IRC "Accepted Engineering Practice" for fill compaction.

[BN4537]

What documents and tests does your jurisdiction require to build an IRC building on fill dirt instead of native soil? According to the commentary, the code pretty much leaves it up to the code official to decide what is "accepted engineering practice". What is the minimum testing that you guys require in your jurisdiction if you know someone is about to pour on fill dirt instead of virgin soil?

 

[Mr. Inspector]

We let them build on a few inches of compacted stone otherwise they need a geotechnical evaluation.

 

[Msradell]

Around here depends on the type of building, what Rick mentioned above would be the bare minimum but I personally would find that unacceptable for anything but an outbuilding. For commercial buildings normally so compaction measurements taken by a geotechnical firm are Req. Normally they actually are on-site during the fill process and take measurements of each layers compaction.

 

[TheCommish]

Massachusetts limits compacted fill to 12 inches or engineer fill, which means geo testing and placement in compacted lifts to 95% dry denisty an

 

[Mark K]

Unless there is formally adopted objective criteria, what is required by the building department is likely to be arbitrary. If there is a geotechnical report whatever is recommended by the geotechnical engineer. If there is no geotechnical report I would look to the exception of BC Section 1705.6. This is consistent with the principle that if the IRC does not address a situation the IBC provisions should apply.