R403.1.5

Section R403.1.5 is titled 'Slope' and covers the requirements for the orientation of footing construction. The levelness of the top and bottom planes of the footing and the method for constructing footings on slopes which exceed the maximum allowed slope is established. The purpose of this section is to prevent structural failure.

The model shows a section of a footing installed on sloped ground with the top of the footing being level and the bottom of the footing not exceeding a 10% slope (about 5.7°). Where the ground has a drastic drop off, the footing is stepped down from the high level to the low level. Notice that the top of the footing is being checked for levelness in two perpendicular directions.