Section 362.1804. Ground improvement.

  These are department rules in addition to the requirements in IBC section 1804:

(1)   Design of ground improvement. Ground improvement for support of foundations or floor slabs shall be designed by an architect or engineer who is registered by the department.

(2)   Allowable foundation pressure of improved ground. The allowable foundation pressure for improved ground shall incorporate a minimum safety factor of 3 with respect to a bearing capacity failure within the composite improved ground.

(3)   Settlement of structures supported on improved ground. The improved ground shall be designed and constructed for a maximum anticipated total settlement of one inch and a maximum anticipated differential settlement of three fourths of an inch, unless it can be shown that the predicted total and differential settlement will not cause any of the following:

(a) Harmful distortion of the structure.

(b) Instability in the structure.

(c) Any element to be loaded beyond its capacity.

(4)   Design confirmation testing. The registered design professional responsible for the design of the ground improvement shall determine the scope of field testing required to confirm the design, shall supervise the testing, and shall write a report indicating whether the test results confirm the design. At the discretion of that design professional, testing may be limited to a modulus load test to measure deformation behavior of a single ground improvement element. The design of the ground improvement shall be modified as appropriate based on the results of the confirmatory testing.

(5)   Quality control observations and testing. The registered design professional responsible for the design of the ground improvement, or a technician working under supervision of that professional, shall observe construction of the ground improvement, perform quality control testing, and upon completion of work, prepare a report stating whether the ground improvement meets the intent of the approved construction documents. A copy of the report shall be provided to the registered design professional in responsible charge of the project, and to the building official if requested.

CR 10-103 : cr. Register August 2011 No. 668 , eff. 9-1-11; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6. , Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672 .