January 2010
Poured concrete slab construction is an important element of high performance home construction. Either serving as a slab-on-grade foundation, or as a basement or crawlspace floor, the slab plays a critical element in controlling moisture in the home as well as keeping pests and even gases such as radon, out of the indoor environment. High performance home slab construction integrates proper site preparation with proper sealing and insulation with concrete mixtures that increase strength and slab designs that allow for controlled predictable cracking. Attention to these details plays a critical role in the performance and longevity of the slab and the indoor environmental quality.
This poured concrete slab Scope of Work covers the following residential installations: Concrete slab with integral turn-down slab and/or ground supported slab with separate footing and stem wall, by others. The scope defines the design and construction specifications that must be addressed in order to construct a high performance slab.
Prepared by:
NAHB Research Center