FOUNDATIONS

FOUNDATIONS
GUIDE TO COLUMN INSTALLATION
Root Mounting
Abacus columns are supplied for root ground, which is filled with concrete c) Where the hole is back-filled with
mounting with a root length (Z, figure 1) after erection of the column. concrete, the concrete is to extend
applicable to the height of the particular from the base of the lighting column to
column. ground level
Back-filling
For most applications, particularly d) Where paving or bituminous
The standard stipulates the following
on medium size columns having surfacing is to be applied around the
guidelines to be followed:
large overturning moments, it is lighting column, the top level of the
recommended that the root is inserted a) All back-filling material is to be concrete may be lowered by the
into a prepared foundation (Fig 1). placed in 150mm thick layers and be thickness of this surfacing; and
well compacted
For smaller columns where the ground e) A duct with the same dimensions as
conditions are suitable, a prepared b) During compaction, care is to be the lighting column’s cable entry slot is
foundation is not always necessary taken to ensure that the corrosion to be formed in the concrete using a
(Fig 2). All that is required is a suitably protection system of the lighting suitable pre-formed lining tube.
sized excavated hole in undisturbed column is not damaged

Connection Connection
Fuse cut - out unit Fuse cut - out unit
ELSAB1 - single lamp Door ELSAB1 - single lamp Door
ELSAB12 - twin lamp ELSAB12 - twin lamp

Concrete or
PVC sleeve.
Internal dim = Compacted
root diameter fill material
+ 100mm or concrete
Z

Concrete collar
d top & bottom Undisturbed
100mm deep ground

d = 50mm

Concrete diameter Concrete diameter

Fig 1 Fig 2

Root diameter - For complete column data information see the

columns section of www.abacuslighting.com

Ground Factor G
Extract from PD 6547:2004 on ground conditions, in conjunction with BS EN 40-3-1 and -3
G (kN/m2) per m Quality of Soil

630 Good: Compact, well-graded sand and gravel, hard clay, well-graded fine and coarse sand, decomposed
granite rock and soil
390 Average: Compact fine sand, medium clay, compact well-drained sandy loam, loose coarse sand and gravel.
Average soils drain sufficiently well that water does not stand on the surface.
230 Poor: Soft clay, clay loam, poorly compacted sand, clays containing a large amount of silt and vegetable matter,
and made-up ground.
Poor soil are normally wet and have poor drainage

The minimum root diameters given in this brochure are based on the poorest ground conditions, as provided for in the British Standard publication PD6547:2004
The diameter will be smaller if the ground is better

44 www.abacuslighting.com
Flange Plate Mounting Non-passive mass concrete
Abacus offers a choice of passive and non passive concrete foundation dimensions
foundations for fl ange plate mounting of lighting columns. A non-passive foundation, where the ground pressure may
be lower, takes no account of the side forces and is therefore
By taking the OTM (overturning moment) from the column
shallower but wider.
data matrix in the brochure, and identifying the correct
ground pressure, the fully factored concrete foundation
dimension can be determined from the tables below. Foundation O.T.M Bearing A Width B Depth
(KNm) Pressure (mm) (mm)
(KNm)

3M75 3 75 880 590

Holding down bolt projection 3M100 3 100 880 590
& final torque values
3M150 3 150 880 590
4M75 4 75 950 625
Bolt Size & Grade Projection Torque
(mm) (Nm) 4M100 4 100 950 625
4M150 4 150 950 625

M16*500 Long Grade 4.6 125 25 5M75 5 75 1050 675

M20*500 Long Grade 4.6 125 50 5M100 5 100 1050 675

M24*600 Long Grade 4.6 125 160 5M150 5 150 1050 675

M30*800 Long Grade 4.6 150 310 6M75 6 75 1100 700

6M100 6 100 1100 700
6M150 6 150 1100 700
8M75 8 75 1150 725
Passive mass concrete foundation dimensions 8M100 8 100 1150 725
A passive foundation, where the ground pressure must be at 8M150 8 150 1150 725
least 150kN/m (or 1.5bar), takes into account the side forces 10M75 10 75 1250 775
applied from the firmer ground. As a result, the concrete is 10M100 10 100 1250 775
typically narrower and deeper than non-passive. 10M150 10 150 1250 775
15M75 15 75 1400 850
Foundation O.T.M Bearing A Width B Depth 15M100 15 100 1350 825
(KNm) Pressure (mm) (mm) 15M150 15 150 1350 825
(KNm)
20M75 20 75 1500 900
3P150 3 150 650 750 20M100 20 100 1500 900
4P150 4 150 700 800 20M150 20 150 1500 900
5P150 5 150 750 800 30M75 30 75 1700 1000
6P150 6 150 750 900 30M100 30 100 1700 1000
8P150 8 150 850 950 30M150 30 150 1700 1000
10P150 10 150 900 950 40M75 40 75 1900 1100
15P150 15 150 950 1100 40M100 40 100 1800 1050
20P150 20 150 1050 1200 40M150 40 150 1800 1050
30P150 30 150 1200 1250 50M75 50 75 2100 1200
40P150 40 150 1250 1300 50M100 50 100 1900 1100
50P150 50 150 1350 1400 50M150 50 150 1900 1100

Soil pressure distribution Typical section

Passive concrete Non-passive through foundation
Typically used concrete
with good ground Typically used
with ground with uniform or Bolt Projection Template
bearing pressure poor subsoil with
of not less than ground bearing Temporary
150KNm pressure of Support
75-150KNm
Cable Duct
B

Spacer
Plate

A
Lower Template

■ Pressure distribution ■ Pressure distribution

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