Foundation Choice Responsibility
Foundation Choice Responsibility
(OP)
If you (a SE) design a driven pile foundation system that is near a neighboring residence, and the pile installation causes cracks in the residence, who is responsible? Engineer? GC? Owner of new foundation?
Would choosing auger cast piles in lieu of driven piles absolve the engineer of any liability?
Would choosing auger cast piles in lieu of driven piles absolve the engineer of any liability?






RE: Foundation Choice Responsibility
BA
RE: Foundation Choice Responsibility
RE: Foundation Choice Responsibility
When an engineer selects a construction method (in this case a deep foundation system), he bears some responsibility for warning of the repercussions of that selection. In this case, the engineer has a duty to warn that vibrations can cause damage to adjacent property AND that a pre-construction survey, monitoring, and a post-construction survey be done to quantify and characterize any damage.
Augered concrete piles inherently produce lower levels of vibration than pile driving; however, you much look at both frequency and intensity of vibration when assessing damage or damage potential. You also must be aware of strata that can transmit vibrations to adjacent structures.
In short WARN, WARN, WARN then specify MONITORING/Surveying.
RE: Foundation Choice Responsibility