foundations and quarry blasting

[crystal074]

I need some answers,Please. I am trying to fight a development which is being built on a mountain top. This site has very steep slopes.I will try and give you all information needed to answer my questions.Soils:Hibernia etra sandy loam,3-15%slopes(HpC),Muck,shallow(Ms); Ridgebury extra loam,0-3%slopes(RbA),3-8% slopes(RbB);Riverhead sandy loam,3-8% slopes(RhB);Rock outcrop Rockaway complex, 15-35% slopes(RxE);and Rockaway complex-Rock outcrop, 3-15% slopes(RsC)-with exceptions of the roads,which occassionally cross steeper sloping portions of the site,the vast majority of the proposed construction will occur on areas of the site having slopes less than 15%. Where required,steep slope areas will be graded to a shallower slope ratios to accomodate construction.

Now on this same mountain ,about 1,500 to 2,000 feet away is an active quarry. This quarry blasts at least 2x a week. The homes that are not on this mountain feel the tremors and their homes shake. Wouldn't there be adverse impacts to these new townhomes and their foundations?What could be the impacts? How could the foundations be made to with stand the quarry? SHould this applicant hire a geo-technical engineer? If so, please give reasons as to why. I am really trying to learn all information to make sure that the safety of the people that move into these homes are a priority. Thank you so much!

 

[72shortbox]

You should be hire specialist to measure the vibrations near the proposed construction. They can measure airblast, frequency and particle velocity. There are some criteria to determine if these vibrations are damaging to structures set by the Bureau of Mines. Most situations the vibrations are not damaging to the structure they are just disturbing to the people (people are much more sensitive to vibrations than buildings)

If there is a problem you could try a cutoff trench around the structures similar to what is used with dynamic deep compaction to limit the spread of vibrations

 

[phillyfrank]

See my posting under Geotechnical Engineers.