Book excerpt: This book provides practical and buildable solutions for the design of foundations for housing and other low-rise buildings, especially those on abnormal or poor ground. A wealth of expert information and advice is brought together dealing with the key aspects a designer must consider in order to achieve effective and economic foundation designs. This second edition of Structural Foundations Manual for Low-Rise Buildings has been completely updated in line with the new government guidelines on contaminated land and brown-field sites. The book includes well-detailed design solutions and calculations, actual case histories, illustrations, design charts and check lists, making it a user-friendly reference for contractors, structural engineers, architects and students who have to deal with foundations for low-rise buildings on sites with difficult ground conditions.