JOINT BCA / IES / ACES / GEOSS CIRCULAR ANNEX B

REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF RAFT

AND PILED-RAFT FOUNDATION

In Collaboration With

ANNEX B – REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF RAFT AND
PILED-RAFT FOUNDATION

1.1 Definition of Raft and Piled-Raft

1.1.1 Raft foundation, also called mat foundation, is essentially a continuous slab resting on the
soil that extends over the entire footprint of the building, to distribute the building load evenly
over a large area of the supporting ground, such that the ground has adequate geotechnical
bearing resistance to resist building loads with acceptable settlement and differential settlement
limits.

1.1.2 Piled raft is a hybrid foundation comprising both a raft and piles, and allows for load sharing
between the raft and piles. In piled-raft foundation, the applied loads are transferred to the
supporting ground through the raft as well as the piles via the complex interactions between piles,
raft and soil. Geotechnical bearing resistance of piled-raft foundation is contributed by both the
raft and the connected piles; with the load sharing between the raft and piles required to be
evaluated and established by the Qualified Person. For an effective application of piled-raft
foundation, the raft of a piled-raft foundation should be founded on competent ground.

1.1.3 The requirements presented in the following sections shall be considered in design and
construction of raft and piled-raft foundation.

1.2 Suitability of Ground for Raft and Piled-Raft

1.2.1 Raft and piled-raft should be founded on competent ground which can provide adequate
resistances and stiffness in satisfying both ultimate (e.g. bearing, sliding, overturning resistances
etc.) and serviceability (e.g. settlement, differential settlement and tilt) limit state requirements
prescribed in prevailing codes of practices and BCA’s circulars.

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 An MND Statutory Board

In Collaboration With

Our Ref : APPBCA-2024-14 For enquiries, please contact:

Building Engineering Group (#12-00)
02 September 2024 Tel : 1800 3425222 (1800-DIAL-BCA)
or use our Online Feedback Form at:
https://www.bca.gov.sg/feedbackform/

See Distribution List

Dear Sir / Madam

JOINT BCA / IES / ACES / GEOSS CIRCULAR 2024

REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF RAFT AND PILED-
RAFT FOUNDATION

Objective
This circular is to inform the industry on the requirements for the design and
construction of raft or piled-raft as foundation system for building works in Singapore. The
circular aims to provide a framework based on risk-based approach in stipulating the
requirements for the design and construction of raft and piled-raft foundation, after a
thorough feasibility study and impact assessment conducted by the Engineers to ascertain
the suitability for their projects, in order to achieve safe and robust foundation system for the
buildings.

Background

2. Raft or piled-raft founded on competent ground can provide cost effective solution
for high-rise buildings or infrastructures when properly designed and constructed. Before
adopting these foundation systems, proper characterisation of the subsurface geological
conditions is of critical importance and has to be thoroughly carried out to ascertain their
feasibility. The current provisions in codes and guideline caters mainly for conventional
foundation using piles but there is limited guidance on the soil investigation, design,
construction control and monitoring of foundation using raft or piled-raft system.

3. To supplement EC7’s coverage on this subject matter customised to local condition to

enable their safe adoption, the Building and Construction Authority (“BCA”) has taken the
initiative to form an industry working group comprising academia, government agencies,
practitioners and members from Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES), Association of
Consulting Engineers Singapore (ACES) and Geotechnical Society of Singapore (GeoSS) to
52 Jurong Gateway Road #11- 01 Singapore 608550 Page 1
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jointly develop this circular on Requirements and Guidelines For Design And Construction Of
Raft And Piled-Raft Foundation.

4. The joint industry workgroup has reviewed overseas practices, existing literatures,
past projects in local ground conditions and consulted industry practitioners before finalising
the requirements and guidelines in Annex A and Annex B. Annex A describes the classification
of buildings into high, medium and low risk categories. Annex B stipulates the design and
construction requirements for the various risk categories.

5. These requirements and guidelines on the use of raft or piled raft foundation shall be
complied with when making structural plan submissions to the Commissioner of Building
Control. This will take effect for a project with the first structural plan submitted on or after
the date of this circular.

6. Notwithstanding this Circular, all qualified persons must continue to exercise their
engineering judgment and evaluation and take all reasonable steps and due diligence to
ensure that the use of Raft or Piled-Raft foundation will fulfil the objectives and
performance requirements as stipulated in the Fifth Schedule of the Building Control
Regulations 2003 and comply with all relevant standards and codes of practice. Where
applicable, QPs are expected to incorporate more stringent and/or additional requirements
when the circumstances at hand is complicated or the ground condition is highly variable
and complex geologically.

7. Please disseminate the contents of this circular to your members. If you need any
clarification, please contact us at tel. 1800-3425222 or submit your enquiry through BCA’s
Online Feedback Form at https://www.bca.gov.sg/feedbackform/. Thank you.

Yours faithfully

ER. DR YET NAI SONG ER. CHAN EWE JIN

DIRECTOR PRESIDENT
BUILDING ENGINEERING GROUP INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS
for COMMISSIONER OF BUILDING SINGAPORE (IES)
CONTROL

ER. CHUCK KHO A/PROF DARREN CHIAN SIAU CHEN

PRESIDENT PRESIDENT
ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS GEOTECHNICAL SOCIETY OF
SINGAPORE (ACES) SINGAPORE (GEOSS)

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Members of BCA-Industry Joint Working Committee who contributed to the drafting of
requirements and guidelines for design and construction of raft and piled-raft foundation

Members’ Name Members’ Organisation

Er. Dr. Yet Nai Song Building and Construction Authority
Er. Chow Wei Foo Building and Construction Authority
Er. Kong Tze Foong Building and Construction Authority
Er. Lim Chun Hong Building and Construction Authority
Er. Dr. Huang Yongqing Building and Construction Authority
Dr. Chepurthy Veeresh Land and Transport Authority
Dr. Muthusamy KARTHIKEYAN Geotechnical Society of Singapore
Er. Yong Fen Leong Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore
Er. Chan Ewe Jin Institution of Engineers Singapore
Er. Lily Yeo Institution of Engineers Singapore
Er. Dr. Chew Soon Hoe National University of Singapore
Er. Dr. Ng Tiong Guan Individual Capacity
Er. Dr. Ooi Poh Hai Individual Capacity

DISTRIBUTION LIST

ASSOCIATIONS / SOCIETIES

PRESIDENT
INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SINGAPORE (IES)
70, BUKIT TINGGI ROAD
SINGAPORE 289758

PRESIDENT
ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS, SINGAPORE (ACES)
18 SIN MING LANE
#06-01 MIDVIEW CITY
SINGAPORE 573960

PRESIDENT
SINGAPORE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION LIMITED (SCAL)
CONSTRUCTION HOUSE
1 BUKIT MERAH LANE 2
SINGAPORE 159760

PRESIDENT
SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (SIA)
79 NEIL ROAD
SINGAPORE 088904

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PRESIDENT
SOCIETY OF PROJECT MANAGERS (SPM)
MACPHERSON ROAD P.O.BOX 1083
SINGAPORE 913412

PRESIDENT
SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF BUILDING LIMITED (SIBL)
70 PALMER ROAD,
#03-09C PALMER HOUSE
SINGAPORE 079427

PRESIDENT
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS’ ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE (REDAS)
190 CLEMENCEAU AVENUE
#07-01 SINGAPORE SHOPPING CENTRE
SINGAPORE 239924

PRESIDENT
SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS & VALUERS (SISV)
110 MIDDLE ROAD #09-00
CHIAT HONG BUILDING
SINGAPORE 188968

PRESIDENT
SINGAPORE STRUCTURAL STEEL SOCIETY (SSSS)
1 LIANG SEAH STREET
#02-11/12 LIANG SEAH PLACE
SINGAPORE 189022

PRESIDENT
GEOTECHNICAL SOCIETY OF SINGAPORE (GEOSS)
C/O GLOBEWERKS INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD
22 SIN MING LANE
#03-85 MIDVIEW CITY
SINGAPORE 573969

PRESIDENT
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS BOARD, SINGAPORE (PEB)
52 JURONG GATEWAY ROAD, #07-03
SINGAPORE 608550

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PRESIDENT
BOARD OF ARCHITECTS (BOA)
5 MAXWELL ROAD
1ST STOREY TOWER BLOCK
MND COMPLEX
SINGAPORE 069110

DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE
SCHOOL CAMPUS DEPARTMENT
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
1 NORTH BUONA VISTA DRIVE
SINGAPORE 138675

DIRECTOR, PROCUREMENT & CONTRACTS

PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD
40 SCOTTS ROAD #15-01
ENVIRONMENT BUILDING
SINGAPORE 228231

DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE

INFRASTRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT
LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
1 HAMPSHIRE ROAD
BLOCK 8 LEVEL 1
SINGAPORE 219428

PROJECT DEVT & MGT SECT 1 (C&S)

BUILDING QUALITY GROUP
HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD
HDB HUB
480 LORONG 6 TOA PAYOH
SINGAPORE 310480

AG DIRECTOR
TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION
JTC CORPORATION
THE JTC SUMMIT
8 JURONG TOWN HALL ROAD
SINGAPORE 609434

DIRECTOR
BUILDING
PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION
9 STADIUM LINK
SINGAPORE 397750
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PRESIDENT
THE TUNNELLING AND UNDERGROUND
CONSTRUCTION SOCIETY SINGAPORE (TUCSS)
C/O CMA INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS PTE LTD
1 LIANG SEAH STREET
#02-12 LIANG SEAH PLACE
SINGAPORE 189022

PRESIDENT
SOCIETY OF ROCK MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
1 LIANG SEAH STREET
#02-12 LIANG SEAH PLACE
SINGAPORE 189022

DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

SENTOSA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
33 ALLANBROOKE ROAD, SENTOSA
SINGAPORE 099981

HEAD (FIRE SAFETY AND BUILDING CONTROL)

BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
DEFENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
1 DEPOT ROAD
DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY TOWER A
SINGAPORE 109679

DIRECTOR
BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
DEFENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
1 DEPOT ROAD
DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY TOWER A
SINGAPORE 109679

ALL CORENET E-INFO SUBSCRIBERS

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DISCLAIMER

The authors and the working committee members of this guide are not to be held liable for any
claim or dispute arising out of or relating to the information provided in this guide.

Professionals in charge of each project are strictly advised to do an independent assessment and
verification to determine if the information provided in this guide is adequate and sufficient for the
needs of their project.

Nothing contained in this guide is meant to replace or negate the need to comply with the
provisions of the Building Control Act and building regulations in all aspects. QPs are to note that
they have duties under the Building Control Act, amongst others, to take all reasonable steps and
exercise due diligence to ensure that building works are designed in accordance with the provisions
of the Building Control Act and building regulations.

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JOINT BCA / IES / ACES / GEOSS CIRCULAR ANNEX A
REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF RAFT
AND PILED-RAFT FOUNDATION

In Collaboration With

Even if it is Low risk,

Plate load test is needed
2No. per 100m2 in SI stage, or minimum
3 test per project site - page 13
DATE OF ISSUANCE: 02 SEPTEMBER 2024

ANNEX A – CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDINGS SUPPORTED ON RAFT AND PILED-RAFT

FOUNDATION

Risk Category
Low Medium High

• Projects classified under • Projects classified • Projects classified under

Geotechnical Class 1 Note 1 under Geotechnical Geotechnical Class 3 Note 1 ;
(e.g. Landed projects on shallow Class 2 Note 1 ; or
foundation in firm residual soil, or • All buildings that are 10
single storey sheds, minor road storeys or more (excluding
side drains, linkway, etc); or • All buildings that are 4 basement); or
to 9 storeys inclusive
• All buildings that are 3 storeys or (excluding basement); • Major infrastructure
less (excluding basement) or projects, like viaduct and
founded on competent ground bridges
• Underground
structures satisfying
criterion in Note 2

Note 1: Guide on Ground Investigation And Geotechnical Characteristics Values To Eurocode 7

Published By GeoSS (2015)

Note 2: Underground structures where sum of its weight and imposed loads is less than or
equal to the weight of soil removed for its construction at founding level may be classified as
Medium risk.

Note 3: All buildings with piles are classified as Geotechnical Class 2 Note 1 or higher.

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1.2.2 The following ground types are NOT suitable for raft or piled-raft foundation:

a) Soil profiles consisting soft compressible layers or loose sand of the Jalan Besar, Rochor Clay,
Tanjong Rhu Clay or Kranji Formations, etc. existing beneath or within pressure bulb of the raft
or piled-raft. If unsuitable ground types are present within the pressure bulb, the piles should
generally be designed to support the full structural load without considering the raft. Depth of
this pressure bulb is normally taken as minimum 3 times the width of the raft below its founding
level.

b) Soil profiles that are likely to undergo primary and secondary consolidation settlements due to
dewatering and topping up of ground level by backfilling that leads to change in effective stress
or shrinking of active clay soil.

1.2.3 Ground types suitable for raft and piled-raft foundation for building of 10 storey or higher
shall minimally be hard soil below the founding level. See reference (d) in Section 1.8 for definition
of hard soil.

1.2.4 Where localized pockets of soft soils are found to be present, the exact extent need to be
accurately explored and mapped out, modelled using three-dimensional Finite Element Method
(FEM) and analysed using advanced soil model to have negligible impact on the required
performance of the foundation throughout its design life.

Figure 1 gives an illustration of the pressure bulb to determine the suitability of ground for raft
and piled raft.

Figure 1 Determination of Suitability of Ground types

Suitable ground type for Raft Suitable ground type for Piled-Raft

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 1.3 Feasibility Study and Impact Assessment

1.3.1 Raft and piled-raft foundation increases both vertical and lateral stresses in the underlying
ground, and causes ground movement both in the vertical and lateral directions below and around
its footprint. Under 5th Schedule of Building Control Regulation, the proposed foundation system
shall be designed and constructed such that it will not cause ground movement, during
construction and during its entire service life, that will impair the stability of or cause damage to
adjacent buildings, structures, property, building works, slopes, etc.

1.3.2 In this regard, QP shall evaluate the feasibility of adopting raft foundation for any project
considering the underlying geological and hydrogeological conditions and likely impact onto
buildings, structures, property, building works, slopes that are adjacent or in close proximity. An
impact assessment justifying the suitability of adopting raft foundation without posing any adverse
effect on adjacent structures and their foundations shall be submitted during plan submission to
BCA as required by Building Control Regulation 33.

1.4 Site Investigation and Testing Regime Prior to Design

1.4.1 Adequate site investigation shall be carried out to provide sufficient data, especially on the
ground strength and deformation modulus parameters, to derive the characteristic values of these
parameters appropriate for the adopted constitutive soil model. In addition, the site investigation
shall be planned to delineate each geo-stratum and establish its variabilities accurately.

1.4.2 The proposed boreholes to characterise the soil stratifications below the raft and piled-raft
shall comply with requirements in Table A according to risk categories of the buildings and
structures.

Table A : Borehole Requirement for Raft and Piled-raft

Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk
Refer to GeoSS • For raft: Minimum 1 Borehole • For raft: Minimum 1 Borehole
Number of Guidelines (BH) per 200m2 of raft footprint (BH) per 150m2 of raft footprint
boreholes, area area
density and
spacing • For piled-raft: Minimum 1 BH • For piled-raft: Minimum 1 BH
per 300m2 of piled-raft footprint per 250m2 of piled-raft footprint
area area

Subject to: Subject to:

• Minimum 4 BHs per raft or piled- • Minimum 5 BHs per raft or piled-
raft raft

• BH spacingNote 2 between 15m • BH spacingNote 2 between 10m

and 40m, depending on ground and 25m, depending on ground
variability and geological variability and geological
complexity complexity
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these two contradict.

 Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk

Borehole Refer to GeoSS Same as High Risk a) For raft, minimum 1.5 x width of
investigation Guidelines raft Note 5 below its founding level
depth
b) For piled-raft, in addition to (a),
depth of borehole shall be
greater of:

i) 5m into hard stratum with SPT

toe: -20mCD N > 100; and

ii) 3 x the pile diameter beyond

the intended pile toe
termination depth; and
toe: -25mCD
iii) 1 x bg Note 6 below pile toe.
QP may adopt average or
maximum pile lengths, if
assessed to be reasonable.

Note:
1) Reference from BCA (2016) Circular, EC7 and Guide on Ground Investigation and Geotechnical Characteristics
Values to Eurocode 7 published By GeoSS (2015)

2) The upper bound spacing should only be adopted when soil stratification is quite uniform with little
variation.

3) If adjacent buildings/structures/utilities are within 1 time the raft’s width from the raft edge, adequate
ground investigation at raft’s perimeter, wherever possible, needs to be carried out for impact assessment
purpose. This is applicable to all sides of raft with adjacent buildings/structures/utilities in close proximity to
the raft or piled-raft.

4) For a raft supporting 2 or more building blocks or structures with different risk categories, the requirements
of the more onerous risk categories shall be followed for the entire raft.

5) Minimum 2 and 1 number of boreholes per raft or piled-raft respectively for High and Medium risk
categories to have investigation depth of 3 times the width of raft below founding level to ensure that the
geological conditions within pressure bulb is adequately investigated. This requirement may not be required
if:
(a) substantiated by QP for cases where significant competent rock stratum is encountered within a depth of
1.5 times the width of raft below its founding level; assume SIV ok
(b) assessed so by QP for fully underground structures such as tunnels and MRT station

6) bg is width of smaller side of the rectangle circumscribing the group of piles forming the foundation at level
of piles’ toe.

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1.4.3 The proposed ground testing regime for each soil stratum below founding level of raft and
piled-raft shall comply with requirements in Table B according to risk categories of buildings
and structures.

Table B : Soil/Ground Test Requirement for Each Soil Stratum below Founding Level of
Raft/Piled raft

Type of Tests Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk

Derivation of Strength Parameters

Triaxial, Unconfined Refer to Guide on Ground Investigation And Geotechnical Characteristics

compression test, Values To Eurocode 7 Published By GeoSS (2015)
pressuremeter test, etc

Derivation of Deformation Moduli

Note: For raft or piled-raft founded on ground subjected to past unloading activities such as
demolition or excavation, etc; it is recommended to conduct pressuremeter test to determine the
ground deformation moduli.

Pressuremeter test QP to determine Same as High Risk a) Minimum 1 test for

(PMT) each soil type /
weathering grade
for all boreholes
under this category

b) Test may be carried

out within a depth
of 1 time raft’s
width below
founding level if
assessed to be
sufficient by QP
Plate load test Greater of
• Min. 2 tests per 100m2
part thereof

• Min. 3 tests per

project site

plate load test not

needed? is it because
already have
pressurementr test?

See page 18, there

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1.5 Analysis and Design

General requirements for raft and piled-raft

1.5.1 QP shall evaluate the adequacy of geotechnical bearing resistance of the proposed raft and
piled-raft foundation using Eurocode to satisfy the ultimate limit state (ULS).

1.5.2 QP shall also assess raft and piled-raft behaviour in terms of settlement, differential
settlement and induced forces, which are influenced by its interaction with the underlying
ground under the imposed loadings.

1.5.3 For realistic consideration of this soil-structure interaction satisfying serviceability limit
state, QP shall perform the geotechnical analysis based on the risk categories of buildings
and structures as shown in Table C.

1.5.4 For buildings classified as high risk,

• Three-dimensional geotechnical finite element (FE) analyses are required to replicate
the actual subsoil layers according to borehole information, particularly for areas with
undulating and erratic soil stratum to enable realistic estimation of total and differential
settlements;

• It is required to adopt advanced constitutive soil models that are capable of modelling
the non-linear, stress-dependent, strain-dependent and inelastic behaviour of real soil.
One example is the Hardening Soil Model calibrated to local soil conditions. During
submission, QPs are to submit details on derivation of the required characteristic soil
parameters for such advanced soil models, substantiated by calibration of numerical
parameters with field and/or laboratory tests results.

Table C : Constitutive Soil Model and Methodology Required for Geotechnical Analysis of Raft
and Piled-raft
Item Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk
Constitutive QP to QP to determine Advanced soil
Soil Model determine model
(For ground that had been subjected to
past unloading activities, advanced soil
model is required)
Methodology QP to 2D or 3D FEM 3D FEM
of determine (2D FEM analyses suitable if QP assessed
geotechnical that geometry is regular, loading
analysis conditions & ground stratifications are
uniform)

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1.5.5 Raft or piled-raft shall be analysed and designed for variations in deformation modulus of
the underlying ground by adopting upper and lower bounds and characteristic values of the
deformation modulus established in Section 1.4

Figure 2 Example of selection of strain dependent ground stiffness from PMT results at
upper and lower bound ranges and characteristic values

1.5.6 Raft and piled-raft shall be analysed and designed for the actions from columns and core
walls for various possible load combinations of vertical and lateral loads acting on the
superstructures occurring during their design life span as well as uplift from buoyancy
effects, loads and reactions from the ground, in accordance with Eurocodes requirements.

Particular requirement for raft:

1.5.7 When structural program is used to analyse and perform structural design of the raft slab,
the subgrade modulus (Winkler Springs) used in the structural program is to be determined
iteratively with geotechnical soil structure interaction software until the required
convergence is achieved. Refer to Figure 3 for the flow-chart showing the iterative
procedure.

Particular requirement for Piled-raft:

1.5.8 In achieving the ULS requirement, QP shall specify on plan an assumed ratio of pile and
raft load distribution that could satisfy the SLS performance requirement of the proposed
foundation as stipulated in Para 1.7.

1.5.9 In addition, the actual piles’ length, as estimated from the assumed ratio of pile and raft
load distribution, should be modelled with interface elements to simulate the interaction

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 at pile-soil interface. The appropriate pile design parameters of shaft friction and end
bearing resistances shall be verified by pile load tests.

Figure 3 Flowchart showing the iterative procedure to determine the structural forces in raft
Adapted from reference (e) in Section 1.8
??

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1.6 Construction and Supervision

Particular requirements for raft and piled-raft:

1.6.1 The underlying ground at founding level of raft or piled-raft could be weakened/softened
by construction activities, exposure to weathering conditions (eg. soil weakening due to
ponding of rainwater or cracks in soils due to excessive dry weather) and the action of water
infiltrating or ingress into the soil. Hence, adequate protection measures to the ground at
founding level to prevent weakening or softening are required. Examples of possible
measures include:

• carry out bulk excavation to within 0.5 to 1 meter above the foundation level. The final
excavation stage is subsequently carried out as a final task, in short bay widths, and the
exposed soil or rock immediately (or within the same work shift) protected by structural
quality blinding concrete;

• avoid excavation to expose the founding ground during inclement weather like heavy
rains, and minimize the duration of exposure through proper construction planning.

1.6.2 QP shall inspect the actual soil/rock conditions encountered at founding level of raft or
piled-raft and verify its geotechnical characteristics to be in consistent with his design
assumptions, and conduct the required verification tests to validate the design assumptions.
If actual soil encountered at founding level is more inferior than the design assumption, QP
shall assess whether ground improvement work need to be carried out or a re-design is
required, before allowing the raft slab to be constructed.

1.6.3 Where applicable and without affecting the performance of buildings, QP shall specify on
plan details of the construction joint between the tower and podium areas to enable some
joint rotation and to reduce the impact of potential differential settlement of the building.

1.6.4 Table D summaries the minimum verification tests and instrumentation & monitoring
regime to be provided for different risk categories of buildings and structures.

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 Table D : Site Verification Tests and Construction Monitoring for Raft or Piled-Raft

Type of Tests or Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk

Monitoring
Site Verification Tests

Plate load test Minimum 1 test Minimum 1 test per Minimum 1 test per
every 100m2 of raft required borehole within required borehole within
footprint area or footprint of building footprint of building
part thereof works, subject to minimum works, subject to
of 2 tests per raft minimum of 3 tests per
raft

Pile Load Test# QP to determine • For 5 to 9 storeys Follow BCA’s Circular

(Instrumented Ultimate building, follow BCA’s (2016) minimally
Load Test, Working Circular (2016)
Load Test) minimally

• For less than 5 storeys

building, QP to
determine

# - For piles within the piled-raft that are subject to working pile load tests, pile head settlements at
1.5 or 2.0 times Working Load are to be less than 15mm and 25mm respectively.

Construction Monitoring

Raft contact pressure QP to determine • Minimum 1 monitoring point per required

(e.g. earth pressure cell borehole within footprint of building works
or equivalent)Note 1
• Monitoring duration: Till completion of project

• Action Plan: Suspension of construction work will

still be based on monitored building settlement
and differential settlement/tilt. In the scenario
that building settlement reading is breached, raft
contact pressure will help QP to assess the cause
and propose effective remedial proposal. If only
the raft contact pressure is breached, QP should
assess whether the actual performance is as per
design intent.

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on slab/raft

Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk

Raft settlement profile QP to determine • Minimum 1 array in each orthogonal direction
(e.g. horizontal-placed
inclinometer, optic fibre • The arrays should be positioned at areas with
or equivalent) Note 1 critical loading and settlement.
Building settlement and QP to determine • Minimum 10 building settlement markers and 10
tilt / differential tiltmeters per block, including 2 per corewall
settlement during
construction • Monitor fortnightly

• Monitoring duration to be:

a) 6 months after the superstructure
construction reached final roof top level OR

b) the measured building settlement and

tilt/differential settlement have shown
stabilising trend during post construction
monitoring, whichever is later

Note:
1) The requirement to monitor raft settlement profile and raft contact pressure may be assessed by
QP to be not required for the following types of structures:
a) Fully underground structures such as tunnels and MRT station.
b) Underground structures supporting light above ground structures such that sum of its weight
and imposed loads is less than or equal to the weight of soil removed for its construction at
founding level.

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 1.7 Performance Requirement at Serviceability Stage

Table E summaries the allowable building settlement and tilt at serviceability stage for different
risk categories of buildings and structures. These monitoring limits shall be specified on QP’s
drawings and submitted for BCA’s approval.

Table E : Allowable Building Settlement and Tilt at Serviceability Stage

Foundation Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk
Type
To be Specified on Drawings for BCA’s Approval

Raft Building Settlement 25 mm (See Note 1) 30 mm 30 mm

Differential 1:500
Settlement / Tilt

Piled-Raft Building Settlement 25 mm 25 mm 25 mm

Differential 1:500
Settlement / Tilt
Note 1: QP may adopt higher settlement limit of 30mm for raft foundation provided more stringent
requirements detailed in Tables A to D for Medium risk category are complied with.

1.8 References

(a) Craig’s Soil Mechanics book by R.F. Craig

(b) SS EN 1997 Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design – Part 1 General Rules
(c) SS EN 1997 Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design – Part 2 Ground Investigation and Testing
(d) Guide on Ground Investigation and Geotechnical Characteristics Values to Eurocode 7 by
GeoSS (2015)
(e) ICE Manual of Geotechnical Engineering (2012) – Rafts and Piled Rafts
(f) Poulos H. G. (2001). Piled Raft Foundations : Design & Applications, Geotechnique 51, No. 2,
95-113
(g) K.H. Goh, K. Jeyatharan and D. Wen (2012). Understanding the Stiffness of Soils in Singapore
from Pressuremeter Testing, Geotechnical Engineering Journal of the SEAGS & AGSSEA Vol. 43
No. 4 December 2012

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