Plumber used concrete rubble to backfill hole in basement floor

7/30/2018 at 11:01:34 AM

Whether it's against code or not, call your local building inspector to get his/her opinion.

What I can tell you is basement slab on grades tend to be 4 inches in thickness.

7/30/2018 at 11:57:52 AM

There's nothing in the Building Code that specifically relates to basement slab thickness. However, 5" in Ontario is the standard.

The backfill he used may be sufficient, however it depends on how large the aggregate was. Typically crushed rock (the type you see used for driveways) is used. You can use that for comparison in determining if the size used would suffice. It likely will. One point to note is that the size of the area replaced along with the size of the aggregate used (and corresponding air pockets/voids) left under the concrete along with depth of concrete used will all factor in to determine stability. Also, remember that concrete is liquid and will fill any void readily available to fill so that your floor, despite what you may have seen is in all likelihood just fine.

As noted by another poster however, if you are questioning the work, it is best to contact your local building department, who given the work done, should hold a permit for the job already, to inspect the work. Or, you can call another contractor to come in and redo the work or request the existing contractor redo their work.

Good luck

- Tim

7/30/2018 at 2:05:32 PM

All Canadian building codes are based on the National Building Code with each province adopting certain revisions. In all likelihood the rules in Ontario are the same as Alberta where floor slabs are required to be min. 75 mm (3") thick (article 9.16.4.3).

Using the concrete rubble as backfill is permitted by Code. The important thing is that the pipe is suitably supported (normally bedded in sand or gravel in new construction) and there should be enough fines to adequately fill the voids.

The Code talks about unacceptable materials as materials susceptible to changes in volume due to variations in moisture content or chemical-microbiological oxidation; also that fill should be compacted except for clean coarse aggregate containing not more than 10% of material that will pass a 4 mm sieve.

A minor repair of this nature would likely be exempt from requiring permits (building or plumbing); however best to discuss with your local authority including confirming with your local (provincial) Code requirements.

Ian Derksen

Safety Codes Officer - Building

7/31/2018 at 9:08:10 AM

What he did is just a normal practice and nothing to worry about!