Once you have decided that you are going to build a residential house, the first step is to decide where you are going to build it. One of the most important things to take into account when choosing the right location for your house is safety. Besides considering the risks from floods, bushfires, high winds you need to consider the soil type which can be easily managed with choosing the right Geotechnical Engenders and Building Contractor Companies.
| Class | Meaning | Foundation | Surface Movement from moisture changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Acceptable – non reactive | Most sand and rock sites | Little or no ground movement |
| S | Satisfactory – slightly reactive | Clay sites | Slight ground movement (0-20mm) |
| M | Moderately reactive | Clay or silt sites | Moderate ground movement (20-40mm) |
| H1 | Highly reactive | Clay sites | High ground movement (40-60mm) |
| H2 | Highly reactive | Highly reactive clay sites | Very high ground movement (60-75mm) |
| E | Extreme | Extremely reactive sites | Extreme ground movement (>75mm) |
| P | Soft soil sites such as soft clay or silt or loose sands; landslip; mine subsidence; collapsing soils; soils subject to erosion | Reactive sites subject to abnormal moisture conditions or sites which cannot be classified otherwise | |
| CM-D, H1-D, H2-D and E-D | The “D” in these clarifications refers to deep movements in soil due to deep variances in moisture | Soil found in dry areas | Deep movements in soil due to deep variances in moisture |
To make sure that the right type of foundation is built for your house, the site will need to be tested by a Geotechnical Engineer according the Australian Standard AS 2870/2011 for Residential slabs and basement footings and make sure the site is classified correctly. According to this test then the Design and Construct Basement Contractor starts building the residential basements complying to the Geotechnical Engineer specification, the detailed requirements from the Australian Standard AS 2870/2011 for Residential slabs and footings and construction requirements.
Soil tests classify how reactive the soil is which indicates how much the soil will swell or shrink with the moisture change. The more the soil is reactive, the greater the possibility of unwanted movements in the basement footings of the residential house.
The design of the footings of the residential house that suits the soil condition and likely movement are specified in the soil report for your property with your building permit documentation.
Soil type and soil testing is very important when choosing the location for your residential house. Depending on the soil type there are number of different construction requirements and construction techniques to be applied on site in terms of excavation, piling construction, slabs construction, placing, compacting and concrete curing. Stating this, it is extremely important choosing the right Design and Construct Basement Constructor when starting your residential house building process.
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