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(a) Whenever the bearing value of soil is in reasonable doubt or when it is desired to use soil bearing values in excess of those established in Table 13-132-060(a) as set out in Section 13-132-060, the allowable load on a bearing material may be determined by test in accordance with the requirements of this section.
(b) Test Procedure.
(1) A sufficient number of tests shall be made to determine the bearing value of the soil over the entire building site.
(2) Each load test shall be an area of not less than four square feet, except that such tests on soils having a bearing capacity of more than 10,000 pounds per square foot may be made on an area of not less than one square foot.
(3) Loads shall be applied in increments not exceeding 25 percent of the proposed safe load until the total load reaches 200 percent of the proposed safe load.
(4) The increments up to the proposed bearing value shall be applied at uniform intervals such that the proposed safe load is reached in not less than eight hours. This load shall remain until no measurable settlements shall occur in a period of 16 hours. The total test load shall then be completed in not less than eight hours by adding equal increments at uniform intervals. The total test load shall remain until no measurable settlement occurs in a period of 16 hours.
(5) Measurements of settlements before and after each increment of load shall be taken and recorded diagrammatically.
(c) Conditions of Acceptance. The proposed safe load shall be approved if the following conditions are satisfied.
(1) The total settlement under the proposed safe load shall not exceed three-eighths inch, and the total settlement under double the design load shall not exceed one inch.
(2) The proposed safe load shall not cause pressure on any underlying soil stratum in excess of maximum pressures established in Table 13-132-060(a) as set out in Section 13-132-060. If the above conditions are not satisfied, the allowable safe load shall be determined by selecting a reduced load from the load- settlement diagram, such that the above conditions are satisfied.
(Prior code § 70-2.5)