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A GEOTECHN(CAL ENGIN~RING <br />REPORT IS SUBf ECT TO <br />MISINTERPRETATION <br />Costly problems can occur when other design profes- <br />sionals develop their plans based on misinterpretations <br />of a geotechnical engineertng report. To help avoid <br />these problems. the geotechnical engineer should be <br />retained to work with other appropriate design profes- <br />sionals to explain relevant geotechnical findings and to <br />review the adequacy of their plans and specifications <br />relative to geotechnical issues <br />BORING LOGS SHOULD NOT BE <br />SEPARATED FROM THE <br />ENGINEERING REPORT <br />Final boring logs arc developed by geotechnical engi- <br />neers based upon their interpretation of field logs <br />)assembled by site personnel) and laboratory evaluation <br />of field samples. Only final boring logs customarily are <br />induded in geotechnical engineering reports. Tfrtsr logs <br />should not under any circumstancts br rtdraum for indusion in <br />architectural or otherdesign drawings. because drafters <br />mzy commit errors or omissions in the vansfer process <br />Although photographic reproduction eliminates this <br />problem. it does nothing to minimize the possibility of <br />convactors misinterpreting the logs during bid prepara- <br />tion. When this occurs delays. dispu[es and unantici- <br />pated costs are the all-too-frequent result. <br />fo minimize the likelihood of boring log misinterpreta- <br />tion. give contractors rtady accts to the comdrtr grotrcbnicul <br />rnginrrrinq ~rport prepared or authorized for their use. <br />Those who do not provide such access may proceed un- <br />der the mittabtn impt~on that simply disdaiming re- <br />sponsibility for the a racy of subsurface information <br />always Insulates them from attendant liability Providing <br />the best available information to contractors helps pre- <br />ventcostly construction problems and the adversarial <br />attitudes which aggravate them to disproportionate <br />scale. <br />READ RESPONSIBILITY <br />CLAUSES CLOSELY <br />Because geotechnical engineering is based extensively <br />on judgment end opinion. it is far less exact than other <br />design disciplines. This situation has resulted in wholly <br />unwarranted daims being lodged against geotechnical <br />consultants To help preventthis problem. geotechnical <br />engineers have developed model louses for use in writ- <br />ten vansmittals. These are not exculpa[ory louses <br />designed to foist geotechnical engineers liabilities onto <br />someone else. Rather. they are definitive louses which <br />identify where geotechnical engineers responsibilities <br />begin and end. Their use helps all parties involved rec- <br />ognize their individual responsibilities and take appro- <br />priateaction. Some of these definitive louses are likely <br />to appear in your geotechnical engineering report. and <br />you are encouraged to read [hem closely tbur geo- <br />technical engineer will be pleased [o give lull and (rank <br />answers to your questions. <br />OTHER STEPS YOU CAN TAKETO <br />REDUCE RISK <br />Your consulting geotechnical engineer will be pleased to <br />dlscu55 other technpues which can be employed to mi[- <br />igate risk. In addition. ASFE has Ceveloped a variety of <br />materials which may be beneficial Contact ASFE fora <br />complimen[ary copy of its publications directory <br />PrKrhd 6Y <br />ASSOCIAr10N OF SOl ANO FOUNDATION ErVGO~tEERS <br />8811 Colesville Road/Suite 225 <br />Silver Spring. Maryland 20910 <br />30U565.2733 <br />Furnished by: <br />~.ambert anb ~ggociateg <br />CONSULTING GEOTECHNICAI. ENGINEErtS ANO MATERIAL TESTING <br />P. 0. Box 3986 214 8ado Drive <br />Grand Junction ,CO 81502 Durango, CO 81301 <br />970-245-6596 910-259-5095 <br />P. 0. Box 0045 <br />Montrose. CO 81402 <br />970-249-2154 <br />