7920 EVERGREEN WAY 2018-01-01 MF Import

A GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING REPORT IS SUBJECT TO MISINTERPC�TATION Costly problems can occur when other design profes• sionals develop their plans based on misinterpretations of a geotechnical engineering report.'Ib help avoid these problems, the geotechnical engineer should 6e retained to work with other appropriate design profes- sionals to explain relevant geotechnical findings and to review the adequacy of their plans and specifications relative to geotechnical issues. BORING LOGS SHOULD NOT BE SEPARATED FROM THE EIVGINEERiNG REPORT Final boring logs are developed by geotechnical engi- neers based upon their interpretation of field logs lassembled by site personnell and laboratory evaluation of field samples. Only final boring logs customarily are induded in geotechnical engineering reports. These logs shoulA uo! under aiy circumsfnnces be redrawn (cr indusion in architectural or other design drawings, because drafters may commit errors or omissions in the transfer process. Althougn phorographic reproduction eliminates this problem. it does nothing to minimize the possibility of convactors misinterpreting the logs during bid prepara- tion.l4hen this occurs, delays, disputes and unantici- pated costs are the all-too-frequent result. To minimize the likelihood of boring log misinterpreta- tion, give cmihactars reaAy access to the tomplete geofecluiicnl engineering report prepared or authorized for [heir use. Those who do not provide such access may proceed un- der the mistaken impression that simply disdaiming re- spunsibility For the accurecy of subsurface in(ormation always insulates them from atrendant liability. Providing the bzst available information to contractors helps pre- vent costly con ,truction problems and the adversarial attitudes which aggravate them to disproportionate scale. READ RESPaNSIBILITY CLAUSES CLOSELY Because geotechnical engineering is based extensively on judgment and opinion, it is far less exact than other design disciplines. This situation has resulted in wholly unwarranted daims being lodged against geotechnical consultants. To help prevent this problem, geotechnical engineers have developed model dauses for use in writ- ten vansmittals. These are not exculpatory cJauses designed to foist geotechnical engineers liabilities onto someone else. Rather, they are definitive dauses which identify where geotechnical engineers responsibilities begin and end. Their use helps all parties invoived rec- ognize their individual responsibilities and take appro- priate action. Some of these definitive dauses are likely to appear in your geotechnical engineering report, and you are encouraged to read them cJosely. Your geo- technical engineer will be pleased to give full and frank answers [o your questions. OTHER STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO REDUCE R1SK Your consulting geotechrical engineer will be pieased to discuss other techniques which can be employed to mit- igate risk. In add;:ion. ASFE has developed a variety of materials which may be beneficial. Contact ASFE for a complimentary copy of its publications directory Pu6lished by A�� pRACTICING N THE G OSCIENCES 8811 Coles�ille Road/Suite G 106/Silver Spring, Maryland 20910/(301) 565-2733 maenn�