Foundation Damage and Repair: Science, Materials, and Techniques
Description
You’re called out to look at a thin crack creeping across a basement wall. The doors upstairs started to stick. The homeowner blames the builder, the insurer blames the weather, and the contractor says it’s normal settling. Your assessment will decide who’s right.
You know foundation problems rarely start where they show up. The real answers are in the soil, the load path and design decisions made years earlier, and your conclusions must stand on that evidence.
Join forensic engineer Edward Fronapfel as he shares the methods he’s relied on across thousands of structures and more than 80 trials in District and Federal Courts. You’ll learn how to tell cosmetic cracking from true structural distress, judge whether a soils report supports the foundation in front of you, trace damage to its real cause and specify repairs that will survive the next wet season.
This is practical know-how you can use on your very next investigation, so your assessments and repair designs hold up in the field and in the courtroom.
Don’t let a misread crack become a costly mistake.
Register now!
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.
Thursday, February 11, 2027
9:30 am – 4:30 pm CST (includes breaks)
Agenda:
Presented by Edward L. Fronapfel, MSCE, PE, CBIE, CFCC, Fellow NAFE
Science of Structures
- Superstructure vs. substructure
- Typical loads on the superstructure
- Vertical loads (dead, live, snow, roof, etc.)
- Lateral loads (wind, seismic, etc.)
- Load path to the foundation system
- Typical load path on the substructure
- Vertical loads (dead)
- Lateral loads (soil, hydrostatic, etc.)
- Load path to supporting soils
- Soils testing
- Code requirements
- Properties
- Reporting
Foundation Design
- Foundation types
- Design using soil parameters
- Prescriptive vs. engineered design
- Spread footing design
- Deep foundation design
- Retaining wall design
Assessing a Property
- Discussion of damages
- Prong 1
- Prong 2
- Cause and effect
- Site observations
- Relative level survey
- Types of equipment and tolerances
- Performing a survey
Foundation Repair Methods
- Underpinning
- Verification and proof tests
- Foundation repair
- Issues
- Repair details
- Repaired conditions
- Secondary repairs
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher, Linux, Google Chrome OS
Web Browser:
Google Chrome (most recent 3 versions)
Microsoft Edge (most recent 3 versions)
Internet connection: 1 Mbps or better
Hardware: 2GB of RAM (minimum), 4GB or more of RAM (recommended)
For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com
Credits
Engineers
6.0 PDHs
Architects
6.0 HSW CE Hours
AIA - American Institute of Architects
6.0 HSW LUs
ICC - International Code Council
0.6 CEUs (Building)
This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.0 PDHs for professional engineers and 6.0 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects in most states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider License No: CEA362), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, and New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00049300). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System. Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses. The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.0 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.
The International Code Council has approved this event for .6 CEUs in the specialty area of Building (Preferred Provider No. 1232).
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
On-Demand Credits
The credits listed above apply only to the live webinar. This course in an on-demand format may not qualify for the same credit in some states. Please refer to specific board rules to determine if an asynchronous, on-demand course is appropriate. The following credits will be included in the on-demand format:
6.0 HSW LUs (AIA)
Speakers
Edward L. Fronapfel, MSCE, PE, CBIE, CFCC, Fellow NAFE
President, 7272 ConsultingMr. Fronapfel has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in structural and forensic engineering. Ed’s a Certified Level 2 Infrared Thermographer, Certified 3rd Party EIFS Inspector, Certified Forensic Claims Consultant, Board Certified Building Inspection Engineer, and Certified Building Commissioning Professional. He is a registered engineer in the States of AL, AR, AZ, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MS, MT, MO, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, and WY. Mr. Fronapfel has been deposed nearly 800 times and admitted into trial settings over 125 times. He has been used as an expert in arbitration and mediations over 500 times since the late 1990s. Mr. Fronapfel is an instructor for the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, the College of Contract Management, U.K., Diploma in Structural Forensic Engineering, and he has been an adjunct professor for the Burns School of Real Estate Management, University of Denver, since 2007. Mr. Fronapfel is a Board-Certified Member of the Association of Building Inspection Professionals, a Certified Forensic Claims Consultant through AACE, a Board-Certified member of the International Board of Forensic Engineering and Science and a Member of The Academy of Experts, U.K., and a Fellow Member of ASCE and of NAFE.
AIA Info
AIA Provider Statement:
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).
This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
Course Title: Foundation Damage and Repair: Science, Materials, and Techniques
Delivery Method: Live Online
Course Description: This six-hour course explores the science behind structural loads, soil-structure interaction, and foundation design, with emphasis on diagnosing and repairing foundation damage. Instruction covers load paths, soil testing and reporting, prescriptive versus engineered design approaches, property assessment techniques, and practical repair methods including underpinning and secondary repairs.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Learners will be able to explain the differences between superstructure and substructure loads, including vertical and lateral forces, and how they transfer to the foundation system.
Learning Objective 2: Learners will be able to interpret soil testing requirements and use soil properties to inform prescriptive and engineered foundation design.
Learning Objective 3: Learners will be able to conduct property assessments for foundation damage using site observations, cause-and-effect analysis, and relative level surveys.
Learning Objective 4: Learners will be able to evaluate and apply appropriate foundation repair techniques, including underpinning, verification tests, and secondary repair methods.
LUs: 6.0
LU Type: LU|HSWs
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 10/09/2028
Complaint Resolution Policy:
Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.
6.0 Knowledge Points
Purchase this course using Knowledge Points by clicking the button below.
(Account login required. Knowledge Points can only be redeemed by the owner of the points. Cannot be combined with any other forms of payment)