McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture & Construction: grade beam

That part of a foundation system (usually in a building without a basement) which supports the exterior wall of the super-structure; commonly designed as a beam which bears directly on the column footings, or may be self-supporting, as a long strap footing.

grade beam

Grade Beam FootingA grade beam footing is a continuous reinforced-concrete member used to support loads with minimal bending. Grade beams are capable of spanning across non-load bearing areas, and are commonly supported by soil or pilings. A continuous grade beam is frequently constructed by digging a trench at least 8" wide to the depth needed to span the distance between supports. Grade beam footings differ from continuous spread footings in how they distribute loads. The depth of a grade beam footing is designed to distribute loads to bearing points, while the width of a continuous spread footing is

designed to transfer loads to the ground.

A) Grade beams shall extend at least twelve inches below the lowest adjacent grade and provide a minimum twenty-four-inch distance horizontally from the bottom outside face of the grade beam to the face of the descending slope.

(B) Continuous footings shall be reinforced with at least two one-half inch nominal diameter steel reinforcing bars at the top and two at the bottom.

(C) All main footing and grade beam reinforcement steel shall be bent into the intersecting footing and fully developed around each corner and intersection.

(D) All concrete stem walls shall extend from the foundation and shall be reinforced as required for concrete or masonry walls.