Durable

Permanent Comfortable
Wood Adaptable

Foundations Energy efficient

Economical

Wood Preservation Canada

 permanent wood foundation (PWF) is a Batt insulation can be installed in the stud cavities,
strong, durable and proven construction and rigid insulation can be installed on the exterior
method that has a number of unique of the PWF. Wood’s natural thermal resistance,
advantages over other foundation combined with the additional insulation, makes the
systems for both the builder and the homeowner. entire perimeter foundation an extremely efficient
The first Canadian examples were built as early as barrier to heat loss. Since the foundation accounts
1950 and are still being used today. PWFs can also for up to 30% of the heat transfer in a home, a
be designed for projects such as crawl spaces, room highly insulated PWF results in less energy to heat
additions and knee-wall foundations for garages or cool the home, significantly reducing utility bills.
and mobile homes. Concrete slab-on-grade, wood
sleeper floors and suspended wood floors can all be PWF basements are pleasant to live in year
used with PWFs. round. “Warm”, “dry”, “comfortable” and
”easy to heat” are the comments most frequently
A permanent wood foundation is an in-ground made by the people who live in houses with
engineered construction system designed to turn permanent wood foundations. A PWF basement
a home’s foundation into useable living space. is a totally livable, perfectly comfortable area that
A below-grade stud wall constructed of preservative- is just like the rest of the house because it is fully
treated plywood and lumber supports the structure insulated and built with the same construction
and encloses the living space. PWFs are suitable for techniques and materials.
all types of light-frame construction covered under
Part 9 (Housing and Small Buildings) of the National A permanent wood foundation is suitable for
Building Code of Canada, under clauses [Link].(1) all types of living space, including bedrooms,
and [Link].(1). This includes single-family detached bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, recreation
houses, townhouses, low-rise apartments, and rooms, workshops and dens.
institutional and commercial buildings. In addition,
the recently revised CSA S406 standard, Specification
of permanent wood foundations for housing and
small buildings, allows for three-storey construction
WOOD outperforms other major building
materials when Life Cycle Assessment is used
supported by PWF.
to compare environmental impacts:
The energy-saving qualities of a PWF make them • requires less embodied energy in production
popular. Originally favoured in remote areas where • reduces greenhouse gas emissions
location made concrete cost prohibitive and difficult
• releases fewer pollutants into the air
to obtain, PWFs are now built everywhere in North
America. Thousands of PWF homeowners enjoy the • discharges less water pollutants
comfort and livability of their homes, as well as the • generates fewer solid wastes.
cost savings realized by this energy efficient building
Source: Wood Design Manual, Canadian Wood Council, 2010
system.
Finishing a basement is much easier with
a PWF. Converting the basement area into finished
living space is a far simpler and more economical
process with a PWF than with other types of basement
construction. Because a PWF is a wood stud wall, it
is easily insulated and a variety of wall finishes can
be quickly installed. Gypsum board or wood paneling
can be nailed or glued directly to the foundation
studs without the need for furring strips. Except
for some minor exceptions, wiring and plumbing
services are installed in the same manner as
elsewhere in the house. PWF homes have buyer appeal. Because PWF
basement areas are warm, dry and pleasantly
PWFs are quickly built in any weather. Time saved comfortable from the moment the house is built,
is money saved in the construction business, and they have immediate appeal to potential buyers.
almost any delay can be both inconvenient and
costly. A PWF is a definite time saver over other The livability of the PWF area is instantly apparent
foundation types because it goes in fast in all weather whether the basement is finished or simply roughed
and can be installed by the framing contractor, in. A PWF basement can be easily finished by the
thereby eliminating the need for a specialized builder during construction since techniques and
foundation trade. Wet, muddy or frozen ground has materials are the same as for other parts of the house,
little effect on the installation process, which means or the home buyer can complete the basement area
that builders using PWF enjoy a longer building as the space is required. The PWF basement offers
season without scheduling problems or weather more living space than a conventional basement
shutdowns. And owners get to enjoy their home since framing for insulation and finishing is not
sooner. necessary on the perimeter wall.

A PWF is adaptable to any style of exterior finish. PWFs are durable and safe. Wood treated with
All types of exterior finishes can be used, including preservatives is not harmful to human health when
wood or other sidings, brick and masonry veneer or used in the proper application, such as PWF.
stucco. The PWF area can be finished with the same Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is the only wood
materials used on the upper part of the house for a preservative registered by the Pest Management
uniform appearance or accented with contrasting Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada for
materials. the treatment of lumber and plywood used in PWFs.
It is fixed in the wood and resistant to leaching even
in extreme moisture conditions. Tests conducted in
below-grade levels of PWF structures indicate that
air quality in the PWF area is equal to the air quality
found in other foundation systems.

WOOD is the best environmental

choice to conserve energy and minimize
the environmental impact of buildings:
• reduced energy and resource use in
extraction and processing
• reduced energy consumption in processing
and end use
• minimized external pollution and environmental
damage throughout the life cycle
• minimized internal pollution in the built
environment.
Source: Wood Design Manual, Canadian Wood Council, 2010
Materials

All lumber and plywood used in a PWF, except for Where it is necessary to field cut PWF lumber, all cuts,
specific components/conditions, must be treated holes, and injuries to the surface of treated materials
with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) wood must be protected by two applications of preservative
preservative and identified as such by a certification conforming to CSA O80.3 (copper naphthenate
mark stating conformance with CSA Standard 0322, preservative solution containing a minimum of 2%
Procedure for Use in Preserved Wood Foundations. of copper metal).
PWF treated lumber shall not be cut lengthwise Nails for fastening treated material must be hot-dipped
or notched. Foundation wall studs, structural galvanized or stainless. Staples must be stainless steel.
blocking and basement floor joists shall not be Framing anchors and straps must be galvanized.
cut, notched or bored to accommodate electrical
Moisture and vapour barriers must be at least
or mechanical utilities or for any other reason.
0.15 mm (6 mil) in thickness. Dimpled drainage board
Foundation wall studs may be cut to length and
is often specified as an exterior moisture barrier
installed with their treated end down.
(see photo below).

PWF Design and Construction

The CSA S406 standard, Specification of permanent more severe than the assumptions, the PWF must
wood foundations for housing and small buildings, be designed by a professional engineer or architect
provides design and construction requirements and and installed in conformance with the standard.
includes many selection tables aimed to increase design
Anyone undertaking to build a PWF should obtain
efficiency. This standard also contains information on
a copy of CAN/CSA-S406 from the Canadian
site preparation, materials, cutting and machining,
Standards Association (visit [Link] or
footings, sealants and dampproofing, exterior
call 1-800-463-6727).
moisture barriers, backfilling and site grading.
Expert technical assistance is also available
The standard is based on specific design assumptions
via the Canadian Wood Council Help Desk
regarding installation procedures, soil type, clear
([Link]/helpdesk/)
spans for floors and roofs, dead and live loads,
modification factors, deflections and backfill height.
If any of the design conditions are different from or
 PWF Floor Options
Sleeper Floor

PWF stud wall

PWF plywood

PWF joist
PWF wood sleeper

Polyethylene film

Gravel or Certified PWF

crushed rock pressure treated wood

Full depth
PWF blocking used for
fire-stopping and nailer Suspended Floor
Joists butt against
PWF studs Note: Floor structures
higher than 300 mm above
PWF ledger the interior ground level
do not require preservative
PWF plywood treatment if ventilated

Polyethylene film
Certified PWF
Gravel or pressure treated wood
crushed rock

Concrete Slab Floor

Floor joist
PWF plywood Batt insulation
Double top plate
PWF plywood cover Concrete slab
plate at grade
PWF stud wall
Exterior PWF blocking
moisture barrier
Polyethylene film
PWF screed board
PWF wall plate
PWF footing plate
Certified PWF
pressure treated wood Gravel or crushed rock
PWF Producers

British Columbia

BRISCO WOOD PRESERVERS - BC ENVIROFOR PRESERVERS • BC

CSI PWF-FBT ®
CSI ®
PWF-FBT
2315 0322 CCA 1715 0322 CCA
Northwest

PWF-FBT 0322 WESTERN CLEANWOOD

CSI PWF-FBT
Wood

KDAT
CMSA ® 135 15 ®

L/B-P/C CCA 1015 0322 CCA

Alberta

SPRAY LAKE SAWMILLS SUNDRE FOREST PRODUCTS

CSI ® PWF-FBT CSI PWF-FBT

®

8815 0322 CCA 1115 0322 CCA

Manitoba

PRAIRIE FOREST PRODUCTS

CSI ® PWF-FBT
1215 0322 CCA

Key
TREATING PLANT NAME

XYZ PWF-FBT
Inspection Agency Preserved Wood Foundation
- Fondations en bois traité
Plant Number (OO) and
Production Year (15)
0015 0322 CCA Preservative

CSA Certification Standard

Wood Preservation Canada

202-2141 Thurston Drive, Ottawa, ON K1G 6C9
Tel: (613) 737-4337 Fax: (613) 247-0540

[Link]