Foundation structure, components therefor and method of constructing a foundation

Abstract

A foundation component ( 1 ) is disclosed which is suitable for forming part of a modular foundation for a building structure. The foundation component ( 1 ), defines at least one receptacle ( 2 ) which, in use, may be filled with a suitable particulate material. A plurality of protrusions ( 5 ) extending generally downwards from the base ( 6 ) of the foundation component ( 1 ) engage a foundation surface on which the foundation component is located. In a preferred embodiment the foundation component may include tongue in groove interengagement of adjacent foundation components ( 1 ), and may also include provision for service channels and reinforcing rods.

1 . A foundation component suitable for forming part of a foundation, the foundation component including: 
 a base;    at least three side walls extending upwardly from said base and defining at least one upwardly open receptacle, which is adapted to, in use, receive foundation material; and    at least one engagement means for engaging a foundation surface on which the foundation component is located.    
     
     
         2 . The foundation component of  claim 1  wherein said at least one engagement means for engaging said foundation surface includes a plurality of protrusions extending generally downwards from a lower surface of the base, the protrusions dimensioned and orientated so as to extend into said foundation surface to, in use, assist in preventing lateral movement of the foundation component.  
     
     
         3 . The foundation component of  claim 1  including support means for a reinforcing rod.  
     
     
         4 . The foundation component of  claim 3  wherein said support means is provided in a channel provided along a side of the foundation component.  
     
     
         5 . The foundation component of  claim 1  including apertures through the side walls, the apertures shaped and located to receive at least one reinforcing rod therethrough.  
     
     
         6 . The foundation component of  claim 3  wherein said support means is located and oriented to, in use, position said at least one reinforcing rod to extend to the support means of another foundation component located adjacent to said foundation component.  
     
     
         7 . The foundation component of  claim 6  wherein said reinforcing rod, in use, acts to maintain the relative position of said foundation component and said another foundation component.  
     
     
         8 . The foundation component of  claim 1  including a service channel receptacle to receive and support a service channel.  
     
     
         9 . The foundation component of  claim 8  wherein the foundation component is adapted to be fixedly located adjacent to another foundation component having another service channel receptacle, whereby said service channel receptacle is substantially aligned with said another service channel receptacle.  
     
     
         10 . The foundation component of  claim 1  wherein said foundation component is adapted to be fixedly located adjacent to another foundation component through the provision of inter-component engagement means to engage with said another foundation component.  
     
     
         11 . The foundation component of  claim 10  wherein said inter-component engagement means is tongue-in-groove.  
     
     
         12 . The foundation component of  claim 1  wherein at least a pair of said side walls intersect to define a corner, the or each corner of the foundation component is chamfered so that when a plurality of said foundation components are located adjacent to each other, a chamfered edge from each adjacent foundation component defines part of an aperture extending through the volume occupied by the said foundation components.  
     
     
         13 . The foundation component of  claim 1  wherein the foundation component includes four side walls and is substantially rectangular in shape.  
     
     
         14 . The foundation component of  claim 1  including two baffles extending between two side walls of the foundation component, thereby defining three receptacles of approximately equal volume.  
     
     
         15 . A foundation for a building structure, the foundation including a plurality of foundation components as claimed in  claim 1 , located adjacent to each other in a required pattern to form a particular foundation shape.  
     
     
         16 . The foundation of  claim 15  constructed from a plurality of substantially rectangular foundation components, wherein said foundation components include one or more baffles extending either substantially transversely or substantially longitudinally between two opposing side walls of the foundation component and wherein the foundation is formed from an alternating pattern of foundation components having transversely or longitudinally extending baffles.  
     
     
         17 . The foundation of  claim 15  including a plurality of support pins extending through an aperture defined by at least two foundation components into the foundation surface on which the foundation components are located.  
     
     
         18 . The foundation of  claim 17  wherein said support pins extend through an aperture defined by four chamfered edges of adjacent foundation components.  
     
     
         19 . The foundation of  claim 15  wherein all, or substantially all, receptacles within each foundation component forming the foundation are filled with a particulate material.  
     
     
         20 . The foundation of  claim 19  wherein said particulate material is principally sand.  
     
     
         21 . The foundation of  claim 15  including a service channel extending around its upper periphery.  
     
     
         22 . The foundation of  claim 21  wherein the service channel is supported by a service channel receptacle provided in foundation components located around the periphery of the foundation.  
     
     
         23 . The foundation of  claim 15  including at least one reinforcing rod supported on support means provided by a plurality of said foundation components.  
     
     
         24 . The foundation of  claim 23  including at least one reinforcing rod extending substantially around its periphery.  
     
     
         25 . The foundation of  claim 23  including at least one reinforcing rod extending through the foundation, supported by aligned apertures provided in said foundation components.  
     
     
         26 . The foundation of  claim 25  wherein said reinforcing rod or rods are tensioned.  
     
     
         27 . A method of forming a foundation for a building structure, the method including the steps of: 
 locating a plurality of foundation components including a base and at least three side walls, adjacent to each other on a foundation surface such that they cover a required footprint of the foundation, wherein each said foundation component defines at least one receptacle open at an upper end thereof;    engaging each said foundation component with said foundation surface; and    filling all, or substantially all, of the receptacles with a particulate material.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of engaging said foundation component with said foundation surface includes providing a plurality of protrusions extending generally downwards from a lower side of the base of each foundation component and locating each foundation component so that said protrusions extend into the foundation surface on which the foundation is to be constructed.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of engaging said foundation component with said foundation surface includes the step of inserting a pin through an aperture defined by at least two adjacent foundation components into the foundation surface on which the foundation is to be constructed.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  including the steps of locating a first and second foundation component in an alternating pattern to form the foundation, wherein the first foundation component includes at least one transversely extending baffle and the second foundation component includes at least one longitudinally extending baffle.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  include the step of leveling the foundation surface on which the foundation is to be constructed prior to locating the foundation components thereon.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  including the step of providing said foundation components with support means for at least one reinforcing rod and extending one or more reinforcing rods through or around said foundation.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27  including locating at least one reinforcing rod within a channel provided by said foundation components that extends around the periphery of the foundation.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27  including locating at least one reinforcing rod through a plurality of aligned apertures in the foundation components.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27  including locating at least one service channel in a service channel receptacle provided by said foundation components.  
     
     
         36 . A foundation component suitable for forming part of a foundation, the foundation component including: 
 a base;    at least three side walls extending upwardly from said base and defining at least one upwardly open receptacle, which is adapted to, in use, receive foundation material; and    a plurality of protrusions extending generally downwards from a lower surface of the base, the protrusions dimensioned and orientated so as to extend into said foundation surface to, in use, assist in preventing lateral movement of the foundation component; wherein    said foundation component is adapted to be fixedly located adjacent to another foundation component through the provision of inter-component engagement means to engage with said another foundation component.    
     
     
         37 . A foundation component suitable for forming part of a foundation, the foundation component including: 
 a base;    at least three side walls extending upwardly from said base and defining at least one upwardly open receptacle, which is adapted to, in use, receive foundation material; and    a plurality of protrusions extending generally downwards from a lower surface of the base, the protrusions dimensioned and orientated so as to extend into said foundation surface to, in use, assist in preventing lateral movement of the foundation component; and    a channel provided along a side of said foundation component adapted to, in use, support a reinforcing rod.    
     
     
         38 . A foundation component suitable for forming part of a foundation, the foundation component including: 
 a base;    at least three side walls extending upwardly from said base and defining at least one upwardly open receptacle, which is adapted to, in use, receive foundation material; and    a plurality of protrusions extending generally downwards from a lower surface of the base, the protrusions dimensioned and orientated so as to extend into said foundation surface to, in use, assist in preventing lateral movement of the foundation component; and    a service channel receptacle to receive and support a service channel.