Soil testing for construction is one aspect of building that many clients (and even builders) may not be familiar with. While they’ll be in a hurry to get their slab poured and framing up, it’s crucial that before any construction commences, soil testing has been performed that accurately assesses the soil’s suitability for the build. Here are the reasons why.
Foundation design for construction
Soil testing for construction helps define the foundations that will be suitable for the building. Different soils have different bearing capacities to support loads. For our engineers to specify the foundations to support the structure, they must know the conditions of the soil. Failure to be thorough with soil testing may lead to a design that’s not suitable and that increases the risk of structural failure.
Is the soil different in Tasmania?
Soil testing results show the soil profile of the site in which the project is planned. In Tasmania, we predominantly have two types of soil—clay and sand. The reactivity of this clay determines its classification along with depth to a limiting layer such as bedrock and water table. Importantly, the results of soil testing are unique to each site based on all physical properties such as bearing capacity, moisture, erosion, stability, fill and groundwater impacts.
Soil stability
To construct a building on the site, engineers factor in all of the results of soil testing to design for stability and, thus, longevity of the building. Potential issues such as erosion or soil expansion affect the proposed foundation design and assessing these issues is critical to avoid structural damage of the building.
Can the soil be changed?
Our engineers may provide options based on the suitability of the soil for construction and soil treatment or improvements that can be made. HED Consulting Engineer Geologist Joe Hepper writes the thorough reporting that provides the expert guidance specific to the soil you’re planning to build on.
Groundwater
Water movement around the construction presents a key risk to the building’s stability. Soil testing for new construction can reveal any groundwater issues for that site and build location. Higher groundwater can present significant risks to long-term stability, and our engineers may recommend modifications to location, design, drainage or special construction techniques to manage groundwater.
When soil reacts with the building materials
A building should stand for a long time. However, the soil can affect not only the construction process but also the long-term durability of the materials used. Based on the chemical composition of the soil on the site, our engineers may recommend particular materials, sealants or contaminant protection so that concrete and timbers in the building don’t deteriorate.
Soil testing for easier building permits and costings
Soil testing is a sound investment before building to understand what percentage of the budget is needed to build for structural integrity. Our engineers utilise BIM (Building Information Modelling) to accurately estimate the foundation design and any measures required for the site ahead of construction. This will help our client to reduce risks and future costs where soil testing hasn’t been thoroughly investigated to identify issues before construction and to achieve the permits required.
For your clients investing in a build, the pre-construction process is critical to managing costs, ensuring safety, and having the foundations, design and measures that allow the building to sit on its site for a very long time. Its a critical step that provides the data to make good engineering and design decisions. Contact Joe Hepper at in**@****************om.au to discuss geotechnical reporting, soil tests and site investigations for your projects.
