soil test engineer
I am Bill Bolwell and my soil test company is CIVIL & SOIL PTY LTD. I can be contacted any day on 0419314545 or buildingsoiltest@gmail.com. I mainly do soil tests for building houses, pools, factories. I also do soil tests for landslide EMO sites, LCA land capability assessments, footing probes, spot levels, soil pollution samples and interpret the laboratory results, BAL bushfire attack levels, wind ratings, etc. I work in Victoria Australia. I do reports for all my work. My minimum fee is $450 including gst. I do the bores with a hand auger, aided by crowbar, shovel and pincers. So, I only need to walk in.
The climate and geology are the main determinants in the site classification according to AS2870 residential slabs and footings. The geology maps are an aid. Basaltic and limestone clays are the most reactive. The thicker the layer the more clay there is to swell and shrink. The hotter the climate the more likely the clay is dry out and shrink, leaving the swelling option more extreme too. Greater swelling and shrinking requires stronger slabs and footings. The deeper the founding the less the surface swelling and shrinking effects the foundations, and also escape any poor surface soil due to soft soil or fill. Sometimes structures can float on fill, but this is more risky.
Septic tanks produce effluent. The effluent usually is soaked into the soil. Primary treatment is usually a septic tank, where the waste is broken down by bacteria. The solids settle to the bottom of the tank, and are eventually pumped out. The effluent water runs into pipes with holes in them and the water soaks into the soil. The secondary effluent treatment plants aerate the effluent and this helps breakdown the effluent. This is usually pumped near the soil surface through drippers. You can get worm farms which can give primary or secondary effluent treatment.
Heat rises and travels uphill. The more vegetation the more there is to burn. The closer the vegetation, the more it is likely to burn a house. Some vegetation burns better than others. A house can be designed to resist fire accoring to the fire risk.
The topography of the land, the protection from trees and buildings, regions nearer or further from northern coastlines, determine the wind rating.
Sometimes the existing foundations need to be probed to see why they have failed, or can they support more loading for a second storey, or will they be undermined by nearby excavations.
Soil pollution samples can be taken from the ground or stockpile. Then deliver the samples to another firm that analyses the chemical composition. The results can then be assessed according to the EPA guidelines.
I can take simple spot levels with a dumpy level.
