(a) Prior to the issuance of a building permit and in the absence of satisfactory data or reports, such as, but not limited to, a soil investigation by an engineer specializing in soil and foundation engineering, the Building Inspector shall require the owner to dig pits or make borings at such locations, carried to such depths, and with appropriate sampling, as is reasonably calculated to disclose the character of the materials underlying the site of the proposed structure.
(b) Duplicate copies of the results of all borings and pits made shall be filed with the Building Inspector. Samples, properly protected from evaporation or disturbance, representing the various classes of those materials, may be requested by the Building Inspector for examination.
(c) Where portions of the foundation of an entire building or structure rest directly upon or are underlain by materials having substantially different supporting capacities, or where layers of such different materials vary greatly in thickness, the magnitude and distribution of the probable settlement shall be investigated, and, if necessary, the allowable load shall be reduced or special provisions shall be made in the design of the structure to prevent detrimental differential settlements.
(d) Whenever the classification or allowable bearing capacity of a soil or rock cannot be determined by the test boring or excavation, a special soil investigation by an engineer specializing in soil and foundation engineering is required before approval of a building permit under this Building Code.
(e) Deviations from the allowable soil and rock pressures set forth in Section 1339.04(b) and other foundation requirements may be permitted after performance of a special soil investigation under the direction of an engineer specializing in soil and foundation engineering. The Building Inspector may approve such deviations only after receiving a written opinion from such engineer, together with substantiating evidence of acceptable laboratory and field investigation of the soils involved.
(f) Where the bearing capacity of the soil is not definitely known, the Building Inspector shall require suitable load tests or other adequate proof as to the permissible safe bearing capacity at that particular location. Examination of subsoil conditions may be required where necessary.
(g) All tests, boring, excavations, samplings, reports, investigations or inquiries required hereby shall be by and at the sole expense of the owner.
(Ord. 1992-101. Passed 1-14-92.)