Sample Collection Tips that Promote Accurate Soil Testing

Soil testing is an integral part of the construction process since it helps engineers and builders make critical decisions, ensuring safe structures. It makes soil testing the first stage in building and construction, and excavation can only begin once a soil test report is issued and analysed by professionals. However, soil test results are only reliable if sample collection is not compromised. If there is evidence of compromised soil sample collection, the results are unreliable. This article highlights ways to promote reliable soil sample collection.

Schedule Soil Testing Early Morning

Contractors usually hire independent soil testing companies who, in turn, schedule the testing. Thus, soil testing crews can collect samples from various sites for different clients in one day. However, visiting various locations and collecting samples using the same tools increases the risk of contamination. It is why soil testing crews must wash all their devices when leaving one location for another. However, a clever strategy to prevent the likelihood of soil sample contamination is scheduling the testing for early morning. The reason is that soil testing crews clean all their tools every day in preparation for the next day. Thus, you can rest assured that the soil samples from your site will be collected using clean, uncontaminated tools.

Labelling on Site

You never know the importance of accurate labelling until you mix collected soil samples. Although it rarely happens, soil testing crews can correct the mistake on-site by taking fresh samples. However, there are instances when mixed soil samples find their way to a lab, resulting in inaccurate reports. The only way to prevent sample mix-up during soil collection is to ensure everything is labelled on-site. Even if a crew member does not have labelling stationery, they should not proceed until issued with a fresh batch of labels. 

Consider Site History

Accurate soil testing must consider a site's history. Notably, virgin sites are easy to handle since their soil profile and properties are straightforward. However, just because a site appears virgin does not mean it is. In this regard, you must establish the historical activities carried out on a project site. The reason is that sites that have experienced various projects have inconsistent soil attributes that must be accounted for during decision-making. For instance, a site that accommodated several single-storey structures in the past can only be used for such facilities. Therefore, if you build a multi-story building on such a site, the construction will develop structural issues. Therefore, a site's history should support soil test results for better decision-making.  

Contact a soil testing service to learn more.