10 years ago, I constructed my 2 storey house without piling. About 6 years ago, I constructed another two 2 storey buildings located about 100 meter away from my house for sale without piling. In the early 1970s when I was practicing as an engineering consultant, I designed a 4 storey shop called Kwong Fatt, the new 4 storey St Michael Institution, a roll of 4 storey flats and many other low rise buildings in Ipoh without piling.

I just took this photo of piling in progress for a 2 storey building nearby my house. Why should the house owner waste his hard earned saving on piling??? 

I am obliged to tell you my academic qualification and experience so that my readers can believe my purpose for writing this article which is to save unnecessary expenditure for piling for low rise buildings.

I am a Chartered Civil Engineer. In the early 1970s, I was Secretary General of the Malaysia Master Builders Association for 9 years. I was also a member of the Malaysia Board of Engineers for 3 terms of 2 years each as permitted by law.  

Low rise buildings do not require piling. Spread concrete foundation should be adequate as shown below.

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Spread concrete foundation distributes the load of the building evenly on the ground. This system is applicable even on very soft ground. The Engineer should provide larger size spread foundation for bigger load and smaller size for lesser load to avoid uneven settlement.