If you are building a home, the National Construction Code (NCC) requires that a site specific classification be completed in order to design the foundations of the structure.

A standard site classification is a report that assists in the design of foundations for a proposed structure. This report includes testing the soil’s strength (how much weight it can hold at various depths), and how much the soil will heave (shrink and swell) when adding and taking away moisture. Other information gathered are depth to rock, depth of fill and depth to a potential water table.

A “P” classification are given to sites identified as a ‘problem site’. This classification highlights to a structural engineer that further consideration may need to be given to abnormal conditions on site. Common reasons a ‘P’ classification may be given are soft and collapsing soils, abnormal moisture conditions and uncontrolled fill to name a few.

A slope stability assessment is a report based on field work for a job site that determines a natural or man-made slope’s ability to resist failure or landsliding. These assessments are generally required for certain ‘at risk’ areas by councils but may also require one if the slope in the area of a proposed development is more than 11 degrees, near an existing retaining wall or whereby the development entails cutting into a slope.

Level 1 compaction entails full time supervision and testing of the imported or site-won material and the entire filling and compaction process. This has the highest level of assurance that the quality of fill material and the compaction process are done correctly according to AS3798 – Guidelines on earthworks for commercial and residential developments.

Level 2 compaction involves periodic inspections and testing only, whereby typically the fill layer is compacted prior to attendance and is then tested according to AS3798 to confirm if the layer has been sufficiently compacted.