When this service is useful
The right scope depends on your development, site access, ground conditions and the information needed by your project team. This service is commonly used for:
- New detached homes and dual occupancies
- Granny flats, extensions and additions
- Replacement dwellings and residential redevelopment
- Class P, reactive clay or variable-fill sites requiring project-specific assessment
- Sites where a builder, designer or certifier requests an AS 2870 classification
AS 2870 site classification for Sydney residential projects
A residential site classification considers the ground conditions relevant to the proposed footing or slab design. The appropriate field investigation depends on the building footprint, available access, surface features, soil profile, existing fill and other project-specific factors.
Reactive clay may be encountered in parts of Western Sydney, South West Sydney and Macarthur, while sandstone, shale, fill and other profiles can occur elsewhere. A suburb name, neighbouring report or broad geological map cannot determine the classification of an individual property.
Important project and ground considerations
- Proposed building footprint, floor levels and footing design information
- Existing or proposed cut, fill, retaining structures, trees and drainage
- Relevant site classes and problem-site conditions assessed from actual observations
- Whether additional investigation or laboratory testing would meaningfully inform the classification
What the assessment can include
- Review of available plans, site history and proposed works
- Site walkover and observations of drainage, vegetation, slope and existing development
- Subsurface testing selected to suit the site and access
- Soil description and assessment of characteristic surface movement where applicable
What you receive
- A concise site classification and relevant site features
- Information for the structural or footing designer
- Clear assumptions, limitations and construction considerations
- Digital report suitable for the project team and approval process
What to provide for your quotation
The clearest quote starts with enough information to understand your actual project, site constraints and required deliverables.
- Site address and proposed dwelling, extension or secondary dwelling
- Current architectural plans, survey and available footing information
- Site access details, existing buildings, vegetation or previous earthworks
- The exact wording of any builder, designer, certifier or approval request
AS 2870 Site Classification across Sydney and NSW
We assess suitable residential sites across Greater Sydney, Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith, the Hills District, North Shore, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs and Wollongong/Illawarra, subject to project scope and access. Ground conditions and approval requirements must always be considered site by site.