Foundation Loads

NYC Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 1, subch. 11, art. 3

in effect

NYC Admin. Code § 27-668 Soil bearing pressures.

§ 27-668 Soil bearing pressures. The loads to be used in computing the bearing pressures on materials directly underlying footings shall be the total column, pier, or wall reactions determined in accordance with the provisions of subchapter nine of this chapter, on the basis of reduced live load; plus the weight of the foundations; plus the weight of any soil, fill, and slabs on grade that is included within vertical planes projected upward from the extreme limits of the footing to the final ground surface. Live load on grade, or on slabs on grade, within these limits shall also be included. Impact loads shall be considered in accordance with the provisions of section 27-673 of this article.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-669 Pile reactions.

§ 27-669 Pile reactions. The loads to be used in computing pile reactions shall be determined as provided in section 27-668 of this article except that where piles penetrate fill, clay, silt, peat, or similar compressible strata, the pile loads shall be increased by the amount of drag exerted by such material, and by any overlaying strata, during consolidation. Computation of the amount of drag shall consider the amount of added fill, the amount of shear strain between pile (or group) and the soil, the ratio of vertical to horizontal pressure in the soil, and the arrangement of the piles. The soil surrounding or underlying the pile cap shall not be considered as providing any vertical support for the cap.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-670 Lateral loads.

§ 27-670 Lateral loads. (a) Earth and ground water pressure. Every foundation wall or other wall serving as a retaining structure shall be designed to resist, in addition to the vertical loads acting thereon, the incident lateral earth pressures and surcharges, plus hydrostatic pressures corresponding to the maximum probable ground water level. Retaining walls shall be designed to resist at least the superimposed effects of the total static lateral soil pressure, excluding the pressure caused by any temporary surcharge, plus an earthquake force of 0.045 wsh2 (horizontal backfill surface), where ws equals unit weight of soil and h equals wall height. Surcharges which are applied over extended periods of time shall be included in the total static lateral soil pressure and their earthquake lateral force shall be computed and added to the force of 0.045 wsh2. The earthquake force from backfill shall be distributed as an inverse triangle over the height of the wall. The point of application of the earthquake force from an extended duration surcharge shall be determined on an individual case basis. If the backfill consists of loose saturated granular soil, consideration shall be given to the potential liquefication of the backfill during the seismic loading using reference standard RS 9-6. (b) Wind and other superstructure loads. Provision shall be made to resist lateral loads imposed on the superstructure due to wind or other causes. (c) Soil movements. Buildings shall not be constructed in areas where the soil is subject to lateral movements unless positive provision is made to prevent such movements. Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1995/017.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-671 Eccentricities.

§ 27-671 Eccentricities. Eccentricity of loading in foundations, including eccentricity of loading on the bases of retaining walls, shall be investigated and the maximum soil pressure or pile load (considering eccentricity) shall be kept within the safe capacity thereof as established in articles four and eight of this subchapter. Soil pressure and pile load due to eccentricity shall be computed on the basis of straight line distribution of foundation reaction. However, other modes of distribution of the foundation reaction may be assumed, subject to the approval of the commissioner, if it can be demonstrated that the pile and/or soil is capable of sufficient plastic deformation to develop such mode of distribution without failure.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-672 Uplift forces.

§ 27-672 Uplift forces. Uplift and overturning forces due to wind and hydrostatic pressure shall be considered.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-673 Impact.

§ 27-673 Impact. Impact forces may be neglected in the design of foundations, except for foundations bearing on loose granular soils, or, regardless of the type of soil material, for foundations supporting cranes, heavy machinery, and moving equipment, or where the ratio of the live load causing impact to the total of the reactions from live load applied without impact plus dead load exceeds one-third.

NYC Admin. Code § 27-674 Stability.

§ 27-674 Stability. The provisions of article twelve of this subchapter shall apply.

Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-51282Fetched: 10/24/2026