Foundation Observations
Foundation Observations
(OP)
Are there particular guidelines on who can perform a residential foundation observation? I was trained and sent out to do them as an E.I.T. but I am wondering if it is something that could be done by an experienced soils technician, or is it something that should be done by a P.E.?
For example, I have several subdivisions that are being built on gravely soils and I would feel comfortable sending a well trained soils technician as long as he took good pictures and gave me a call while he was on site. I have not come across any particular guidelines, and I am confident that the city inspectors I have worked with in AZ and UT would not even notice who performed the observation as long as the letter were signed by an engineer.
For example, I have several subdivisions that are being built on gravely soils and I would feel comfortable sending a well trained soils technician as long as he took good pictures and gave me a call while he was on site. I have not come across any particular guidelines, and I am confident that the city inspectors I have worked with in AZ and UT would not even notice who performed the observation as long as the letter were signed by an engineer.





RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
Another common one is "review". As engineers, we usually intend it to be taken in a cursory fashion. Lawyers take it to mean "determine the adequacy of what is reviewed". We should always qualify your intent, such as "the data was reviewed for initial information only and not for its adequacy or applicability".
Keep in mind that lawyers are wordsmiths, we engineers are not. Be very careful in wording reports of any type.
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
Also for some sites that have a strong layer over a softer layer and the design is calling for or relying on sufficient thickness of the stronger layer. You need to keep vigilent on this type of situation.
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
RE: Foundation Observations
The engineering would then prepare an "observation letter" foundations have been constructed in accordance with our recommendations and that ground conditions are considered appropriate.
I had an interesting chat with a contractor on one of our infrastructure projects, i would have to go to site twice a day to inspect different portions of work i.e. depth of piles, checking retaining wall heights etc. We joked that it would be easier if he had a go pro fixed to his hard hat and that he could just measure things on site and i could just observe them via live video link form the office. I joked with the guy that he would probably be bending the tape measure down the pile hole to add a few hundred mm and make sure it achieves the target depth. If he done that over say 50 piles he could save some concrete and material disposal costs. It wouldn't be beyond some contractors which i have dealt with in the past.
They way things are going with technology video link etc could happen. It will never replace the real thing but could aid in reducing site visits on minor portions of work.
We have seen it on one job where we had a drone inspecting a steel bridge. It could easily pick up cosmetic things like rusty connections etc. Once they were identified we could arrange for a physical inspection.