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IMPORTANT INFORMATION <br />ABOUT YOUR <br />GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING REPORT <br />More construction problems are caused by site subsurface <br />conditians than any other factor As troublesome as sub­ <br />surface problems can be. their frequency and extent have <br />been lessened considerably in recent years thanks to the <br />Association of Soil and Foundation Engineers lASFE) <br />When ASFE was founded in 1969, subsurface problems <br />were frequently being resolved through lawsuits In fact, <br />the situation had grown to such alarming proportions that <br />consulting geotechnical engineers had the worst profc'S- <br />sional liability record of all design professionals By 1980. <br />ASFE-mcmfw consultiiia sari iinJ fflunJalion enmnn fiaJ Ihc (vsl <br />prolfsuonal lutfiiliiy morj This dramatic turn-about can be <br />attributed directly to client acceptance of problem-solving <br />programs and materials developed by ASFE for its mem­ <br />bers' application Tiiij aufftancf uus yaniftf htaiisf diriils <br />PfndveJ Itif ASFE arrmu/i ta K' in llinr I'un fvsl iiiI.toIs <br />Disputes benefit only those who earn their living from <br />others' disagreements <br />The following suggestions and observations ate offered to <br />help you reduce the geotechnical-related delays, cost-over­ <br />runs and other costly headaches that can occur during a <br />construction project <br />A GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING <br />REPORT IS BASED ON A UNIQUE SET OF <br />PROiEcr-sPECinc factors <br />A geotechnical engineering report is based on a subsurface <br />exploration plan designeef to incorperate a unique set of <br />project'Specific factors These typical y include the general <br />nature of the structure imolved. its s.ze and configuration, <br />the location of the structure on the site and its orientation, <br />physical concomitants such as access roads, parking lots, <br />and underground utilities and the level of additional risk <br />which the client assumeii by virtue of limitations imposed <br />upon the exploratory program To help avoid costly prob­ <br />lems consult the geotechnical engineer to determine how <br />any factors which change subsequent to the date of his <br />report may affect his recommendations <br />Unless your consulting geotechnical engineer indicates <br />otherwise imur cmrnuvmifi ravri sliou/J fviisnf <br />• When the nature of the proposed structure is <br />changed, for example if an office building will be <br />erected instead of a parking garage or if a refriger­ <br />ated warehouse will be built instead of an unrefrig- <br />crated one. <br />• when the size or configuration of the proposed <br />structure IS altered. <br />• when the location or orientation of the proposed <br />structure is modified. <br />• when there is a change of ownership, or <br />• for application to an adiacenl site <br />A arnffidiHiarl cuiriiifrr lamun iicfcrr for problems u ’hicfi <br />niau ifo'oVr if fu ’ «<^f consul/rd after factors considered im fiis reports <br />dirtiopmenl naveduutgeti <br />MOST GEOTECHNICAL "RNDINGS" ARE <br />PROFESSIONAL ESTIMATES <br />Site cxploriiiion identifies actual subsurface conditions <br />only at those points where samples are liiken* when they <br />are taken Data derived through sampling and subsequent <br />iaboratory testing ate extrapolated by the geotechnical <br />engineer who then renders an opinion about overall sub- <br />t-urlace conditioris. their likely reaction to proposed con- <br />Mfudion activity and appropriate foundation design Even <br />under optimal circumstances actual conditions may differ <br />from iJ.ose op.n^^d to exist, because no geotechnical en­ <br />gineer no mairef how qualified, and no subsurface cxplo- <br />futior. t>rogram no matter how comprehensive, can reveal <br />whiii iS hidden by earth, rexk and lime For example the <br />a^Uja! irUerfacc between materials rruiy be far more <br />gradu-il or abrupt than the report indicates, and actual <br />corKiiiior.' in areas not sampled may differ from predic- <br />tionc Notbina am fv i/imc ft» rairiif thr ummlinptrd. furl srfr»s am <br />fV rar*»‘ii I.') fir/r wmh»ii:r rfin» imrart For this reason, mnst <br />aiWMmf ivnrr5 reran: IfinrcrivrerfmiMf mnsufmiif throuah the <br />ion*itfiuuon Mte to identify variances conduct additional <br />te4s which ma; be needeci and to recommend solutions <br />ic pre filems ern ountered on site <br />SUBSURFACE CONDITIONS CAN <br />CHANGE <br />Sijl'surface conditions may he modified by constantly* <br />char.g.mg natural fi^^ces Because a geotechnical engineer­ <br />ing report is based on c mditlons which existed at the time <br />ol subsurface exploration. cnHsmicrian JeasraMS sf:nuM luif be <br />on a anritUmal enamctwhi repiyrt wfioseadeifuactj may have <br />(mt a/!o(ted h time Speak with the geotechnical consultant <br />to ICiirn if additional tests are advisable before construc­ <br />tion starts <br />Construction operations at or adjacent to the site and <br />natural events such as floods earthquakes or groundwater <br />fluctuations may also affect subsurface conditions and. <br />thus the continuing adequacy of a geotechnical report <br />The geotechnical engineer should be kept apprised of any <br />such ev’cnts. and should be consulted to determine if <br />additional tests are necessary <br />A GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING <br />REPORT IS SUBIECTTO <br />MISINTERPRETATION <br />Costly problems can occur when other design profession­ <br />als develop their plans based on misinterpretations of a <br />geotechnical engineering report To help avoid these prob­ <br />lems. the geotechnical engineer should be retained to work <br />with other appropriate design professionals to explain <br />relevant geotechnical findings and to review the adequacy