Which class will my site be?

It depends on the soil, which is why the boreholes exist. Much of Sydney's sandstone country classifies A or S; the shale and clay country to the south-west and west is commonly M to H2; filled, soft or sloping sites can be P. The report tells you which, and why.

Do you need me to be there?

No. We need to get onto the block, know roughly where the building is going, and be told about anything underground, such as a septic tank or services. We confirm the visit time with you beforehand.

What if the ground turns out to be Class P?

It is not a fail, and it is common. Class P means the footing is designed for the specific ground rather than picked off a table, usually because of fill, soft ground, trees close to the footings, or a slope. Most of the time that is accommodated comfortably with a slightly different footing; the report says what we found and what the designer needs to allow for. Occasionally the design needs more than a classification, and if so we quote a geotechnical investigation to follow.

Is the report accepted by my certifier?

Reports are written to AS 2870 and AS 1726, the standards slab designers, structural engineers and certifiers work to, and every report is checked and signed by an engineer at Australian Ground Sciences.

Site classification

Site classification reports to AS 2870, from $890 + GST

The soil report for small structures on simple ground: a house, extension, granny flat or garage. Two boreholes, lab testing where needed, a signed AS 2870 classification.

Get a quote Pricing guide

Before a slab or strip footing can be designed, someone has to say how reactive the ground is. That is a site classification: boreholes on the block, the soil profile logged and classified, and a site class under AS 2870 (A, S, M, H1, H2, E or P) with the reasoning behind it.

Ours are done by a field engineer, not a sample courier. The person who drills your block logs the profile as it comes out of the ground, decides what the laboratory needs to test, and drafts the report. An engineer at Australian Ground Sciences checks and signs it.

For a standard residential site the fee is fixed. Sites that need more come with a scoped quote before anything is booked.

What you get

What the report includes

Site walkover and two boreholes to 2.5 m
Soil profile logged and described to AS 1726
Laboratory testing where the classification depends on it
AS 2870 site class with the reasoning, in plain English
Signed PDF report your builder, slab designer and certifier can use

Who it is for

Typical jobs

New homes and knock-down rebuilds
Extensions, second storeys and garages
Granny flats, studios and secondary dwellings

How it works

Three steps from your address to a signed report

Tell us the address
Send the site address and what you are building. Standard sites get the fixed fee straight away; anything else gets a scoped quote before we book.
A field engineer drills the block
We come out with a rig or hand equipment, drill the boreholes, log the soil as it comes out of the ground and take samples for the laboratory where the report needs them.
A signed report lands in your inbox
An engineer at Australian Ground Sciences checks and signs the report. It goes to you as a PDF, ready for your builder, slab designer or certifier.

Questions

Questions about site classifications

Which class will my site be?: It depends on the soil, which is why the boreholes exist. Much of Sydney's sandstone country classifies A or S; the shale and clay country to the south-west and west is commonly M to H2; filled, soft or sloping sites can be P. The report tells you which, and why.
Do you need me to be there?: No. We need to get onto the block, know roughly where the building is going, and be told about anything underground, such as a septic tank or services. We confirm the visit time with you beforehand.
What if the ground turns out to be Class P?: It is not a fail, and it is common. Class P means the footing is designed for the specific ground rather than picked off a table, usually because of fill, soft ground, trees close to the footings, or a slope. Most of the time that is accommodated comfortably with a slightly different footing; the report says what we found and what the designer needs to allow for. Occasionally the design needs more than a classification, and if so we quote a geotechnical investigation to follow.
Is the report accepted by my certifier?: Reports are written to AS 2870 and AS 1726, the standards slab designers, structural engineers and certifiers work to, and every report is checked and signed by an engineer at Australian Ground Sciences.

Other reports

Across Sydney

Need a site classification?

Send the site address and what you are building. Standard sites get the fixed fee straight away; anything else gets a scoped quote before we book.

Get a quote Geotechnical report quote

Site classification reports to AS 2870, from $890 + GST

What the report includes

Typical jobs

Three steps from your address to a signed report

Tell us the address

A field engineer drills the block

A signed report lands in your inbox

Questions about site classifications

Other reports

Across Sydney

Need a site classification?

Site classification reports to AS 2870, from $890 + GST

What the report includes

Typical jobs

Three steps from your address to a signed report

Tell us the address

A field engineer drills the block

A signed report lands in your inbox

Questions about site classifications

Other reports

Across Sydney

Need a site classification?