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Outside of the utilization of a geotechnical engineer for your
site characterization, there are other instances where one
would be required for your project.
When constructing a building, onsite sewage disposal or
storm water management projects or projects where grading
and soil stability may be concerning factors, a Geotechnical
Engineer will be required. In these instances borehole
samples of soil are analyzed for grain size, moisture content
Left: bore samples from geotechnical testing; Above: geosynthetic liner and stability.
utilized for a liquid manure tank as a specified geotechnical requirement.
Since a solid base of suitable soil is critical to having a sound
When having your site characterization report completed,
it is best to follow up with your geotechnical engineer to structure, we provide the following recommendations:
ensure that the following basics are noted in your report.
- All footings should be on native, undisturbed soil, where
- the size (diameter and depth) of the manure storage;
- all testing was completed in accordance with the possible;
requirements of the Nutrient Management Act (Ontario
Regulation 267/03, as amended), including the depth - If more than 36 inches of structural fill is to be used, a
of testing and number of test holes
- the founding elevation of the proposed tank Geotechnical Engineer should be contacted, prior to fill
- location of any groundwater or bedrock to a depth of
1.5m below the founding elevation placement, to provide compaction recommendations and to
- the soil bearing capacity at the proposed depth of
tank (SLS and ULS) as well as anticipated settlement perform the necessary testing;
- confirmation that the geotechnical engineering
firm will be completing an on-site inspection upon - If on-farm or graded fill is to be used, a geotechnical
completion of the excavation to verify the soil
conditions professional should inspect the material prior to placement to
Ensuring your geotechnical engineer intends to include
this information in their report prior to testing will ensure determine its suitability. If suitable, the Geotechnical Engineer
that your engineer has the necessary information to
prepare your permit drawings. When setting up your should also provide a procedure for compaction and perform
geotechnical services, knowing what to ask for is the key
to getting the most from these services. the necessary compaction testing;
Information for this article was provided courtesy of Kyle Hilliar, C. Tech., - Where soil bearing capacity is in question, a Geotechnical
Field Services Manager at CMT Engineering Inc., St. Clements, Ontario. For
more information, visit their website at www.cmtinc.net. Engineer should be contacted to confirm that the onsite
STONECREST ANNUAL 2017 conditions are consistent with the design assumptions;
If the foundation for a new structure is to be near existing
structures or manure tanks, the new foundation must be
located so as not to impart any additional loading on the
existing facility. This is usually achieved through the use of
step footings. However, in some instances, the soil against
the existing building must be excavated. In this instance, a
Geotechnical Engineer can help determine a safe course of
action and review any undermined footings.
It is important to ensure your geotechnical engineer provides
their approval on your soil conditions prior to continuing with
the construction of your project. When the structural engineer
is onsite to do the initial footing inspection, ensure they
receive a copy of any geotechnical reports. This will ensure
that your building’s base has been approved and any issues
addressed before a foundation is poured.
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