One of the first activities on the site where the building will be constructed, carried out before the site is established, is soil testing. Two types of data are important for the foundation soil:
- mechanical soil characteristics and stratigraphy (depth of layer appearance and groundwater)
- geostatic analyses from which we obtain information on soil bearing capacity and settlement
These data are obtained through soil testing, which can be:
- optical – for simple, temporary, or light structures (orientation data)
- exact – taking soil samples using probes for laboratory testing. Probes can have various profiles ranging from a few centimeters to deep borehole sections, and are driven into the ground manually or mechanically. Borehole drilling determines the presence of groundwater and the occurrence of different layers.
Geomechanical report contains: depth and bearing capacity of individual layers with indication of the foundation layer, data on groundwater presence, assessment of the risk of possible slope failure, settlement of the terrain, and other information.
Just before the start of construction, other preparatory works are also carried out: site formation, location (excavation) of the object, construction of temporary structures and communications, supply of energy, water and materials, organization of skilled labor facilities, etc. All of these works are removed after construction is finished.
Site formation is a set of technical‑legal activities that commence the execution of the building. The sequence of steps is as follows:
- “Transfer of ownership” (the investor hands the contractor a site free of ownership or legal problems)
- enclosure of the site
- establishment of a security service
- installation of electrical systems and water supply and drainage connections
- commissioning of concrete mixing machines and cranes
- commencement of temporary structure construction