The type of foundation system, clagssified according to depth and whether it has lateral load-resisting capacity. A foundation system is the part of the building structure that is in contact with the ground and transfers the loads of the building structure into the ground.

Lateral capacity denotes some form of specific lateral support e.g. tie-beams, foundation walls, inclined piles, piles or piers on wide spread footings, and piles deeply embedded or braced with some type of diagonal bracing. It also applies to slabs on grade, in which the whole slab or a major part of it is in contact with the ground.