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subsurface conditions revealed during construction. The geotechnical have led to disappointments,claims,and disputes.To help reduce the risk engineer who developed your report cannot assume responsibility or of such outcomes,geotechnical engineers commonly include a variety of liability for the report's recommendations if that engineer does not perform explanatory provisions in their reports.Sometimes labeled"limitations" construction observation many of these provisions indicate where geotechnical engineers'responsi- bilities begin and end,to help others recognize their own responsibilities A Geotechnical Engineering Report Is Subject to and risks. Read these provisions closely.Ask questions.Your geotechnical Misinterpretation engineer should respond fully and frankly, umer design team members'misinterpretation of geotechnical engineering reports has resulted in costly problems.Lower that risk by having your geo- Geoenvlponmental Concerns Ape Not Coveped technical engineer confer with appropriate members of the design team after The equipment,techniques,and personnel used to perform a geoenviron- submitting the report.Also retain your geotechnical engineer to review perti- mental study differ significantly from those used to perform a geotechnical Rent elements of the design team's plans and specifications.Contractors can study.For that reason,a geotechnical engineering report does not usually also misinterpret a geotechnical engineering report.Reduce that risk by relate any geoenvironmental findings,conclusions,or recommendations; having your geotechnical engineer participate in prebid and preconstruction e.g.,about the likelihood of encountering underground storage tanks or conferences,and by providing construction observation. regulated contaminants. Unanticipated environmental problems have led to numerous project failures.If you have not yet obtained your own geoen- Do Not Redraw the Engineer's Logs vironmental information,ask your geotechnical consultant for risk man- Geotechnical engineers prepare final boring and testing logs based upon agement guidance.Do not rely on an environmental report prepared for their interpretation of field logs and laboratory data.To prevent errors or someone else. omissions,the logs included in a geotechnical engineering report should neverbe redrawn for inclusion in architectural or other design drawings. DMIn Protesslonal Assistan of To Deal with Meld Only photographic or electronic reproduction is acceptable,but recognize Diverse strategies can be applied during building design,construction, that separating logs from the report can elevate riskoperation,and maintenance to prevent significant amounts of mold from growing on indoor surfaces.To be effective,all such strategies should be Give Contractors a Complete Report and devised for the express purpose of mold prevention, integrated into a com- Guidance prehensive plan,and executed with diligent oversight by a professional Some owners and design professionals mistakenly believe they can make mold prevention consultant.Because just a small amount of water or contractors liable for unanticipated subsurface conditions by limiting what moisture can lead to the development of severe mold infestations,a num- they provide for bid preparation.To help prevent costly problems,give con- ber of mold prevention strategies focus on keeping building surfaces dry. tractors the complete geotechnical engineering report, butpreface it with a While groundwater,water infiltration,and similar issues may have been _ clearly written letter of transmittal. In that letter,advise contractors that the addressed as part of the geotechnical engineering study whose findings report was not prepared for purposes of bid development and that the are conveyed in this report,the geotechnical engineer in charge of this report's accuracy is limited;encourage them to confer with the geotechnical project is not a mold prevention consultant;none o/the services per- engineer who prepared the report(a modest fee may be required)and/or to formed in connection with the geotechnical engineer's study conduct additional study to obtain the specific types of information they were designed or conducted for the purpose of mold preven- need or prefer.A prebid conference can also be valuable.Be sure contrac- tion. Proper implementation of the recommendations conveyed tors have sufficient timeto perform additional study.Only then might you in this report will not of itself be sufficient to prevent mold be in a position to give contractors the best information available to you, from growing in or on the structure involved. while requiring them to at least share some of the financial responsibilities stemming from unanticipated conditions. Rely, on Your ASFE-Member Geotechncial Engmeep for Additional Assistance Read Responsibillity Provisions Closely Membership in ASFE/THE BEST PEOPLE ON EARTH exposes geotechnical Some clients,design professionals,and contractors do not recognize that engineers to a wide array of risk management techniques that can be of geotechnical engineering is far less exact than other engineering disci- genuine benefit for everyone involved with a construction project.Confer plines.This lack of understanding has created unrealistic expectations that with you ASFE-member geotechnical engineer for more information. ASFE THE BEST PEOPLE ON EARTH 8811 Colesville Road/Suite G106,Silver Spring, MD 20910 Telephone:301/565-2733 Facsimile:301/569-2017 e-mail:info®asfe.org www.asfe.org Copyright 2004 by ASFE,Inc.Duplication,reproduction,or copying of this document,in whole or in part,by any means whatsoever,is strictly prohibited,except with ASFE's specific written permission.Excerpting,quoting,or otherwise extracting wording from this document is permitted only with the express written permission of ASFE,and only for purposes of scholarly research or book review.Only members ofASFE may use this document as a complement to or as an element of a geotechnical engineering report.Any other firm,individual,or other entity that so uses this document without being an ASFE member could be committing negligent or intentional(fraudulent)misrepresentation. IIGER09041oMRP