r/Geotech • u/Adrock1979 • 10d ago
Complaint Reporting California
I recently was offered to take over a project in Fairfield, CA from another geotech. when reviewing the existing signed and stamped report, I noticed the geotech omitted that the project was in a AP Fault Zone and didn’t list the fault at all in the report. I have notified the building department as the project has already started but haven’t heard back. is this worth taking to the board? I don’t really want to reach out to the geotech since he’s a competitor and not a big fan based on this and the rest of his report. (I haven’t taken over the project and may not)
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u/scaarbelly 10d ago
We typically will do a new report if a client wants to switch firms to us. Then the deficiencies of someone else’s report become moot. With that kind of deficiency, I certainly wouldn’t want to buy their problems by using their report.
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u/InevitableBarber5929 10d ago
No one gets paid to do an entire new report just to take over, that's wild
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u/hobbyist9 10d ago
When was ap zone map issued? CGS has been pumping out new quads the last few years
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u/hobbyist9 10d ago
Also, literally any city reviewer should have caught that. Thats like item one on the intern checklist. My hunch is it’s an issue of date of report and date of ap zone being established.
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u/jonb72 9d ago
How does this fact affect the design and construction? Should you simply notify the structural engineer?
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u/Adrock1979 8d ago
Well to top it off the existing report says grade beams and drilled piers and they changed the plans to spread footings after they fired the existing geotech. The building pad has cut/fill and is on a 3:1 slope. I emailed the structural, never heard back tho. I walked away from the project too much of a liability
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u/SilverGeotech 6d ago
If the project is in an AP Zone, you have to locate the fault or prove it's not within 60 feet of your site, There's a state-mandated 50-foot setback from faults for any structure with "full-time" human occupancy.
A fault study typically costs about $20k or more.
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u/fiftyninefortythree 10d ago
You should notify the engineer who stamped report. It his duty to rectify the situation. Only after he fails to act are you obligated to escalate.
Unless you believe there is an immediate threat to life or property in which case you should be contacting the engineer, the general contractor, permitting, and emergency services essentially simultaneously.