Sites and Foundations for Housing Professionals.

This qualification covers how to recognise different types of foundations, why variations are needed, how water affects them and the risks of sloping sites. It also looks at the detrimental impact water has on owners and occupiers, especially if the property’s proximity is near rivers and water courses.

Learning outcomes

• The different foundation types and why variations are needed for residential buildings.
• The two main types of soil and the implications for foundations, including the factors that cause foundations to fail and the health implications that can be caused by environmental factors relating to ground conditions.
• How water affects foundations and can cause risks in residential buildings, including the mechanisms for redirecting water away from a building and the problems water at ground level can cause to the foundations of a property.
• How the proximity of rivers and water courses can affect residential buildings and create risk for owners and occupiers, including how you can check flood risk areas.
• The specific risks for buildings and their occupants due to sloping sites, including the associated risks and how to monitor a property to determine if any action is needed.
• The purpose of retaining walls and potential issues for property owners and occupiers if they fail.