What characterizes a floating slab foundation?

A floating slab foundation is characterized by its design, which is intended to float on the water-saturated soil. This foundation does not connect directly to the walls of the structure, allowing it to move independently and accommodate ground movement, which is particularly beneficial in areas with expansive soils or seasonal changes in moisture content.

By being designed without a direct connection to the walls, a floating slab can provide significant benefits, including reducing the risk of cracking in the walls due to differential settling or heaving that can occur with other foundation types. The lack of connection allows the slab to maintain structural integrity even as the soil beneath it shifts.

In contrast, characteristics such as being connected to the ground or having a heavy, thick configuration wouldn’t apply to a floating slab, as these would imply a more rigid foundation type. Additionally, while open crawl spaces are common in certain types of foundations, they are not a defining feature of floating slab foundations, which are typically solid and without such spaces beneath them. Thus, the correct choice highlights the unique and independent nature of the floating slab's design.