CHAPTER 3: CONSTRAINTS, TRADEOFFS AND STANDARDS

3.1 Design Constraints

A constraint is a restricting condition either physical or financial that limits the systems performance
in a given context. It relates objects and processes that have to be managed to practically reduced
or eliminate the limiting impact.

Among other possible constraints, the following were considered to have considerable impact on the
foundation design of the Commercial Building:

1. Economic Constraint: Due to limited financial resources, some alternatives were designed to
be compared to know which will be the most economical while strength is also taken into
considerations. Once these alternatives are finalized and evaluated, the best option will be one
that the designer will consider.

2. Constructability: In contrast with the economic constraints, the design methodology that the
designers come up will also be evaluated based on the no. of man-hours they will be constructed.
By adapting the isolated slab, the process may be shortened. The Construction Duration is
significant since there was allotted time that the structure must be done. The design that would
only accumulate a short range of time will be the most effective to be used.

3. Sustainability: The sustainability of the structure can be evaluated by settlement analysis for
the trade-offs. The foundation resulting to lower settlement values at specified time will be
considered.

4. Safety. The National Structural Code of the Philippines Vol. I, 2010 provides foundation design
specification that ensures the structural safety of building during construction. The trade-offs
considered in this project are proved to be safe by conducting careful load selection and
structural members investigation. Thus the hindrance of safety provisions in construction can
be waived by proper project analysis.

In considering the above design constraints, the designer provides trade-off that has a significant
change in the structural design of the building but with close effectively as the other one. By doing
this, the designer can choose what slab methodology to use after the analysis.