Soil investigation report
What is a soil investigation report?
A soil investigation report, also known as a soil mechanics report or building site report, is a geotechnical report drawn up by an expert in the field of geotechnics, commonly referred to as a ‘soil investigator’. The soil investigation report documents the results of the building site investigation, which assesses the conditions of the building site and groundwater, as well as the soil conditions. As a rule, every soil investigation report contains a concluding assessment with recommendations, for example regarding the foundations of a planned structure.
When is a soil investigation report mandatory?
In principle, a soil investigation report must be drawn up for every construction project. Every architect and civil engineer must bear in mind that they are responsible for providing the basis for the planning. It is therefore in their interest – and to limit this responsibility in a field of expertise with which they are unfamiliar – that the client is informed (in writing) of the need for a soil investigation report and that the client appoints a soil investigator.
What happens during a soil investigation?
The geotechnical investigations required for the soil investigation report comprise all engineering-geological, hydrogeological, soil-mechanical, environmental and chemical investigations necessary for the structural assessment of the soils present on the site.
What does a soil investigation report contain?
The ground investigation report contains the results of all the investigations carried out and the conclusions drawn from them for the purposes of the construction project. Key components of a ground investigation report are the recommendations regarding the nature and dimensions of the foundations. The interaction between the structure and the soil must be documented on the basis of the choice of foundation and the demonstrated stability. The highest groundwater level and the necessary protective measures against waterlogged soil must be specified.
Instructions necessary for excavating a building pit – including the excavation process, shoring of the pit, any required drainage, as well as the possible reuse or the necessary disposal of the excavated soil – must also be included in a soil investigation report.
Who carries out a soil investigation?
Soil investigations are carried out by a geotechnical expert, commonly referred to as a soil investigator. Depending on the task at hand, soil investigators may be geologists or civil engineers.
How much does a soil investigation cost?
The costs of a soil investigation vary considerably. Depending on the specific situation, the costs for, say, a standard-sized detached house range from €600 to €2,000. The price differences are mainly due to the intensity of the investigation. If a soil investigation report needs to be drawn up in the context of a claim, such as the subsidence of a building, the costs can rise to as much as €2,500.00 or more, as the building site investigation and the additional analysis of the cause of the damage are significantly more expensive.