design is intended for one location only, foundations and/or superstructure shall meet actual site conditions, ie:

  1. Local soil and topographical conditions

  2. Local snow loads as per RCAF instructions

  3. Wind pressure of 20 psf unless otherwise specified

This information shall be clearly stated on each drawing.

If such special designs are intended for issue with "Standard" documents, it must be clearly indicated that they are supplementary and that they will govern in case of confliction. The respective "Standard" drawings must be referenced.

If the special drawings supersede existing "Standard" drawings, they must be separate and complete in themselves and the deleted "Standard" drawings shall be clearly listed thereon.

The following shall apply to all design work. The consultant shall provide complete drawings, specifications, reinforcing bar lists and cost estimates as required for each project.

  1. Two sets of prints shall be submitted together with a preliminary estimate of cost (labour and materials) for the purpose of discussions and comments. These drawings should be sufficiently detailed to illustrate the broad principles of the proposed new design or the proposed alternative or modified system. All pertinent information, such as elevations and building location, shall be indicated thereon. Pencil on paper work will be acceptable.

  2. Upon request, the consultant shall complete the final drawings, specifications and detailed estimate of cost (labour and materials).

Special and non-standard drawings may be good quality "pencil on paper", sufficiently crisp to permit photographic reproduction, drawing sizes and title blocks in strict accordance with RCAF Drawing S-0-1081-1 and S-0-1081-2 (note special Consultant's Title Block).

All final Structural drawings shall be separate from architectural drawings and shall indicate sizes, dimensions, locations, quantities and details of all structural components. All pertinent elevations shall be indicated and all related to a single datum, such as Fin. ground floor elevation. All assumed design loads and working stresses shall be clearly noted on each structural drawing.

The following additional information shall be supplied with regard to:

  1. Reinforced Concrete - Final drawings shall completely detail all reinforcing steel as to location, quantities, sizes and spacing of all reinforcing steel, all in accordance with CSA A-23.

  2. Structural Steel - All non-standard and special connections and features must be fully dimensioned, specified and detailed, all in accordance with CSA S-16.

  3. Timber - All "engineered" design in timber shall include drawing notes specifying species, grades and protective treatment, if any. All connections and special features shall be fully dimensioned and detailed, all in accordance with CSA 086.

All drawings shall bear the professional seal of the supervising engineer and the consultant's checkers initials.

Typist note: This letter was also sent to the following:

General Engineering Company,
1203 Roselawn Avenue,
Toronto, Ontario

MM Dillon & Company,
141 Maple Street,
London, Ontario

Mickelson, Fraser & Haywood
PO Box 186
Fort William, Ontario.

Lalonde, Girouard & Letendre,
8790 Park Avenue,
Montreal 11, Quebec.

Piette, Audy & Lepinay
1134 Chemin St Louis,
Sillery, PQ