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Important Information About Your <br /> Geotechnical <br /> Subsurface problems are a principal cause of construction delays, cost overruns, claims, and disputes. <br /> The following information is provided to help you manage your risks. <br /> Geotechnical Services Are Performed for • elevation,configuration,location,orientation,or weight of the <br /> Specific Purposes,Persons, and Projects proposed structure, <br /> Geotechnical engineers structure their services to meet the specific needs of • composition of the design team,or <br /> their clients.A geotechnical engineering study conducted for a civil engi- • project ownership. <br /> neer may not fulfill the needs of a construction contractor or even another <br /> civil engineer.Because each geotechnical engineering study is unique,each As a general rule,always inform your geotechnical engineer of project <br /> geotechnical engineering report is unique,prepared solely for the client.No changes—even minor ones—and request an assessment of their impact. <br /> one except you should rely on your geotechnical engineering report without Geotechnical engineers cannot accept responsibility or liability for problems <br /> first conferring with the geotechnical engineer who prepared it.And no one that occur because their reports do not consider developments of which <br /> —not even you—should apply the report for any purpose or project they were not informed. <br /> except the one originally contemplated. <br /> Subsurface Conditions Can Change <br /> Read the lull Report A geotechnical engineering report is based on conditions that existed at <br /> Serious problems have occurred because those relying on a geotechnical the time the study was performed.Do not rely on a geotechnical engineer- <br /> engineering report did not read it all.Do not rely on an executive summary. ing reportwhose adequacy may have been affected by:the passage of <br /> Do not read selected elements only. time;by man-made events,such as construction on or adjacent to the site; <br /> or by natural events,such as floods,earthquakes,or groundwater fluctua- <br /> A Geotechnical Engineering Report Is Based on tions.Always contact the geotechnical engineer before applying the report <br /> A Unique Set of Project-Specinc Factors to determine if it is still reliable.A minor amount of additional testing or <br /> Geotechnical engineers consider a number of unique, project-specific fac- analysis could prevent major problems. <br /> tors when establishing the scope of a study.Typical factors include:the <br /> client's goals,objectives,and risk management preferences;the general Most Geotechnical Findings Are Professional <br /> nature of the structure involved,its size,and configuration;the location of Opinions <br /> the structure on the site;and other planned or existing site improvements, Site exploration identifies subsurface conditions only at those points where <br /> such as access roads,parking lots,and underground utilities.Unless the subsurface tests are conducted or samples are taken.Geotechnical engi- <br /> geotechnical engineer who conducted the study specifically indicates oth- neers review field and laboratory data and then apply their professional <br /> erwise,do not rely on a geotechnical engineering report that was: judgment to render an opinion about subsurface conditions throughout the <br /> • not prepared for you, site.Actual subsurface conditions may differ—sometimes significantly— <br /> • not prepared for your project, from those indicated in your report.Retaining the geotechnical engineer <br /> • not prepared for the specific site explored,or who developed your report to provide construction observation is the <br /> • completed before important project changes were made. most effective method of managing the risks associated with unanticipated <br /> conditions. <br /> Typical changes that can erode the reliability of an existing geotechnical <br /> engineering report include those that affect: A Report's Recommendations Are Nut Final <br /> • the function of the proposed structure,as when it's changed from a Do not overrely on the construction recommendations included in your <br /> parking garage to an office building,or from a light industrial plant report. Those recommendations am not final,because geotechnical engi- <br /> to a refrigerated warehouse, neers develop them principally from judgment and opinion.Geotechnical <br /> engineers can finalize their recommendations only by observing actual <br />