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Shallow foundations (sometimes called 'spread footings') include pads ('isolated footings'), strip footings and rafts. Deep foundations include piles, pile walls, diaphragm walls and caissons. Shallow foundations Shallow foundations are those founded near to the finished ground surface; generally where the founding depth (D f ) is less than the width of the footing and less than 3m. These are not strict rules, but merely guidelines: basically, if surface loading or other surface conditions will affect the bearing capacity of a foundation it is 'shallow'. Shallow foundations (sometimes called 'spread footings') include pads ('isolated footings'), strip footings and rafts. Shallows foundations are used when surface soils are sufficiently strong and stiff to support the imposed loads; they are generally unsuitable in weak or highly compressible soils, such as poorly-compacted fill, peat, recent lacustrine and alluvial deposits, etc.  ...