1. PURPOSE
1.1 This standard defines a basis for the establishment of design recommendations to be applied in the design of foundations for structures and equipment.
2. SCOPE
2.1 This standard shall be applied to the design of all facilities. The subsurface investigation and resulting report with design recommendations provides a basis for the foundation design and must be addressed for every project.
3. RELATED DOCUMENTS
3.1 Air Products Engineering Documents
4ACS-640123 Subsurface Investigation
4ECS-Q02 Subsoil Investigation
4. Philosophy
4.1 Establishment of accurate subsurface conditions and the related foundation design recommendations are critical to the safety, reliability, and economy of the foundation and structural design.
4.2 A subsurface investigation shall be performed for each project by a qualified geotechnical engineering firm unless a geotechnical report for the facility exists and applies to the new project as determined by a qualified structural engineer. Items to look for when evaluating any existing information include soil profile variability reflected in the existing borings, location of existing borings in relation to new structures and foundations, and type of equipment or structure to be supported and its performance sensitivity regarding foundation settlement. When the project or local requirements dictate, a contamination survey shall be undertaken in conjunction with the subsurface survey to establish the presence and levels of any soil and ground water contamination.
4.3 The subsurface investigation and report shall be prepared by a qualified geotechnical firm that has experience in the general location of the facility. Local experience is important so that foundation recommendations can reflect the knowledge of previous successful foundation designs and/or problem areas.
- SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATION
5.1 When a new report must be prepared, a core boring location plan is required and will show the number and location of borings or other tests to be performed. The drawing will also contain information on the size and weights of the project equipment and structures to be supported. This information is important so that the geotechnical engineer can provide specific recommendations for the structures and equipment to be supported.
5.2 Depth of the core borings may be left to the discretion of the geotechnical engineer. Because the soil system is affected by any imposed loading to a depth of approximately twice the foundation width, it is recommended that core borings for soil-bearing foundations be to a depth of at least twice the anticipated foundation width.
5.3 Past usage of the site shall be made available to the geotechnical engineer and detailed in the report.
- GEOTECHNICAL REPORT
6.1 Laboratory testing of soil samples is required to determine the pertinent engineering characteristics of the materials that might become the bearing materials for structures or that might be used for structural backfill or other construction purposes. If there is a concern with the potential for underground contamination, tests shall be taken to establish the levels of any contaminants within the soil and ground water samples.
6.2 The geotechnical report shall contain recommendations and information pertinent to the design of foundations for the various structures and equipment in the facility. Subjects such as soil improvement recommendations, frost penetration for the location, allowable soil bearing pressures, piling capacities, piling types, anticipated short- and long-term settlements, ground water, soil resistivity, lateral earth pressures, friction characteristics of the soil, and modulus of subgrade reaction shall be addressed. A complete list of the detailed information to be included in the geotechnical report is specified in engineering documents
4ACS-640123 and 4ECS-Q02.
6.3 The report shall also address any aspects relating to identified ground contaminants including any remedial measures and health and safety issues.