How To Ensure a solid and stable foundation for business structures 

When you’re about to build a structure for your business, there are some steps you’ll need to take first. You want to make sure that you have a stable foundation so that your building(s) and the rest of your property will be safe and in peak condition for use for many years. Business owners who are seeking assistance in New Jersey and the Philadelphia area would do well to go through a reputable company like Earth Engineering Incorporated to meet your geotechnical needs.

Site Selection and Analysis

The first step of building is going to be choosing the site where you want your business to be located. Once you do this, it’s important to bring in professionals such as geotechnical engineers to analyze the site with a geotechnical investigation in Philadelphia and the surrounding region. They’ll use several methods to do so, which include the following:

• Desk study to look over all the data and information that’s relevant to the site and its surrounding area, such as historical records, previous reports from investigations, geological maps, and aerial photos.
• Site visit to observe surface features as well as an assessment of the existing structures’ conditions and any potential hazards.
• Drilling test porings and sampling soil and rock, conducting test pits and cone penetrometer testing (CPT), then conducting an analysis in the lab to determine their physical properties.
• In-situ testing right at the site to determine subsurface conditions while they’re in their natural state.
• Geophysical surveys using techniques to map and measure physical properties like seismic waves and electrical resistivity. Some techniques include seismic MASW, electrical resistivity, and microgravity.
• Laboratory testing to analyze rock and soil in order to see their physical properties. Some tests include grain size analysis / USCE classification, direct shear, and consolidation tests.

Structural Integrity and Safety Measures

Geotechnical engineers will use various methods to determine if there are inherent hazards on the site. They’ll use geological site investigation right at the site and in the lab to determine the properties of the soil / rock, if sinkhole hazards are present, site seismic characteristics, and if the groundwater provides a risk for construction.

They will look over and test everything carefully, then provide you with a report. If there are problems that need to be remediated before you can build on the site, they’ll discuss mitigation measures like reinforcement and stabilization as well as monitoring. The worst case may lead them to recommend you relocate, but there are often measures that they can take to help you retain the site.Be sure to consult and work with a geotechnical engineer for your commercial building plans. From gathering information on the site to preparing you for a stable foundation, Earth Engineering Incorporated can make it an easy, streamlined process. Contact us today to find out more.