5837 soil assessments?

[James]

Hi Jesse, I'm sure you are taking all the necessary precautions, but for the sake of anyone else reading this who may be thinking of including soil assessments in their BS5837:2005 surveys I'll say this: Please be extremely careful!

Soil structure and its suitability for new foundations is considerably more complex than a simple PI test. In my 8 year experience of professional consultancy, it is the architect's job to assess soils and their suitability for whatever is being built upon them. This is what they are trained, qualified and insured to do. And if it falls outside their remit, then they usually obtain soil engineer reports.

I have heard stories of architects facing serious legal action for failing to make the proper considerations in this regards.