Soil test for residential site

[PowerRanger]

Dear all

Most of time when I am doing a slab design for the residential dwelling, I will went to the site and ask the Bobcat to dig some test holes. Then I classify the soil's level of the reactivity by just by visually and feeling. I feel what I am doing is not very professional. Do any of you have any better idea of doing the soil test for the residential dwelling site but economically. Also, is there any easy equipments that I can bring to site and do the sample test?

Thank you for your help.



Marco

 

[sc]

Out of curiosity, which country?


Get a copy of the Australian Standard AS2870, this will offer guidance for classifying soils for residential construction. It provide an insite into the "visual and tactile" assessment of soils.

Web search Australian Standards.

regards

sc

 

[SperlingPE]

For the actual get down in the dirt sampling, there are hand augers and hand penetrometers that are used by geotechnical engineers. If there is a basement, this will not get you samples at the depths requried.
Do you work in a geologic diverse area?

 

[PowerRanger]

Yes, I am in Australia.

The equipment i would like to ask for testing the soil classification, percentage of clay minerals in the soil sample, etc. I want the easy equipment that can bring to the sit.

I am a structural engineer and sometimes need to design the house slab for residential purpose.


Marco

 

[Ron]

Hire a geotechnical engineer to do it for you.

 

[PowerRanger]

Hi Ron

You know we just charge client approx 500+GST for the slab design, if hire a geotechnical engineer, then no profit for the job

 

[Stress02]

Our local geotech is savy and often knows the geology before he even gets to the site. He can judge by test holes, but in anything but ideal conditions, I couldn't do what he does.

You say a geotech would eat up your profit. How about going back and saying that you need expert input and they need to pay for his services. We always have the Geotech as another charge.

As for profit, how are the agressive are liability claims lawyers there? I never put myself at risk by cutting out the needed professional experts. In the long run, the little bit of payment could be nothing compared to lawsuit claims.

 

[apsix]

The problem is related to the competition from fellow professionals that you may need to deal with. As usual, fees are too low and the client can not see the value in spending more. $500 is nothing when it comes to putting carpet into the house for example.
If you are practicing in an area which has a history of good footing performance then there is limited risk associated with the visual-tactile assessment. This method is allowed by the code, with "appropriate expertise and local experience". You can also be conservative in your site classification, although this will often result in the client paying more than if a more scientific approach was used.
And, no, I don't think there is a simple portable test method which can be done on site.

 

[dbuzz]

You may be selling yourself short with a fee of $500 -- it sounds incredibly cheap, espeically if you consider that a home buyer is paying the builder anything from $100,000+.

 

[Stress02]

Reminds me of a job my former employer did....Condo design job....on the cheap. About 8 years later, the lawsuit papers came regarding the fact that the building settled and they were seeking the funds to repair the building and rectify the soil condition.

At that point I decided to never "give" work away for too little money.