Report on Construction Materials Testing Services

Project: Testing Construction Materials for a Residential Building Pad

Location: Building Pad for a Lot in the Subdivision, Newport News, Virginia

Introduction

This case study summarizes the construction materials testing services provided by PWR Engineering LLC for the building pad on a Lot in a Subdivision, Newport News, Virginia. The purpose of the visit was to oversee the removal of unsuitable fill material, evaluate the underlying subgrade, and perform compaction testing on the newly placed structural fill to ensure it met project specifications.

Project Description

The project involved the construction of a single-family dwelling structure on Lot . The proposed residence was a two-story, wood-frame structure with an attached garage at grade. The first level of the structure would feature an elevated slab-on-grade construction.

Field Test Procedures & Results

A representative from PWR Engineering LLC visited the site on June 14 and June 15, 2024, to monitor the construction activities.

1. Undercutting & Unsuitable Fill Removal

• The PWR Engineering representative observed the contractor undercutting the building envelopes to remove uncontrolled, unsuitable fill material.
• The contractor successfully removed the uncontrolled fill as recommended, exposing the naturally occurring soils beneath.
• The undercut depths ranged from 2 to 3 feet below the surrounding grades.
• Upon completion of the unsuitable fill removal, the exposed subgrade within the base of the excavation was inspected and approved for backfill.

2. Structural Fill Placement & Compaction Testing

• Following subgrade approval, the contractor began placing select structural fill material in maximum 8-inch lifts to achieve the desired finish grades.
• Compaction testing was performed on each lift of the structural fill placed.
• The results of the compaction tests indicated that the structural fill material, at all tested elevations and locations, was compacted to at least 95% of the Standard Proctor maximum dry density (ASTM D 698). A detailed compaction test report is available as an attachment to the original report.

Conclusion

The construction materials testing services performed by PWR Engineering LLC. for the building pad at the Lot confirmed that the undercutting of uncontrolled fill was properly executed and the underlying subgrade was suitable. Furthermore, the newly placed structural fill met the required compaction standards, achieving at least 95% of the Standard Proctor maximum dry density.

These results indicate that the building pad had been prepared in accordance with engineering recommendations, providing a stable foundation for the proposed residential structure.