The Importance of a Soils Report and Soils Engineer
Few, if any swimming pool designers or contractors are trained geologists or soils engineers. And none are doing their clients any favors by not including a soils expert on a project team.
Why is this so important, you ask? Buildings rest UPON the soils, wherein a swimming pool is built entirely WITHIN the soils. Pools are even more dependent upon the soils than a building built upon the surface. Yet a soils report is always commissioned to assist the structural engineer in designing a building's foundation.
Soils are one of the largest loads upon a swimming pool. Depending upon the pools' design, loads may also occur from snow, wind, surf, slopes and seismic events.
The International Building Code (IBC) requires that ALL structures be engineered to withstand the anticipated loads that may be placed upon them. A swimming pool is a STRUCTURE, therefore it must comply with the code. A version of the IBC has been adopted by every state in the US (the year of edition varies by state), so it applies to every pool built within our borders. California and Florida have adopted codes that are even more stringent than the basic IBC.
But those codes are not enforced in my region... you say.
You're right, building code enforcement across the country is spotty. In the likely event of structural issues or a personal injury, the codes will be applied and compared to what was actually constructed. And if the builder deviated from those codes, they will be held financially liable for the repairs.
Incompetent soils that do not support a pool or expansive clay soils that lift or stress a pool are the most common soil defects.
Mitigating soil conditions UNDER an existing pool are virtually impossible.
In an attempt to be cost competitive, many pool builders omit the inclusion of a soils expert in their projects. Some even omit engineered plans from their projects. In the event of settlement, heave or pool cracking the pool builder is liable for these conditions.
Had these events occurred and they included these experts and followed their recommendations, then the liability would be upon those experts.
Paolo Benedetti
Aquatic Artist, Consultant & Construction Defect Expert Witness
"Creating water as art."™
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
©www.aquatictechnology.com
Few, if any swimming pool designers or contractors are trained geologists or soils engineers. And none are doing their clients any favors by not including a soils expert on a project team.
Why is this so important, you ask? Buildings rest UPON the soils, wherein a swimming pool is built entirely WITHIN the soils. Pools are even more dependent upon the soils than a building built upon the surface. Yet a soils report is always commissioned to assist the structural engineer in designing a building's foundation.
Soils are one of the largest loads upon a swimming pool. Depending upon the pools' design, loads may also occur from snow, wind, surf, slopes and seismic events.
The International Building Code (IBC) requires that ALL structures be engineered to withstand the anticipated loads that may be placed upon them. A swimming pool is a STRUCTURE, therefore it must comply with the code. A version of the IBC has been adopted by every state in the US (the year of edition varies by state), so it applies to every pool built within our borders. California and Florida have adopted codes that are even more stringent than the basic IBC.
But those codes are not enforced in my region... you say.
You're right, building code enforcement across the country is spotty. In the likely event of structural issues or a personal injury, the codes will be applied and compared to what was actually constructed. And if the builder deviated from those codes, they will be held financially liable for the repairs.
Incompetent soils that do not support a pool or expansive clay soils that lift or stress a pool are the most common soil defects.
Mitigating soil conditions UNDER an existing pool are virtually impossible.
In an attempt to be cost competitive, many pool builders omit the inclusion of a soils expert in their projects. Some even omit engineered plans from their projects. In the event of settlement, heave or pool cracking the pool builder is liable for these conditions.
Had these events occurred and they included these experts and followed their recommendations, then the liability would be upon those experts.
Paolo Benedetti
Aquatic Artist, Consultant & Construction Defect Expert Witness
"Creating water as art."™
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
©www.aquatictechnology.com
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If you want to ask a question of Paolo Benedetti, you may email him at: info@aquatictechnology.com