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subsurface conditions revealed during construction. The geotechnical
<br />engineer who developed your report cannot assume responsibility or
<br />liability for the report's recommendations if that engineer does not perform
<br />construction observation.
<br />A Geotechnical Engineering Report Is Subject to
<br />Misinterpretation
<br />Other design team members' misinterpretation of geotechnical engineering
<br />reports has resulted in costly problems. Lower that risk by having your geo-
<br />technical engineer confer with appropriate members of the design team after
<br />submitting the report. Also retain your geotechnical engineer to review perti-
<br />nent elements of the design team's plans and specifications. Contractors can
<br />also misinterpret a geotechnical engineering report. Reduce that risk by
<br />having your geotechnical engineer participate in prebid and preconstruction
<br />conferences, and by providing construction observation.
<br />Do Not Redraw the Engineer's Logs
<br />Geotechnical engineers prepare final boring and testing logs based upon
<br />their interpretation of field logs and laboratory data. To prevent errors or
<br />omissions, the logs included in a geotechnical engineering report should
<br />never be redrawn for inclusion in architectural or other design drawings.
<br />Only photographic or electronic reproduction is acceptable, but recognize
<br />that separating logs from the report can elevate risk,
<br />Give Contractors a Complete Report and
<br />Guidance
<br />Some owners and design professionals mistakenly believe they can make
<br />contractors liable for unanticipated subsurface conditions by limiting what
<br />they provide for bid preparation. To help prevent costly problems, give con-
<br />tractors the complete geotechnical engineering report, but preface it with a
<br />clearly written letter of transmittal. In that letter, advise contractors that the
<br />report was not prepared for purposes of bid development and that the
<br />report's accuracy is limited; encourage them to confer with the geotechnical
<br />engineer who prepared the report (a modest fee may be required) and/or to
<br />conduct additional study to obtain the specific types of information they
<br />need or prefer. A prebid conference can also be valuable. Be sure contrac-
<br />tors have sufficient time to perform additional study. Only then might you
<br />be in a position to give contractors the best information available to you,
<br />while requiring them to at least share some of the financial responsibilities
<br />stemming from unanticipated conditions.
<br />Read Responsibility Provisions Closely
<br />Some clients, design professionals, and contractors do not recognize that
<br />geotechnical engineering is far less exact than other engineering disci-
<br />plines. This lack of understanding has created unrealistic expectations that
<br />have led to disappointments, claims, and disputes. To help reduce the risk
<br />of such outcomes, geotechnical engineers commonly include a variety of
<br />explanatory provisions in their reports. Sometimes labeled "limitations"
<br />many of these provisions indicate where geotechnical engineers' responsi-
<br />bilities begin and end, to help others recognize their own responsibilities
<br />and risks. Read these provisions closely. Ask questions. Your geotechnical
<br />engineer should respond fully and frankly.
<br />Geoenvironmental Concerns Are Not Covered
<br />The equipment, techniques, and personnel used to perform a geoenviron-
<br />mental study differ significantly from those used to perform a geotechnical
<br />study. For that reason, a geotechnical engineering report does not usually
<br />relate any geoenvironmental findings, conclusions, or recommendations;
<br />e.g., about the likelihood of encountering underground storage tanks or
<br />regulated contaminants. Unanticipated environmental problems have led
<br />to numerous project failures. If you have not yet obtained your own geoen-
<br />vironmental information, ask your geotechnical consultant for risk man-
<br />agement guidance. Do not rely on an environmental report prepared for
<br />someone else.
<br />Obtain Professional Assistance To Deal with Mold
<br />Diverse strategies can be applied during building design, construction,
<br />operation, and maintenance to prevent significant amounts of mold from
<br />growing on indoor surfaces. To be effective, all such strategies should be
<br />devised for the express purpose of mold prevention, integrated into a com-
<br />prehensive plan, and executed with diligent oversight by a professional
<br />mold prevention consultant. Because just a small amount of water or
<br />moisture can lead to the development of severe mold infestations, a num-
<br />ber of mold prevention strategies focus on keeping building surfaces dry.
<br />While groundwater, water infiltration, and similar issues may have been
<br />addressed as part of the geotechnical engineering study whose findings
<br />are conveyed in -this report, the geotechnical engineer in charge of this
<br />project is not a mold prevention consultant; none of the services per-
<br />formed in connection with the geotechnical engineer's study
<br />were designed or conducted for the purpose of mold preven-
<br />tion. Proper implementation of the recommendations conveyed
<br />in this report will not of itself he sufficient to prevent mold from
<br />growing in or on the structure involved.
<br />Rely, on Your ASIFRW ber Geoteehncial
<br />Engineer, for Additional Assistance
<br />Membership in ASFE/The Best People on Earth exposes geotechnical
<br />engineers to a wide array of risk management techniques that can be of
<br />genuine benefit for everyone involved with a construction project. Confer
<br />with you ASFE-member geotechnical engineer for more information.
<br />ASFr=
<br />The Best People on Earth
<br />8811 Colesville Road/Suite G106, Silver Spring, MD 20910
<br />Telephone:301/565-2733 Facsimile:301/589-2017
<br />e-mail: info@asfe.org www,asfe.org
<br />Copyright 2004 by ASFE, Inc. Duplication, reproduction, or copying of this document in whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, is strictly prohibited, except with ASFE's
<br />specific written permission. Excerpting, quoting, or otherwise extracting wording from this document is permitted only with the express written permission of ASFE, and only for
<br />purposes of scholarly research or book review. Only members of ASFE may use this document as a complement to or as an element of a geotechnical engineering report. Any other
<br />firm, individual, or other entity that so uses this document without being an ASFE member could be committing negligent or intentional (fraudulent) misrepresentation.
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