HomeMy WebLinkAboutRS_Geotech_Engineering_Study_CamelliaCourt_220524_v1May 24, 2022
JN 22149
GEOTECH CONSULTANTS, INC.
Williams Avenue Ventures LLC
9219 Southeast 33rd Place
Mercer Island, Washington98040
Attention: Leon Cohen
via email: leon@leongcs.com
Subject: Transmittal Letter – Geotechnical Engineering Study
Proposed Camelia Court Apartment Building
99-107 Williams Avenue South
Renton, Washington
Dear Mr. Cohen,
Attached to this transmittal letter is our geotechnical engineering report for the proposed Camelia
Court Apartment Building to be constructed in Renton. The scope of our services consisted of
exploring site surface and subsurface conditions, and then developing this report to provide
recommendations for general earthwork and design considerations for foundations, retaining walls,
subsurface drainage, and temporary excavations and shoring. This work was authorized by your
acceptance of our proposal, P-11138, dated March 25, 2022.
The attached report contains a discussion of the study and our recommendations. Please contact
us if there are any questions regarding this report, or for further assistance during the design and
construction phases of this project.
Respectfully submitted,
GEOTECH CONSULTANTS, INC.
Marc R. McGinnis, P.E.
Principal
cc: Roger H. Newell Architect – Roger H. Newell
via email: roger@rhnewellaia.com
MKM/MRM:kg
GEOTECH CONSULTANTS, INC.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING STUDY
Proposed Camelia Court Apartment Building
99-107 Williams Avenue South
Renton, Washington
This report presents the findings and recommendations of our geotechnical engineering study for
the site of the proposed Camelia Court Apartment building to be constructed in Renton.
Development of the property is in the planning stage, and detailed plans were not available at the
time of this study. The preliminary site plans provided to us were prepared by Roger H. Newell
Architect, dated February 7, 2022. Based on these plans, and our discussions with Leon Cohen.
We understand that a new, six story apartment building is proposed to be constructed at the subject
property. The new building will be underlain by one story of underground parking, with a deep
elevator pit. Additional parking will be available in the main floor. The remaining second through
sixth floors will contain residential apartment units of varying square footage. A courtyard will be
located atop the parking garage on the second floor in the western-central side of the building.
Entrance to the parking garage will be from the western alley, and pedestrian access is proposed
off the eastern street. No elevations have been proposed at this time, but we anticipate that
excavations of at least 10 to 12 feet will be needed to reach the basement level foundations, with a
deeper local excavation for the central elevator pit/building depending on its final design. Zero lot
line setbacks are being proposed for the basement level parking garage on all four sides of the
property.
If the scope of the project changes from what we have described above, we should be provided
with revised plans in order to determine if modifications to the recommendations and conclusions of
this report are warranted.
SITE CONDITIONS
SURFACE
The Vicinity Map, Plate 1, illustrates the general location of the site in the northern downtown area
of Renton. The site is comprised of three contiguous parcels that form a rectangular-shaped lot with
approximate dimensions of 150 feet in the north-south direction, and 115 feet in the east-west
direction. The site is bordered to the north by a single-family parcel, to the east by Williams Avenue
South, and to the south and west by an alleyway. Multi-story retirement living buildings lie both
south and west of the alleyways.
The grade across the three parcels is essentially flat, with only gentle declines within localized
areas on each parcel. This is consistent with the topography in the surrounding area. The northern
two parcels are developed with single-family residences located on the eastern sides of the lots.
These residences are older in construction and are one to two stories in height. A one-story,
commercial building is located on the southern parcel. Grass lawn and parking areas are set on the
western half of he northern two lots, and on the western perimeter of the southern lot.
The northern adjacent parcel is developed with a one-story residence that is underlain by a partial
footprint basement. This residence appears to be set within 5 feet of the common property line at its
closest. While streets and alleys line the remaining eastern, southern, and western sides of the
property, newer multi story residential buildings are set south and west of the alley. The southern
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building is six stories in height, and it does not appear that this structure is underlain by a
basement. Based on the limited permitting information available online, it would appear that this
six-story building was recently constructed in 2018-2019, as older Google Streets images indicate
that this building was once a one-story commercial structure similar to the small building on our
site’s southernmost lot. The building to the west of the site is five stories in height and appears to
contain one level of below grade parking.
West of Williams Avenue South is the Fulton Apartments (110 Williams Avenue South). Our firm
provided geotechnical services during the construction of this building in 2002. This building is
underlain by a basement.
Many of the older single-family residences in this area, including the residences on the subject
property and adjacent to the north, have undergone variable levels of post-construction settlement
over their lifespans. These homes, which do not have strengthened, modern foundations have
visible signs to excessive settlement in the form of cracked foundations, dips of moderate in the
roof, and out of level building materials. Many of the on-grade structures in the vicinity also show
signs of settlement related distress. Some small cracks could also be observed in the exposed
walls of the western apartment building.
SUBSURFACE
The subsurface conditions on the site were explored advancing three Cone Penetration Tests
(CPTs) at the approximate locations shown on the Site Exploration Plan, Plate 2. Our exploration
program was based on the proposed construction, anticipated subsurface conditions and those
encountered during exploration, and the scope of work outlined in our proposal.
The Cone Penetration Tests were advanced using a large, truck push rig on May 9, 2022. The data
from the CPTs have been used to characterize the subsurface conditions beneath the site using
empirical relations obtained from sensors at the tip of the CPT sounding probe. The CPT logs are
attached to the end of this report as Plates 3 through 5.
Our firm also completed the geotechnical study, as well as observation of the shoring installation,
excavation, and foundation construction for the Fulton Apartments located to the east of the site at
110 Williams Avenue South. As a part of this study, we reviewed the explorations conducted for
that project. Apparently, it has not been possible to obtain from the City of Renton the explorations
that were completed for the retirement living facilities to the west and south of the site.
Soil Conditions
The CPTs were advanced on the western side of the site, within the gravel parking areas.
CPT-1 and CPT-2 were advanced near the northwest and southwest corners of the site, and
CPT-3 was advanced in the approximate central-western edge of the site. Beneath the
ground surface, loose alluvial silt and sand was revealed, containing scattered organic
layers. This upper, loose soil layer continued to a depth of 10 to 16 feet, where medium-
dense sand and gravel was revealed. This sand and gravel layer was observed to be highly
variable in density, exhibiting a medium-dense and denser constancy in CPT-1 and CPT-2.
The deepest looser surficial deposits were revealed in CPT-3, located in the center of the
site, where medium-dense soils were not revealed until 16 feet. The medium-dense and
denser alluvial sand and gravel continued to the base of the three CPTs at depths of 25 to
36 feet where refusal was met.
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The site and surrounding vicinity of Downtown Renton are underlain by a variable layer of
unconsolidated, alluvial soils, which are soils that were deposited by flowing water. The
alluvium becomes very gravelly and coarse grained typically within 8 to 15 feet of the ground
surface. Like most alluvial deposits, the soil beneath the site contains variable soil layers,
containing large cobbles and boulders, and occasional organics. As evidenced in the CPTs,
it is common to find looser layers within the more alluvial sand and gravel. These layers can
be discontinuous and localized depending on the water flow velocities that occurred during
the soil’s deposition.
Generally similar soil conditions were encountered in our previous borings conducted for the
Fulton Apartments to the west. The coarse-grained gravels were 8 to 12 feet below existing
grade on the west side of that property, closest to the subject site.
Obstructions in the form of cobbles were revealed by our explorations and can be observed
by spikes in the CPT readings. These obstructions made advancing the cone rods
excessively difficult and led to refusal in all three exploration locations. However, debris,
buried utilities, and old foundation and slab elements are commonly encountered on sites
that have had previous development.
Cobbles and boulders are often found in soils that have been deposited by glaciers or fast-
moving water.
Groundwater Conditions
Groundwater seepage was recorded at a depth of 16 feet in all three exploration locations.
This groundwater table is determined by pore pressure measurements on the CPT probe,
so can be somewhat inaccurate. However, based on our previous work on the adjacent
Fulton Apartments site, we expect seasonal high groundwater to lie at 15 to 16 feet below
the ground surface. It should be noted that groundwater levels vary seasonally with rainfall
and other factors. We anticipate that groundwater could be found in more permeable soil
layers.
The stratification lines on the logs represent the approximate boundaries between soil types at the
exploration locations. The actual transition between soil types may be gradual, and subsurface
conditions can vary between exploration locations. The logs provide specific subsurface information
only at the locations tested. The relative densities and moisture descriptions indicated on the CPT
logs are empirical correlations based on the conditions observed with the sensory equipment during
the explorations.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
GENERAL
THIS SECTION CONTAINS A SUMMARY OF OUR STUDY AND FINDINGS FOR THE PURPOSES OF A
GENERAL OVERVIEW ONLY. MORE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS ARE
CONTAINED IN THE REMAINDER OF THIS REPORT. ANY PARTY RELYING ON THIS REPORT SHOULD
READ THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT.
The explorations conducted for this study encountered alluvial silt, sand, and gravel, which is typical
for this area of Renton. The surficial 10 to 16 feet of this soil is in a loose/soft state, and the alluvial
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soils generally became medium-dense and coarse grained beneath depths of 10 to 14 feet in CPT-
1 and CPT-2, and not until a depth of 16 feet in CPT-3. These medium-dense soils generally
continued with depth, becoming medium-dense and denser in layers with depth.
Current structures in the surrounding area that have been supported in typical conventional shallow
foundation systems atop the surficial, looser alluvial soils can experience significant amounts of
post-construction settlement due to consolidation of these loose soils over time. Furthermore, the
soil in this area that is below the groundwater table is susceptible to liquefaction during a large
seismic event. Considering the anticipated excavation depths of more than 10 feet, medium-dense
sand and gravel should be encountered at, or close to, the base of much of the excavation, and a
heavily reinforced mat foundation can be used for the support of the planned building. A mat
foundation is essentially a heavily-reinforced, slab foundation that is intended to distribute the
building loads, reduce the necessary bearing capacity, bridge over any excessively soft areas of
soil or localized soil liquefaction (sand boils) and reduce the amount of differential settlement across
the building. The mat foundation can be placed directly on top of the coarse-grained alluvium, after
the excavated surface has been recompacted. Where loose/soft soils are encountered at the
planned excavation level, they should be removed and be replaced with compacted granular soils.
In wet conditions, this structural fill would likely need to consist of clean crushed rock, such as
ballast rock, or 2 to 4-inch quarry spalls. This clean, open-graded rock can be easily placed and
compacted without the need for vibratory compaction equipment. The construction budget should
contain a contingency for the additional potential cost of overexcavation and replacement. The
base of the excavation should be assessed by the project geotechnical engineer to assess whether
or not unsuitable soils need to be removed and replaced with structural fill. Additional
recommendations can be found in the Mat Foundations section of this report.
If only a shallow excavation is proposed later in the design, or the anticipated building loads will be
too great to spread out across a lightly loaded mat foundation, deep foundation systems will need to
be used to support the new building. In this area, augercast concrete piles are typically used to
accomplish this. Preliminary augercast pile recommendations are provided below, but we can
provide further recommendations regarding this as the design progresses.
Excavations of at least 10 feet are anticipated to be needed to reach the basement level parking
garage across all four sides of the site. Based on the zero-lot line setbacks, the excavation depth,
poor surficial soils, and the presence of nearby structures and roadways, we expect that excavation
shoring will need to be utilized on all four sides of the excavation. For this project, the only
appropriate shoring method will be to use a rigid, drilled soldier pile shoring system. Some of the
adjacent structures, and the adjacent roadways and utilities rest on loose soils and appear to have
undergone varying levels settlement in the past. The shoring design must consider the potential risk
of causing additional settlement in these existing, at-risk structures. Due to the high variability in the
site soils, and the need to limit shoring deflections, the shoring system should be designed as rigid
to the point where little to no deflections are anticipated while the excavation is open during
construction of the basement. The shoring system should also be designed with the consideration
that overexcavations may need to occur in front of the shoring piles to expose competent medium-
dense sand and gravel. Where overexcavation is attempted near the perimeter foundations, it will
be necessary to excavate the unsuitable soils one-bucket width at a time, immediately backfilling
each overexcavated section with compacted quarry spalls or ballast rock. Refer to the section
entitled Temporary Shoring for more information regarding design and installation of the proposed
shoring.
Based on the soil encountered in our explorations, and from previous construction experience in the
vicinity, the site soils should not be excavated at an inclination steeper than a 1.5:1
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(Horizontal:Vertical) extending continuously from top to bottom of a cut. Even at this relatively flat
inclination, the loose, uncompressed alluvial soils have an elevated caving potential, and flatter
inclinations may be needed where perched seepage, or caving occurs. Vertical excavations should
not be attempted, and instability was encountered in temporary cut slopes attempted at a 1:1 (H:V)
inclination for the Fulton Apartments project. Ecology blocks, or similar non-structural shoring, will
not be sufficient to hold up the loose near-surface soils in vertical excavations. In general, unshored
excavations should not extend beneath a 3:1 (H:V) line drawn extending downward from any
adjacent foundation, utility, or right-of-way. We also anticipate that the deep excavation for the
elevator pit will also need to be shored to prevent caving within the excavation.
The adjacent older buildings, such as the house to the immediate north of the site, are likely
supported on conventional foundations that bear on compressible soils. As a result, it is likely that
they have undergone excessive settlement already. It will be important to determine the foundation
design for the newer building to the south. There is always some risk associated with demolition
and foundation construction near structures such as this. It is imperative that unshored excavations
do not extend below a 3:1 (Horizontal:Vertical) imaginary bearing zone sloping downward from
existing footings. Contractors working on the demolition and construction of the new rowhouses
must be cautioned to avoid strong ground vibrations, which could cause additional settlement in the
neighboring foundations. During demolition, strong pounding on the ground with the excavator,
which is often used to break up debris and concrete, should not occur. Large equipment and
vibratory compactors should not be used close to the property lines or during large fill compaction
operations due to the potential for sustained vibrations to adversely affect the neighboring
structures and utilities. Additionally, in order to protect yourselves from unsubstantiated damage
claims from the adjacent owners, 1) the existing condition of the foundation should be documented
before starting demolition, and 2) the footings should be monitored for vertical movement during the
demolition, excavation, and construction process. These are common recommendations for
projects located close to existing structures that may bear on loose soil and have already
experienced excessive settlement. We can provide additional recommendations for documentation
and monitoring of the adjacent structures, if desired.
The loose/soft alluvial soils are highly variable in composition, are fine-grained and silty, and
contain varying organics. Based on this, and the size of the building, the onsite soils should not be
used for any structural fill application at this site, as they will not be able to be adequately
compacted and will be in an elevated moisture state. Fill beneath foundations must consist of an
angular, clean rock such as quarry spalls or ballast rock, and free-draining granular fill should be
used behind backfilled walls. Infiltration or dispersion systems should also not be explored for
feasibility at this project due to the presence of basement spaces on and around the site, the
composition of the subsurface soils, and the lack of open space to install such a system. All
collected stormwater runoff should be tightlined offsite to the appropriate facilities.
The lowest floor slab elevation should be set at least 2 feet above the encountered groundwater
seepage level, and should be higher than that if possible. This provides added protection against
unexpected high groundwater levels causing seepage into the basement garage. Regardless,
underslab drainage should be provided below the mat slab. This is redundant protection to prevent
a build-up of groundwater beneath the mat foundation in the event of seasonal groundwater
fluctuations, which could impart hydrostatic uplift pressures on the foundations. It is likely that
deeper penetrations, such as an elevator pit, would need to be of watertight construction.
The erosion control measures needed during the site development will depend heavily on the
weather conditions that are encountered. We anticipate that a silt fence will be needed around the
downslope sides of any cleared areas. The need for a silt fence will be eliminated as soon as the
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excavation is below the surrounding grade. Existing pavements, ground cover, and landscaping
should be left in place wherever possible to minimize the amount of exposed soil. Rocked staging
areas and construction access roads should be provided to reduce the amount of soil or mud
carried off the property by trucks and equipment. Trucks should not be allowed to drive off of the
rock-covered areas. Cut slopes and soil stockpiles should be covered with plastic during wet
weather. Onsite water containment, such as a Baker Tank, or specialty discharge permits may be
needed to contain onsite water that accumulates within the excavation. Following clearing or rough
grading, it may be necessary to mulch or hydroseed bare areas that will not be immediately covered
with landscaping or an impervious surface. On most construction projects, it is necessary to
periodically maintain or modify temporary erosion control measures to address specific site and
weather conditions.
The drainage and/or waterproofing recommendations presented in this report are intended only to
prevent active seepage from flowing through concrete walls or slabs. Even in the absence of active
seepage into and beneath structures, water vapor can migrate through walls, slabs, and floors from
the surrounding soil, and can even be transmitted from slabs and foundation walls due to the
concrete curing process. Water vapor also results from occupant uses, such as cooking, cleaning,
and bathing. Excessive water vapor trapped within structures can result in a variety of undesirable
conditions, including, but not limited to, moisture problems with flooring systems, excessively moist
air within occupied areas, and the growth of molds, fungi, and other biological organisms that may
be harmful to the health of the occupants. The designer or architect must consider the potential
vapor sources and likely occupant uses, and provide sufficient ventilation, either passive or
mechanical, to prevent a build up of excessive water vapor within the planned structure.
As with any project that involves demolition of existing site buildings and/or extensive excavation
and shoring, there is a potential risk of movement on surrounding properties. This can potentially
translate into noticeable damage of surrounding on-grade elements, such as foundations and slabs.
However, the demolition, shoring, and/or excavation work could just translate into perceived
damage on adjacent properties. Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more common for adjacent
property owners to make unsubstantiated damage claims on new projects that occur close to their
developed lots. Therefore, we recommend making an extensive photographic and visual survey of
the project vicinity, prior to demolition activities, installing shoring, and/or commencing with the
excavation. This documents the condition of buildings, pavements, and utilities in the immediate
vicinity of the site in order to avoid, and protect the owner from, unsubstantiated damage claims by
surrounding property owners. Additionally, any adjacent structures should be monitored during
demolition and construction to detect soil movements. To monitor their performance, we
recommend establishing a series of survey reference points to measure any horizontal deflections
of the shoring system. Control points should be established at a distance well away from the walls
and slopes, and deflections from the reference points should be measured throughout construction
by survey methods.
Geotech Consultants, Inc. should be allowed to review the final development plans to verify that the
recommendations presented in this report are adequately addressed in the design. Such a plan
review would be additional work beyond the current scope of work for this study, and it may include
revisions to our recommendations to accommodate site, development, and geotechnical constraints
that become more evident during the review process.
We recommend including this report, in its entirety, in the project contract documents. This report
should also be provided to any future property owners so they will be aware of our findings and
recommendations.
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SEISMIC CONSIDERATIONS
In accordance with the International Building Code (IBC), the site class within 100 feet of the ground
surface would best be represented by Site Class Type F (Failure Prone Site Class), due to its
liquefiable nature. However, ASCE 7 allows for an exception from the F classification if the building
period is less than 0.5 seconds. If the building period falls beneath this threshold, a Site Class E
can be used for this project. As noted in the USGS website, the mapped spectral acceleration value
for a 0.2 second (Ss) and 1.0 second period (S1) equals 1.44g and 0.49g, respectively.
If the building period is found to be in excess of 0.5 seconds, a site-specific seismic analysis and
study would need to be completed by a specialty consultant, as the ASCE does not allow any other
exceptions for larger buildings in liquefiable soils.
The soils that will support the building are coarse-grained and in a medium-dense to dense
condition. The IBC and ASCE 7 require that the potential for liquefaction (soil strength loss) be
evaluated for the peak ground acceleration of the Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) which
has a probability of occurring once in 2,475 years (2 percent probability of occurring in a 50-year
period). The MCE peak ground acceleration adjusted for site class effects (FPGA) equals 0.67g.
Current geotechnical analysis cannot accurately predict where and to what extent soil liquefaction
will occur during a large earthquake. Using procedures developed by Seed, Idress, et al., it is
possible that the coarse-grained soils below the groundwater table could liquefy. While the potential
for this to occur in very gravelly soils is thought to be lower than for finer-grained sands. Even so,
we have calculated the approximate total ground settlement that could result if liquefaction were to
occur in the saturated, loose to medium-dense soils as a result of the design earthquake for this
site, and for nearby projects in the Renton Valley. Based on these analyses, it is possible that soil
liquefaction could occur at the site during the MCE with total calculated ground settlement in the
order of up to 4 to 6 inches. The potential for excessive differential settlement across the structure
will be mitigated by the mat foundations such that we would predict differential dynamic settlements
of 2 to 4 inches across the structure in the event of a large earthquake.
Sections 1803.5 of the IBC and 11.8 of ASCE 7 require that other seismic-related geotechnical
design parameters (seismic surcharge for retaining wall design and slope stability) include the
potential effects of the Design Earthquake. The peak ground acceleration for the Design
Earthquake is defined in Section 11.2 of ASCE 7 as two-thirds (2/3) of the MCE peak ground
acceleration, or 0.45g.
The recommendations for a mat foundation system presented in this report are intended to prevent
catastrophic foundation collapse during a large seismic event. By preventing catastrophic
settlement of the foundations, the safety of the occupants should be protected. The intent is not to
prevent damage or ensure continued function of the structures after the design seismic event.
MAT FOUNDATIONS
The mat foundation should be supported on the coarse-grained gravelly alluvial after it has been
recompacted. As discussed in the General section, some overexcavation and replacement will
likely be necessary to remove loose/soft soils remaining after the excavation is completed.
An allowable bearing pressure of 2,000 pounds per square foot (psf) should be used for the mat
foundation design. A one-third increase in this design bearing pressure may be used when
considering short-term wind or seismic loads.
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Mat foundations are typically designed using the appropriate flexible method. Foundations designed
using this method are also known as Winkler Foundations. For this analysis, we recommend using
a coefficient of subgrade reaction of 90 pounds per cubic inch (lb/in3). Any shallow mat slabs
should be thickened a minimum depth of 18 inches below the adjacent finish grade around the
perimeter of the mat, and this thickened edge of the structural slabs should have a minimum width
of 16 inches. Deflections will depend on the stiffness of the slab, but we anticipate total deflections
under static conditions over time to be on the order of 2 to 3 inches and differential settlements
across the structure on the order of 1 to 2 inches or less, can be anticipated.
Lateral loads due to wind or seismic forces may be resisted by friction between the foundations and
the bearing soil, or by passive pressure acting on the vertical, embedded portions of the foundation.
For the latter condition, the foundation must be either poured directly against relatively level,
undisturbed soil or be surrounded by level, well-compacted fill. We recommend using the following
ultimate values for the foundation’s resistance to lateral loading.
PARAMETER ULTIMATE VALUE
Coefficient of Friction 0.40
Passive Earth Pressure 250 pcf
Where: pcf is Pounds per Cubic Foot, and Passive Earth Pressure
is computed using the equivalent fluid density.
If the ground in front of a foundation is loose or sloping, the passive earth pressure given above will
not be appropriate. We recommend maintaining a safety factor of at least 1.5 for the foundation’s
resistance to lateral loading when using the above ultimate values.
AUGERCAST CONCRETE PILES
Augercast piles are installed using continuous flight, hollow-stem auger equipment mounted on a
crane. Concrete grout must be pumped continuously through the auger as it is withdrawn. This
allows the piles to be installed where caving conditions or significant groundwater are anticipated.
We recommend that augercast piles be installed by an experienced contractor who is familiar with
the anticipated subsurface conditions.
An allowable compressive capacity of 30 tons can be attained by installing a 16-inch-diameter,
augercast concrete pile at least 10 feet into the medium-dense and denser sand and gravel. For
transient loading, such as wind or seismic loads, the allowable pile capacity may be increased by
one-third. We can provide design criteria for different pile diameters and embedment lengths, if
greater capacities are required. The minimum center-to-center pile spacing should be three times
the pier diameter to prevent a reduction in the individual pile compressive capacity. Based on our
subsurface information information, we estimate that pile lengths of about 25 to 35 feet below the
existing grade would be required to achieve adequate penetration into the medium-dense and
denser sand and gravel. This estimated depth will be influenced by the final foundation elevations
and required structural demands of the piles.
This above compressive capacity does not include the potential downdrag forces that may occur
within the soil located above the groundwater table in the event of a seismic-induced liquefaction.
This force will vary depending on the excavation depth as well as the pile depths. We can comment
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on downdrag forces during the preliminary pile design and once a bottom of excavation elevation
has been determined.
We estimate that the total settlement of single piles installed as described above will be on the order
of one inch. Most of this settlement should occur during the construction phase as the dead loads
are applied. The remaining post-construction settlement would be realized as the live loads are
applied. We estimate that differential settlements between the foundation piles over any portion of
the structures should be less than about one-half-inch.
We recommend reinforcing each pile its entire length. This typically consists of a rebar cage
extending a portion of the pile’s length with a full-length center bar. Each pile can be assumed to
have a point of fixity (point of maximum bending moment) at 15 feet below the top of the pile for
design of the reinforcing. Passive earth pressures on the grade beams will also provide some
lateral resistance. If structural fill is placed against the outside of the grade beams, the design
passive earth pressure from the fill can be assumed to be equal to that pressure exerted by an
equivalent fluid with a density of 300 pcf. This passive resistance is an ultimate value that does not
include a safety factor.
Augercast Pile Installation
This section provides general, and typically minimum, guidelines for installation of augercast
concrete piles. The piles should be installed by a contractor with experience in the
successful installation of augercast piles, in similar soil and groundwater conditions. The
piles should be installed with continuous-flight hollow stem auger equipment specifically
designed for the installation of auger-placed grout-injected piles. The grout injection point
should be at the tip of the auger bit, below the cutting teeth. Due to potential variability in
soil conditions on any site, the contractor should provide sufficient auger length to extend
the piles well beyond the lengths estimated above and/or indicated by the available
exploration information.
The following are general accepted techniques that are typically used by local experienced
contractors:
• The grout should be placed under a minimum pressure of 200 pounds per square inch
(psi) to provide adequate bonding with the bearing soils. A pressure gauge should be
installed on or near the pump to monitor the pressures during the grouting. The gauge
should be easily accessible to the field technician.
• A mechanical counter should be located on the grout pump to record the number of
strokes required for installation of each pile.
• The grout pump should be calibrated prior to pile installation by pumping grout into a
container of known volume. This procedure should be repeated as often as deemed
necessary to provide a reasonable calibration by the field technician.
• Each pile should be drilled and completely filled with grout in an uninterrupted operation.
The auger hoisting equipment should be capable of withdrawing the auger smoothly and
at a constant rate without jumps or stops. The auger should be removed slowly and
smoothly to maintain a constant pressure during removal. A positive grout head of at
least 5 feet should be maintained at all times to prevent caving of the drilled hole and the
formation of voids. If the removal becomes erratic, or if there is a sudden drop in grout
pressure, the pile should be redrilled at least 5 feet below the level when the grout
pressure dropped prior to resuming withdrawal.
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• Clockwise rotation of the auger should be performed during the grouting process at least
until the grout flow is observed out of the top of the drilled hole. This will stabilize the
sides and facilitate spoil material removal.
• The installation of piles located within 6 pile diameters of each other on the same working
day is not recommended, and piles must cure 24 hours before installation of adjacent
piles.
• The fresh grout will subside, usually within the first 2 hours. If the grout has not set, the
pile should be topped off with fresh grout to the cutoff elevation.
• Augercast piles may be reinforced with single or bundled steel reinforcing rods or
reinforcing bar cages. The reinforcing should be inserted before the grout sets. The
reinforcing should be installed plumb and centered in the pile to avoid contact with the
soil. Also, each pile should include a full-length, steel rod in the center; this will serve as
a probe to determine the continuity of the pile.
Pile Installation Observation
A representative of project geotechnical engineer should observe the pile installation
process on a full-time basis. The monitoring should include collecting and interpreting the
installation data and verifying the bearing stratum elevations.
FOUNDATION AND RETAINING WALLS
Retaining walls backfilled on only one side should be designed to resist the lateral earth pressures
imposed by the soil they retain. The following recommended parameters are for walls that restrain
level backfill:
PARAMETER VALUE
Lateral Earth Pressure *
At Rest Earth Pressure
45 pcf
60 pcf
Passive Earth Pressure 250 pcf
Coefficient of Friction 0.40
Soil Unit Weight 130 pcf
Where: pcf is Pounds per Cubic Foot, and Lateral and Passive
Earth Pressures are computed using the Equivalent Fluid
Pressures. * For a restrained wall that cannot deflect at least 0.002 times its
height, a uniform lateral pressure equal to 10 psf times the height
of the wall should be added to the above lateral equivalent fluid
pressure. This applies only to walls with level backfill.
The design values given above do not include the effects of any hydrostatic pressures behind the
walls and assume that no surcharges, such as those caused by slopes, vehicles, or adjacent
foundations will be exerted on the walls. If these conditions exist, those pressures should be added
to the above lateral soil pressures. Where sloping backfill is desired behind the walls, we will need
to be given the wall dimensions and the slope of the backfill in order to provide the appropriate
design earth pressures. The surcharge due to traffic loads behind a wall can typically be accounted
for by adding a uniform pressure equal to 2 feet multiplied by the above lateral fluid density. Heavy
construction equipment should not be operated behind retaining and foundation walls within a
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distance equal to the height of a wall, unless the walls are designed for the additional lateral
pressures resulting from the equipment.
The values given above are to be used to design only permanent foundation and retaining walls
that are to be backfilled, such as conventional walls constructed of reinforced concrete or masonry.
It is not appropriate to use the above earth pressures and soil unit weight to back-calculate soil
strength parameters for design of other types of retaining walls, such as soldier pile, reinforced
earth, modular or soil nail walls. We can assist with design of these types of walls, if desired.
The passive pressure given is appropriate only for a shear key poured directly against undisturbed
native soil, or for the depth of level, well-compacted fill placed in front of a retaining or foundation
wall. The values for friction and passive resistance are ultimate values and do not include a safety
factor. Restrained wall soil parameters should be utilized the wall and reinforcing design for a
distance of 1.5 times the wall height from corners or bends in the walls, or from other points of
restraint. This is intended to reduce the amount of cracking that can occur where a wall is restrained
by a corner.
Wall Pressures Due to Seismic Forces
Per IBC Section 1803.5.12, a seismic surcharge load need only be considered in the design
of walls over 6 feet in height. A seismic surcharge load would be imposed by adding a
uniform lateral pressure to the above-recommended lateral pressure. The recommended
seismic surcharge pressure for this project is 9H pounds per square foot (psf), where H is
the design retention height of the wall. Using this increased pressure, the safety factor
against sliding and overturning can be reduced to 1.2 for the seismic analysis.
Retaining Wall Backfill and Waterproofing
Backfill placed behind retaining or foundation walls should be coarse, free-draining structural
fill containing no organics. This backfill should contain no more than 5 percent silt or clay
particles and have no gravel greater than 4 inches in diameter. The percentage of particles
passing the No. 4 sieve should be between 25 and 70 percent. The free-draining backfill
should be hydraulically connected to the foundation drain system. Free draining backfill
should be used for the entire width of the backfill where seepage is encountered. For
increased protection, drainage composites should be placed along cut slope faces, and the
walls should be backfilled entirely with free-draining soil. The later section entitled Drainage
Considerations should also be reviewed for recommendations related to subsurface
drainage behind foundation and retaining walls.
The purpose of these backfill requirements is to ensure that the design criteria for a retaining
wall are not exceeded because of a build-up of hydrostatic pressure behind the wall. Also,
subsurface drainage systems are not intended to handle large volumes of water from
surface runoff. The top 12 to 18 inches of the backfill should consist of a compacted,
relatively impermeable soil or topsoil, or the surface should be paved. The ground surface
must also slope away from backfilled walls at one to 2 percent to reduce the potential for
surface water to percolate into the backfill.
Water percolating through pervious surfaces (pavers, gravel, permeable pavement, etc.)
must also be prevented from flowing toward walls or into the backfill zone. Foundation
drainage and waterproofing systems are not intended to handle large volumes of infiltrated
water. The compacted subgrade below pervious surfaces and any associated drainage layer
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should therefore be sloped away. Alternatively, a membrane and subsurface collection
system could be provided below a pervious surface.
It is critical that the wall backfill be placed in lifts and be properly compacted, in order for the
above-recommended design earth pressures to be appropriate. The recommended wall
design criteria assume that the backfill will be well-compacted in lifts no thicker than 12
inches. The compaction of backfill near the walls should be accomplished with hand-
operated equipment to prevent the walls from being overloaded by the higher soil forces that
occur during compaction. The section entitled General Earthwork and Structural Fill
contains additional recommendations regarding the placement and compaction of structural
fill behind retaining and foundation walls.
The above recommendations are not intended to waterproof below-grade walls, or to
prevent the formation of mold, mildew, or fungi in interior spaces. Over time, the
performance of subsurface drainage systems can degrade, subsurface groundwater flow
patterns can change, and utilities can break or develop leaks. Therefore, waterproofing
should be provided where future seepage through the walls is not acceptable. This typically
includes limiting cold-joints and wall penetrations and using bentonite panels or membranes
on the outside of the walls. There are a variety of different waterproofing materials and
systems, which should be installed by an experienced contractor familiar with the anticipated
construction and subsurface conditions. Applying a thin coat of asphalt emulsion to the
outside face of a wall is not considered waterproofing and will only help to reduce moisture
generated from water vapor or capillary action from seeping through the concrete. As with
any project, adequate ventilation of basement and crawl space areas is important to prevent
a buildup of water vapor that is commonly transmitted through concrete walls from the
surrounding soil, even when seepage is not present. This is appropriate even when
waterproofing is applied to the outside of foundation and retaining walls. We recommend
that you contact an experienced envelope consultant if detailed recommendations or
specifications related to waterproofing design or minimizing the potential for infestations of
mold and mildew are desired.
TEMPORARY SHORING
Given the poor soil conditions, excavation depths, zero-lot line setbacks, and presence of nearby
settlement sensitive structures, shoring will be needed on all four sides of the excavation. For this
project, the only appropriate shoring method that will provide the necessary rigidity to limit
deflections in the excavation will be to use drilled, soldier piles. These soldier piles will need to be
designed to limit the magnitude and occurrence of any deflections within the retained height of the
cut to prevent adversely impacting the adjacent streets, utilities, and buildings. This will be
particularly important near the adjacent northern residence.
In general, we recommend a maximum 6-foot center-to-center pile spacing, in order to reduce the
potential for excessive caving in the loose near-surface soils during excavation and lagging
placement.
Soldier pile walls would be constructed after making planned cut slopes, and prior to commencing
the mass excavation, by setting steel H-beams in a drilled hole and grouting the space between the
beam and the soil with concrete for the entire height of the drilled hole. Wet, caving conditions will
be encountered in the holes, and the contractor should be prepared to case the holes and/or use
the slurry method if caving soil is encountered. Excessive ground loss in the drilled holes must be
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avoided to reduce the potential for settlement on adjacent properties. If water is present in a hole at
the time the soldier pile is poured, concrete must be tremied to the bottom of the hole. Augercast or
Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) drilling methods may also be used if the contractor has these
methods available to them.
As the excavation proceeds downward, the space between the piles should be lagged with timber,
and any voids behind the timbers should be filled with Controlled Density Fill (CDF). Treated
lagging is usually required for permanent walls, while untreated lagging can often be utilized for
temporary shoring walls. Temporary vertical cuts will be necessary between the soldier piles for the
lagging placement. The prompt and careful installation of lagging is important, particularly in loose
or caving soil, to maintain the integrity of the excavation and provide safer working conditions.
Additionally, care must be taken by the excavator to remove no more soil between the soldier piles
than is necessary to install the lagging. Caving or overexcavation during lagging placement could
result in loss of ground on neighboring properties. Timber lagging should be designed for an
applied lateral pressure of 30 percent of the design wall pressure if the pile spacing is less than
three pile diameters. For larger pile spacings, the lagging should be designed for 50 percent of the
design load.
Soldier Pile Wall Design
Temporary or permanent soldier pile shoring that is cantilevered should be designed for an
active soil pressure equal to that pressure exerted by an equivalent fluid with a unit weight of
45 pounds per cubic foot (pcf). The active pressures should extend to at least 2 feet below
the bottom of the excavation to account for the potential need for overexcavations to expose
competent soil.
If shoring will be located within a 2:1 (H:V) zone of the footings of the neighboring northern
house or near any other potentially settlement sensitive structure, roadway, or utility, it
should be designed for an at-rest earth pressure of 60 pcf in order to create a stiffer soldier
pile system and to minimize the lateral movement of the shoring in these areas. An
additional surcharge will need to be incorporated in the shoring design within the extent of
this neighboring structure. The design/depth of the foundations for the building to the south
need to be determined, in order to assess whether or not a surcharge needs to be included
for the effect of that building’s foundations.
Traffic surcharges adjacent to pavements travelled by trucks, such as garbage trucks, can
typically be accounted for by increasing the effective height of the shoring wall by 3 feet.
Heavier loads, such as those from concrete trucks, concrete pump trucks, large excavation
equipment, etc. can create larger surcharge pressures on a shoring system. We can
provide appropriate surcharge loads once more detailed plans have been developed. Any
temporary cut slopes above the shoring walls will exert additional surcharge pressures.
These surcharge pressures will vary, depending on the configuration of the cut slope and
shoring wall. We can provide recommendations regarding slope and retaining wall
surcharge pressures when the preliminary shoring design is completed.
It is important that the shoring design provides sufficient working room to drill and install the
soldier piles, without needing to make unsafe, excessively steep temporary cuts. Cut slopes
should be planned to intersect the backside of the drilled holes, not the back of the lagging.
Lateral movement of the soldier piles below the excavation level will be resisted by an
ultimate passive soil pressure equal to that pressure exerted by a fluid with a density of 300
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GEOTECH CONSULTANTS, INC.
pcf. No safety factor is included in the given value. This soil pressure is valid only for a level
excavation in front of the soldier pile; it acts on two times the grouted pile diameter. This
passive pressure should not be assumed to begin until at least 2 feet below the bottom of
the excavation to account for the potential for overexcavations to be needed in front of the
piles. Cut slopes made in front of shoring walls significantly decrease the passive
resistance. This includes temporary cuts necessary to install internal braces or rakers. The
minimum embedment below the floor of the excavation for cantilever soldier piles should be
equal to the height of the "stick-up."
EXCAVATION AND SHORING MONITORING
As with any shoring system, there is a potential risk of greater-than-anticipated movement of the
shoring and the ground outside of the excavation. This can translate into noticeable damage of
surrounding on-grade elements, such as foundations and slabs. Therefore, we recommend making
an extensive photographic and visual survey of the project vicinity, prior to demolition activities,
installing shoring or commencing excavation. This documents the condition of buildings,
pavements, and utilities in the immediate vicinity of the site in order to avoid, and protect the owner
from, unsubstantiated damage claims by surrounding property owners.
Additionally, the shoring walls and any adjacent foundations should be monitored during
construction to detect vertical movement. To monitor their performance, we recommend
establishing a series of survey reference points to measure any horizontal deflections of the shoring
system. Control points should be established at a distance well away from the walls and slopes,
and deflections from the reference points should be measured throughout construction by survey
methods. At least every other soldier pile should be monitored by taking readings at the top of the
pile. Additionally, benchmarks installed on the surrounding buildings should be monitored for at
least vertical movement. We suggest taking the readings at least once a week, until it is established
that no deflections are occurring. The initial readings for this monitoring should be taken before
starting any demolition or excavation on the site.
EXCAVATIONS AND SLOPES
Appropriate temporary cut slope inclinations for excavations above the water table are discussed in
the General section.
The recommended temporary slope inclination is based on the conditions exposed in our
explorations, and on what has been successful at other sites with similar soil conditions. It is
possible that variations in soil and groundwater conditions will require modifications to the
inclination at which temporary slopes can stand. Temporary cuts are those that will remain
unsupported for a relatively short duration to allow for the construction of foundations, retaining
walls, or utilities. Temporary cut slopes should be protected with plastic sheeting during wet
weather. It is also important that surface runoff be directed away from the top of temporary slope
cuts. Cut slopes should also be backfilled or retained as soon as possible to reduce the potential for
instability. Please note that loose soil can cave suddenly and without warning. Excavation,
foundation, and utility contractors should be made especially aware of this potential danger. These
recommendations may need to be modified if the area near the potential cuts has been disturbed in
the past by utility installation, or if settlement-sensitive utilities are located nearby.
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Water should not be allowed to flow uncontrolled over the top of any temporary or permanent slope.
All permanently exposed slopes should be seeded with an appropriate species of vegetation to
reduce erosion and improve the stability of the surficial layer of soil.
DRAINAGE CONSIDERATIONS
We anticipate that permanent foundation walls will be constructed against the shoring walls due to
the limited lot line setbacks. Where this occurs, a plastic-backed drainage composite, such as
Miradrain, Battledrain, or similar, should be placed against the entire surface of the shoring prior to
pouring the foundation wall. Weep pipes located no more than 6 feet on-center should be
connected to the drainage composite and poured into the foundation walls or the perimeter footing.
A footing drain installed along the inside of the perimeter footing will be used to collect and carry the
water discharged by the weep pipes to the storm system. Isolated zones of moisture or seepage
can still reach the permanent wall where groundwater finds leaks or joints in the drainage
composite. This is often an acceptable risk in unoccupied below-grade spaces, such as parking
garages. However, formal waterproofing is typically necessary in areas where wet conditions at the
face of the permanent wall will not be tolerable. If this is a concern, the permanent drainage and
waterproofing system should be designed by a specialty consultant familiar with the expected
subsurface conditions and proposed construction. Plate 6 presents typical considerations for
foundation drains at shoring walls.
These drains should be surrounded by at least 6 inches of 1-inch-minus, washed rock that is
encircled with non-woven, geotextile filter fabric (Mirafi 140N, Supac 4NP, or similar material). At its
highest point, a perforated pipe invert should be at least 6 inches below the bottom of a slab floor or
the level of a crawl space. The discharge pipe for subsurface drains should be sloped for flow to the
outlet point. Roof and surface water drains must not discharge into the foundation drain system. A
typical footing drain detail is attached to this report as Plate 7.
Underdrainage should be used where: (1) crawl spaces or basements will be below a structure; (2)
a slab is below the outside grade; or (3) the outside grade does not slope downward from a
building. Drains should also be placed at the base of all earth-retaining walls. As noted in the
General section, we recommend underdrainage for a basement floor slab, in the event that
unexpected rises in the groundwater levels occur. An underslab drainage detail is attached to this
report as Plate 8.
For the best long-term performance, perforated PVC pipe is recommended for all subsurface
drains. Clean-outs should be provided for potential future flushing or cleaning of footing drains.
If the structure includes an elevator with an elevator pit, it will be necessary to provide watertight
construction for the elevator pit.
As a minimum, a vapor retarder, as defined in the Slabs-On-Grade section, should be provided in
any crawl space area to limit the transmission of water vapor from the underlying soils. Crawl space
grades are sometimes left near the elevation of the bottom of the footings. As a result, an outlet
drain is recommended for all crawl spaces to prevent an accumulation of any water that may
bypass the footing drains. Providing a few inches of free draining gravel underneath the vapor
retarder is also prudent to limit the potential for seepage to build up on top of the vapor retarder.
Groundwater was observed during our field work. If seepage is encountered in an excavation, it
should be drained from the site by directing it through drainage ditches, perforated pipe, or French
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GEOTECH CONSULTANTS, INC.
drains, or by pumping it from sumps interconnected by shallow connector trenches at the bottom of
the excavation.
The excavation and site should be graded so that surface water is directed off the site and away
from the tops of slopes. Water should not be allowed to stand in any area where foundations, slabs,
or pavements are to be constructed. Final site grading in areas adjacent to the building should
slope away at least one to 2 percent, except where the area is paved. Surface drains should be
provided where necessary to prevent ponding of water behind foundation or retaining walls. A
discussion of grading and drainage related to pervious surfaces near walls and structures is
contained in the Foundation and Retaining Walls section.
GENERAL EARTHWORK AND STRUCTURAL FILL
All building and pavement areas should be stripped of surface vegetation, topsoil, organic soil, and
other deleterious material. It is important that existing foundations be removed before site
development. The stripped or removed materials should not be mixed with any materials to be used
as structural fill, but they could be used in non-structural areas, such as landscape beds.
Structural fill is defined as any fill, including utility backfill, placed under, or close to, a building, or in
other areas where the underlying soil needs to support loads. All structural fill should be placed in
horizontal lifts with a moisture content at, or near, the optimum moisture content. The optimum
moisture content is that moisture content that results in the greatest compacted dry density. The
moisture content of fill is very important and must be closely controlled during the filling and
compaction process.
The allowable thickness of the fill lift will depend on the material type selected, the compaction
equipment used, and the number of passes made to compact the lift. The loose lift thickness should
not exceed 12 inches, but should be thinner if small, hand-operated compactors are used. We
recommend testing structural fill as it is placed. If the fill is not sufficiently compacted, it should be
recompacted before another lift is placed. This eliminates the need to remove the fill to achieve the
required compaction. The following table presents recommended levels of relative compaction for
compacted fill:
LOCATION OF FILL PLACEMENT MINIMUM RELATIVE COMPACTION
Beneath slabs or
walkways
95%
Filled slopes and
behind retaining walls
90%
Beneath pavements
95% for upper 12 inches of
subgrade; 90% below that
level
Where: Minimum Relative Compaction is the ratio, expressed in
percentages, of the compacted dry density to the maximum dry
density, as determined in accordance with ASTM Test
Designation D 1557-91 (Modified Proctor).
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GEOTECH CONSULTANTS, INC.
LIMITATIONS
The conclusions and recommendations contained in this report are based on site conditions as they
existed at the time of our exploration and assume that the soil and groundwater conditions
encountered in the explorations are representative of subsurface conditions on the site. If the
subsurface conditions encountered during construction are significantly different from those
observed in our explorations, we should be advised at once so that we can review these conditions
and reconsider our recommendations where necessary. Unanticipated conditions are commonly
encountered on construction sites and cannot be fully anticipated by the limited area of subsurface
explorations, especially while the properties are still developed and occupied. Subsurface
conditions can also vary between exploration locations. Such unexpected conditions frequently
require making additional expenditures to attain a properly constructed project. It is recommended
that the owner consider providing a contingency fund to accommodate such potential extra costs
and risks. This is a standard recommendation for all projects.
This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of Williams Avenue Ventures LLC and its
representatives, for specific application to this project and site. Our conclusions and
recommendations are professional opinions derived in accordance with our understanding of
current local standards of practice, and within the scope of our services. No warranty is expressed
or implied. The scope of our services does not include services related to construction safety
precautions, and our recommendations are not intended to direct the contractor's methods,
techniques, sequences, or procedures, except as specifically described in our report for
consideration in design. Our services also do not include assessing or minimizing the potential for
biological hazards, such as mold, bacteria, mildew and fungi in either the existing or proposed site
development.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
In addition to reviewing the final plans, Geotech Consultants, Inc. should be retained to provide
geotechnical consultation, testing, and observation services during construction. This is to confirm
that subsurface conditions are consistent with those indicated by our exploration, to evaluate
whether earthwork and foundation construction activities comply with the general intent of the
recommendations presented in this report, and to provide suggestions for design changes in the
event subsurface conditions differ from those anticipated prior to the start of construction. However,
our work would not include the supervision or direction of the actual work of the contractor and its
employees or agents. Also, job and site safety, and dimensional measurements, will be the
responsibility of the contractor.
During the construction phase, we will provide geotechnical observation and testing services when
requested by you or your representatives. Please be aware that we can only document site work we
actually observe. It is still the responsibility of your contractor or on-site construction team to verify
that our recommendations are being followed, whether we are present at the site or not.
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GEOTECH CONSULTANTS, INC.
The following plates are attached to complete this report:
Plate 1 Vicinity Map
Plate 2 Site Exploration Plan
Plates 3 - 5 Cone Penetration Test Logs
Plate 6 Typical Shoring Drain Detail
Plate 7 Typical Footing Drain Detail
Plate 8 Typical Underslab Drainage Detail
We appreciate the opportunity to be of service on this project. Please contact us if you have any
questions, or if we can be of further assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
GEOTECH CONSULTANTS, INC.
5/24/2022
Marc R. McGinnis, P.E.
Principal
MKM/MRM:kg
Job No:Date:Plate:
22149 May 2022
GEOTECH
CONSULTANTS, INC.
99-107 Williams Avenue South
Renton, Washington
VICINITY MAP
(Source: King County iMap)
1
SITE
Job No:Date:Plate:
22149 May 2022
GEOTECH
CONSULTANTS, INC.
99-107 Williams Avenue South
Renton, Washington
SITE EXPLORATION PLAN
2 No Scale
Legend:
Cone Penetration Test Location
CPT-1
CPT-3
CPT-2
Job Date:Plate:
22149
GEOTECH
CONSULTANTS, INC.
CONE PENETRATION TEST LOG
May 2022
Logged by:
99-107 Williams Avenue South
Renton, Washington
3
Job Date:Plate:
22149
GEOTECH
CONSULTANTS, INC.
CONE PENETRATION TEST LOG
May 2022
Logged by:
99-107 Williams Avenue South
Renton, Washington
4
Job Date:Plate:
22149
GEOTECH
CONSULTANTS, INC.
CONE PENETRATION TEST LOG
May 2022
Logged by:
99-107 Williams Avenue South
Renton, Washington
5
Job No:Date:Plate:
22149 May 2022
GEOTECH
CONSULTANTS, INC.
99-107 Williams Avenue South
Renton, Washington
6
SHORING DRAIN DETAIL
Foundation wall
& Footing
Treated lagging
Soldier pile
Drainage composite
Vapor retarder
Slab
4" perforated PVC drain
(holes turned downward)
2" PVC weep pipe at 6' centers
(Pour into footing or wall below slab)
Non-woven filter fabric
Washed rock or pea gravel
Attach weep pipe to drainage composite.
Pierce waterproofing and plastic backing
of drainage composite.
Note - Refer to the report for additional considerations related to drainage and waterproofing.
Waterproofing
Job No:Date:Plate:
22149 May 2022
GEOTECH
CONSULTANTS, INC.
99-107 Williams Avenue South
Renton, Washington
7
FOOTING DRAIN DETAIL
Washed Rock
(7/8" min. size)
Slope backfill away from
foundation. Provide surface
drains where necessary.
4" min.
4" Perforated Hard PVC Pipe
(Invert at least 6 inches below
slab or crawl space. Slope to
drain to appropriate outfall.
Place holes downward.)
Tightline Roof Drain
(Do not connect to footing drain)
Nonwoven Geotextile
Filter Fabric
NOTES:
(1) In crawl spaces, provide an outlet drain to prevent buildup of water that
bypasses the perimeter footing drains.
(2) Refer to report text for additional drainage, waterproofing, and slab considerations.
Backfill
(See text for
requirements)
Vapor Retarder/Barrier and
Capillary Break/Drainage Layer
(Refer to Report text)
Possible Slab
Job No:Date:Plate:
22149 May 2022
GEOTECH
CONSULTANTS, INC.
99-107 Williams Avenue South
Renton, Washington
NOTES:
(1) Refer to the report text for additional drainage and waterproofing considerations.
(2) The typical maximum underslab drain separation (L) is 15 to 20 feet.
(3) No filter fabric is necessary beneath the pipes as long as a minimum thickness
of 4 inches of rock is maintained beneath the pipes.
(4) The underslab drains and foundation drains should discharge to a suitable outfall.
4-inch perforated PVC pipe
(slope to drain)
Pea gravel or drain rock
L L L
9 to 12 inches
Vapor Retarder or
Waterproof Vapor Barrier
TYPICAL UNDERSLAB DRAINAGE
8