Whether you’re embarking on a residential, commercial, or industrial build, understanding the soil conditions of your site is crucial to laying a solid foundation. We provide both Limited and Full Site Classifications to meet the specific needs of your project, delivering accurate and reliable assessments in accordance with Australian Standard AS2870-2011.
Site Classification Services
Our Focus
Site Classification and Foundation Recommendations to AS2870
At Hunter Geotechnical Services, we offer comprehensive Site Classification services that are essential for ensuring the safety, stability, and compliance of your construction project.
When is a Site Classification and Foundation Assessment Needed?
A Site Classification and Foundation Assessment are essential whenever you plan to build or extend a structure, whether it’s a residential home, commercial building, or industrial facility. These assessments are particularly critical in the following situations:
- New Construction: Before breaking ground on any new construction project, a Site Classification is needed to understand the soil conditions. This information is crucial for designing a foundation that will ensure the stability and safety of the building.
- Significant Extensions: If you are adding significant extensions to an existing structure, a Site Classification can help identify any changes in soil conditions that may affect the new foundation. A Foundation Assessment will ensure that the new and existing foundations work together seamlessly.
- Challenging Sites: For sites with known complexities, such as variable soil types, sloping terrain, or areas prone to moisture fluctuations, a thorough Site Classification and Foundation Assessment are vital to address potential risks and design a foundation that can handle these challenges.
- Compliance and Regulation: Both assessments are often required to meet local council regulations and Australian standards, ensuring your project adheres to legal requirements and avoids costly issues down the line.
Our Services
Limited Site Classification
A Limited Site Classification is an initial assessment designed to give you a general understanding of your site’s soil conditions. This type of classification is ideal for early-stage planning or for sites where existing data is available and further detailed investigation is not immediately necessary.
What’s Involved:
- Preliminary Soil Testing: Our geotechnical team conducts a limited number of boreholes or test pits to gather initial data about the soil composition and characteristics.
- Basic Analysis: The collected data is analysed to provide a preliminary classification of the site, identifying general soil types and potential reactivity.
- Guidance for Further Investigation: If the preliminary assessment indicates potential complexities or risks, we recommend additional testing or a Full Site Classification to ensure accurate foundation design.
Example Use Case: A developer planning a small residential extension might opt for a Limited Site Classification to quickly assess whether the soil conditions are straightforward, allowing for a faster initial design process.
Full Site Classification
For a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of your site’s geotechnical conditions, our Full Site Classification offers an in-depth assessment. This classification is essential for sites with complex or variable soil conditions, or when a high level of accuracy is required to ensure the safety and longevity of the construction.
What’s Involved:
- Extensive Soil Investigation: We perform multiple boreholes or test pits across the site to capture a thorough representation of the soil profile.
- Comprehensive Laboratory Testing: Samples are rigorously tested in our NATA Accredited laboratory to evaluate soil reactivity, moisture content, bearing capacity, and other critical factors.
- Detailed Reporting: Our final report includes a full analysis of the soil conditions, with specific recommendations for foundation design, addressing potential challenges such as soil movement, drainage issues, and subsidence risks.
Example Use Case: A construction company working on a large commercial development would require a Full Site Classification to ensure that the foundations are designed to accommodate any variations in soil conditions across the site, preventing costly issues later in the construction process.
Foundation Recommendation
As part of our Site Classification Services, Hunter Geotechnical Services provide Foundation Recommendations.
After the Site Classification is completed, the results are used to inform the design and construction of the building’s foundation. Foundation Recommendations are based on the specific soil conditions identified during the Site Classification. These recommendations guide engineers and builders on the type of foundation required (e.g., slab-on-ground, pier and beam, deep footings) and any special construction techniques needed to mitigate risks like soil movement, subsidence, or poor drainage.
Relationship Between the Two:
- Site Classification provides the necessary data about the soil and site conditions.
- Foundation Recommendations are derived from this data, offering practical guidance for designing and constructing a foundation that will perform well under the specific conditions identified during the Site Classification.
Wind Classification for Low-Rise Buildings to AS4055
The Australian Standard AS4055 sets out the requirements for wind classification for low rise buildings, which is the process of determining the wind loads that a building or structure is likely to experience. This standard provides guidance on how to classify wind regions based on the wind speeds and gust factors that are likely to occur in a specific location.
The wind classification process involves determining the basic wind speed for a specific Region and factoring in topography, terrain category and shielding factors. This wind speed is then used to determine the wind classification for the site, which for NSW ranges from classification N1 (the lowest wind classification for NSW) to wind classification N6 (the highest wind classification for NSW). Each wind zone corresponds to a specific design wind speed, which is the wind speed that the building or structure must be able to withstand.
The standard also provides guidance on the design of buildings and structures to resist wind loads, including the use of wind-resistant materials and construction methods. It’s important to follow the wind classification requirements of the standard, as wind loads can have a significant impact on the safety and stability of buildings and structures. Buildings and structures in wind N6 classification need to be designed to withstand the highest wind speed, which can be more costly than buildings in wind classification N1, but it is important for the safety of the people and the infrastructure.
Contact Us Today For An Obligation Free Quote
With years of experience in the field, Hunter Geotechnical Services is committed to delivering accurate and timely site classifications that you can rely on. Our expert team uses state-of-the-art equipment and adheres to the highest industry standards to provide you with the data you need to proceed with confidence.
Don’t leave your project to chance—ensure its success from the ground up with a professional Site Classification from Hunter Geotechnical Services. Contact us today to discuss your project’s needs and discover how our Limited or Full Site Classification services can help you build with certainty.
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