Soil Site Classification Report - (SR)
When is a soil classification report required?
A soil classification report is typically required on all new residential builds, extensions or new sheds due to current building regulations and to ensure the adopted footings are structurally sound and appropriate for the existing soil conditions to ensure the long-term performance of the proposed building.
What is a soil classification report, and why is it important?
A soil classification report refers to a document prepared in accordance with the Australian Standard AS 2870:2011 – Residential Slabs and Footings (short hand AS 2870:2011). The standard provides guidelines for the design and construction of residential slabs and footings depending on the existing or proposed site conditions.
The soil classification report includes factors such as soil type, soil moisture conditions, and load-bearing capacity to assist engineers, architects or building designers involved with the project estimate or design required footings.
How are soil types classified in Australia
Under AS 2870:2011, soils are separated into different site classed based on how the soil behaved in relation to moisture changes, for example from young growing trees or recently removed buildings. The site classes are primarily for residential construction and foundation design. Possible site classes include:
Class A: Most sand and rock sites with little or no ground movement from moisture changes
Class S: Slightly reactive clay sites, which may experience only slight ground movement from moisture changes.
Class M (Moderately reactive soil): Moderately reactive clay or silt sites, which may experience moderate ground movement from moisture changes
Class H1: Highly reactive clay sites, which may experience high ground movement from moisture changes.
Class H2: Highly reactive clay sites, which may experience very high ground movement from moisture changes
Class E (Extremely reactive soil): Extremely reactive sites, which may experience extreme ground movement from moisture changes.
Why is my soil test class P and should I be concerned?
Class P classification does not mean the site is a literal problem without solutions. The terminology is a requirement of AS 2870 that ensures all applicable constraints of the proposed building site are considered and acts a prompt that footings for the project are to be designed by a suitable qualified engineer.
What factors are considered when preparing a soil classification report
The primary factors considered when preparing a soil classification report are the mechanical behaviours of the soil such as its bearing strength, moisture content, plasticity, and its ability to shrink and swell (it’s inherent reactivity).
Further to the above, the site constraints are typically considered and assessed from historical aerial imagery or local knowledge. Site constraints we typically consider are: Fill (foreign soil), existing or pre-existing trees, pre-existing buildings, easements, mineshafts or documented mining activity, former dams or land application areas.
What information does your soil report include?
Our soil reports begin with an executive summary that outlines the classicisation of the site and briefly explains the site constraints as well as the proposed construction. We also include our historical aerial imagery assessment to highlight any key historical features on the subject site and outline the site location with a geological map of Victoria excerpt.
The critical components are included in a founding conditions table, which specifies founding parameters for the proposed footings, what the bearing capacity of the soil is, and its typical founding depth.
We also include information about site constraints and recommend design responses for the Engineer who will be designing the footings to consider, such as recommending a H1 slab on an M underlying site to account for abnormal moisture conditions created by trees or recommending that the slab is fully suspended on bored piers to account for fill or mining activity.
How does a soil classification report affect construction projects?
A soil classification report plays a crucial role in construction projects as it provides vital information about the behaviour of the soil beneath the proposed building site and site constraints. It helps Engineers, builders, estimators and the owner anticipate any potential issues with soil movement, construction costs and maintenance requirements.
Are soil classification reports required for all construction projects?
Generally speaking, in most cases in Victoria a soil classification report is required for all residential construction projects that involve new buildings or foundations, largely due to current building regulations.
The classification reports ensure that the foundation design is suitable for the specific site conditions, and ensure that the Design Engineer adopts a cost-effect and robust design that ensures a balance between budget and building performance.
Who prepares a soil classification report?
According to Australian Standards, a soil classification report must be prepared by a qualified geotechnical engineer or suitably qualified engineer who is familiar with AS 2870 and the specific conditions in the local area.
How long does it take to get a soil classification report?
For most soil reports we generally aim to have the site work and soil report ready for issuing within 8 to 10 business days of acceptance. Priority and shorter turnaround reports can generally be accommodated. Please get in touch with us to discuss options as required.
A soil classification report is typically required on all new residential builds, extensions or new sheds due to current building regulations and to ensure the adopted footings are structurally sound and appropriate for the existing soil conditions to ensure the long-term performance of the proposed building.
What is a soil classification report, and why is it important?
A soil classification report refers to a document prepared in accordance with the Australian Standard AS 2870:2011 – Residential Slabs and Footings (short hand AS 2870:2011). The standard provides guidelines for the design and construction of residential slabs and footings depending on the existing or proposed site conditions.
The soil classification report includes factors such as soil type, soil moisture conditions, and load-bearing capacity to assist engineers, architects or building designers involved with the project estimate or design required footings.
How are soil types classified in Australia
Under AS 2870:2011, soils are separated into different site classed based on how the soil behaved in relation to moisture changes, for example from young growing trees or recently removed buildings. The site classes are primarily for residential construction and foundation design. Possible site classes include:
Class A: Most sand and rock sites with little or no ground movement from moisture changes
Class S: Slightly reactive clay sites, which may experience only slight ground movement from moisture changes.
Class M (Moderately reactive soil): Moderately reactive clay or silt sites, which may experience moderate ground movement from moisture changes
Class H1: Highly reactive clay sites, which may experience high ground movement from moisture changes.
Class H2: Highly reactive clay sites, which may experience very high ground movement from moisture changes
Class E (Extremely reactive soil): Extremely reactive sites, which may experience extreme ground movement from moisture changes.
Why is my soil test class P and should I be concerned?
Class P classification does not mean the site is a literal problem without solutions. The terminology is a requirement of AS 2870 that ensures all applicable constraints of the proposed building site are considered and acts a prompt that footings for the project are to be designed by a suitable qualified engineer.
What factors are considered when preparing a soil classification report
The primary factors considered when preparing a soil classification report are the mechanical behaviours of the soil such as its bearing strength, moisture content, plasticity, and its ability to shrink and swell (it’s inherent reactivity).
Further to the above, the site constraints are typically considered and assessed from historical aerial imagery or local knowledge. Site constraints we typically consider are: Fill (foreign soil), existing or pre-existing trees, pre-existing buildings, easements, mineshafts or documented mining activity, former dams or land application areas.
What information does your soil report include?
Our soil reports begin with an executive summary that outlines the classicisation of the site and briefly explains the site constraints as well as the proposed construction. We also include our historical aerial imagery assessment to highlight any key historical features on the subject site and outline the site location with a geological map of Victoria excerpt.
The critical components are included in a founding conditions table, which specifies founding parameters for the proposed footings, what the bearing capacity of the soil is, and its typical founding depth.
We also include information about site constraints and recommend design responses for the Engineer who will be designing the footings to consider, such as recommending a H1 slab on an M underlying site to account for abnormal moisture conditions created by trees or recommending that the slab is fully suspended on bored piers to account for fill or mining activity.
How does a soil classification report affect construction projects?
A soil classification report plays a crucial role in construction projects as it provides vital information about the behaviour of the soil beneath the proposed building site and site constraints. It helps Engineers, builders, estimators and the owner anticipate any potential issues with soil movement, construction costs and maintenance requirements.
Are soil classification reports required for all construction projects?
Generally speaking, in most cases in Victoria a soil classification report is required for all residential construction projects that involve new buildings or foundations, largely due to current building regulations.
The classification reports ensure that the foundation design is suitable for the specific site conditions, and ensure that the Design Engineer adopts a cost-effect and robust design that ensures a balance between budget and building performance.
Who prepares a soil classification report?
According to Australian Standards, a soil classification report must be prepared by a qualified geotechnical engineer or suitably qualified engineer who is familiar with AS 2870 and the specific conditions in the local area.
How long does it take to get a soil classification report?
For most soil reports we generally aim to have the site work and soil report ready for issuing within 8 to 10 business days of acceptance. Priority and shorter turnaround reports can generally be accommodated. Please get in touch with us to discuss options as required.