A minimum seating pressure of 70 g/cm2 (0.7 t/m2), shall be applied and removed before starting the load test.

Indian standards (IS: 1888: 1982) recommend that the loading of the plate should invariably be borne either by gravity loading platform or by the reaction truss.

The allowable maximum settlement for warehouse type of structure is 50 mm.

It is suggested that allowable pressure should be selected such that maximum settlement of any individual foundation is 25 mm.

The settlement of the plate is measured with the help of sensitive dial gauges. For square plate, two dial gauges are used. The dial gauges are mounted on independently supported datum bar.

The effect of settlement upon the structure depends on its magnitude, the length of the time over which it takes place, its magnitude and the nature of the structure itself.

The use of reaction truss is more popular now-a-days since this is simple, quick and less clumsy.

According to National Building Code of India (SP: 7-1970) the differential settlement shall be kept within limits to which the super-structure can accommodate itself without the distortion, by suitably designing the foundation.

For simple spread footing on clayey soils, the allowable pressure should be such that the differential settlement does not exceed 1/300.

The vertical downward movement of the base of the structure is called settlement and its effect depends upon its magnitude and uniformity etc.