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Residential Foundations

Residential Foundations Guidelines

The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers is pleased to provide the following documents:

On January 8, 2005, the Executive Committee voted to provide these Texas Residential Foundations Guidelines at no cost. The guidelines can be downloaded using the links above.

The Texas Section welcomes comments on these guidelines. An online comment form will be available soon.

These documents grew from the response of many members to the residential foundation Policy Advisory issued by TBPE in 1998. Many ASCE practitioners expressed the opinion that technical guidelines, such as the Policy Advisory, should be created by a technical society such as ASCE rather than by the TBPE. The guidelines are meant to provide TBPE with guidance in their evaluation of complaints against engineers practicing residential foundation engineering. Two Texas Section committees composed entirely of Professional Engineers began work on these guidelines in 1999. The Guidelines were originally adopted in October 2002 with a January 1, 2003, effective date. The most recent guidelines (Version 3) have been adopted with an effective date of April 1, 2022.

These guidelines are not intended to be Standards but are guidelines only. They reflect the engineering opinions and practices of the committee members. They in no way replace the basic need for good engineering judgment based on appropriate education, experience, wisdom, and ethics in any particular engineering application. Thus, they are primarily suited as an aid for engineers.

Past Versions of Guidelines:

Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations V1 (2002)

Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations V2 (2008)

Past Versions of Recommended Practice:

Recommended Practice for the Design of Residential Foundations V1 (2002)

Committee Chairs

The Texas Residential Foundations Committee Chairs are:

 

  • Robert F. Pierry PE
    Robert F. Pierry PE
    Residential Foundations Oversight Committee
  • Kenneth M. Struzyk PE
    Kenneth M. Struzyk PE
    Evaluation & Repair of Residential Foundations Committee
  • Phillip G. King PE, D.GE
    Phillip G. King PE, D.GE
    Foundations Investigation & Design Committee
Robert F. Pierry PE
Residential Foundations Oversight Committee

Bob Pierry has been the President and principal owner of Pierry Consulting, Inc., a firm specializing in evaluating existing residential and light commercial foundations since 2005.  Bob’s other experience includes 23 years in the foundation repair contracting business, preceded by 6 years with an asphalt paving contractor.  Bob earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Duke University in 1976.

Bob has been an active member of ASCE for many years.  In addition to his current role as Chairman of the Residential Foundations Committee for the Texas Section, he has served as Chairman of the Texas Section Geotechnical Committee, which became the Texas Chapter of the Geo-Institute during his tenure, as well as Section Vice President – Technical.  Bob has also served on two national ASCE technical committees.

Bob currently volunteers regularly for Habitat for Humanity of Denton County, formerly serving on the Board of Directors as both Treasurer and Vice President.  Bob has been very happily married for nearly 40 years, and has 2 sons and 2 grandchildren.  He enjoys traveling and scuba diving.

Kenneth M. Struzyk PE
Evaluation & Repair of Residential Foundations Committee
Phillip G. King PE, D.GE
Foundations Investigation & Design Committee