HomeMy WebLinkAboutOpen Hole Soils Report 05.01.2020Studio M LLC
Structural Engineering Consultants
lnnov ation By Per ceptíon
www.mbengineering.el ementfx.com
studiom.engineer@gmail.com
May 1,2020
Re: 411 County Rd 261 Open Hole Soils Inspection
To S/hom It May Concern:
I spoke with my client, M¿ Jon Todd. He had discussed the possibility of not getting an
open hole soils inspection because of associated costs and schedule.
The IRC Table R401.4.1 allows specifiers to use prescriptive values for allowable
bearing pressures for soil types. The current assumption is that the soils are a sandy silty
clay, as is common in this area of Garfield County. The assumed allowable soil bearing
pressure is 1,500 psf from this same table.
I spoke with Mr. Todd and stressed the importance of him understanding the risk
associated with forgoing the open hole inspection and that the risk and liability assqciated
with choosing to bypass the inspection would rest squarely on him-
He mentioned that the existing house was also situated on spread footings, and to his
knowledge, had no foundation settlement issues whatsoever. Based on this information,
and his familiarity with spread footings of the same size and nature performing well in
this neighborhood, he accepted this risk.
Frorn my viewpoint and liability as engineer of record I accept the owners decision to by-
pass the open hole inspection requiranent outlined in chapter l7 of the 2Û15 IBC in this
one particular instanae based on the information described above.
Please reach out with questions.
W/q*r,
Michael J. Baca, PE NCEES
Principal, Studio M Engineers LLC
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