(a) When doubt arises as to the safe sustaining power of the earth upon which a building is to be erected, the Building Inspector may order borings to be made, or direct the sustaining power of the soil to be tested, by and at the expense of the owner. The allowable bearing capacity and stability of the subsoil materials shall be established by a registered geotechnical engineer.
(b) Where the bearing materials directly under a foundation overlie a stratum having smaller allowable bearing values, these smaller values shall not be exceeded at the level of such stratum. Computation of the vertical pressure in the bearing materials at any depth below a foundation shall be made on the assumption that the load is spread uniformly at any angle of sixty degrees with the horizontal. However, the area considered as supporting the load shall not extend beyond the intersection of sixty degree planes of adjacent foundations.
(Ord 1992-101. Passed 1-14-92.)