Extent and Level of Site Investigation

The extent and level of investigation needs to be tailored to the type of development and the previous use of land. Typically the site investigation should include susceptibility to ground water levels and flow, underlying geology, and ground and hydro-geological properties. A geotechnical site investigation should identify physical hazards for site development, determine an appropriate design, and provide soil parameters for design and construction. BS 5930 provides comprehensive guidance on site investigations. Guidance on site investigation for low-rise building is also available in the following BRE Digests – Digest 318 Site investigation for low-rise building: desk studies; Digest 322 Site investigation for low-rise building: procurement; Digest 348 Site investigation for low-rise building: the walk-over survey; Digest 381 Site investigation for low-rise building: trial pits; Digest 383 Site investigation for low-rise building: soil description; and Digest 411 Site investigation for low-rise building: direct investigations. Reference should also be made to BS 8103-1 Structural design of low rise buildings.