Site Investigation A comprehensive range of ground investigation services
Building on Solid Foundations.
Holequest offers the complete spectrum of ground investigation services.
Ranging from simple hand-dug inspection pits and logging to undertaking all aspects of complex ground investigation for major projects including bridges, tunnels, sewers, highways, dams, industrial and housing developments.
Along with the intricate planning required for a modern constuction project, come a myriad of practical, technical, environmental and regulatory requirements, often with significant associated expense. Understanding the ground beneath and surrounding a project helps in decision-making and avoiding the expensive cost and time overruns that can arise from uninformed assumptions.
We help provide concrete information as to the nature of the substrates, bedrock, drainage, load-bearing capacity, underlying stability and more. As well as providing technical information, we draw on a wealth of expertise and experience to provide advice and consultancy for remedial works that can be undetaken to improve conditions and solve problems.
Projects of All Scales Housing / Industrial / Transport & Infrastructure / Homeplanning and more ...
A Guide to How it Works
Holequest will guide you through the process tailored to your individual project requirements.
(Every project is by its nature unique. The following may be taken as an approximate guide as to how many projects proceed.)
1 – Phase I Desk Study & Site Visit
The Desk Study is a review of available online data from third party sources resulting in a report including a preliminary risk assessment for a specified development site. This is often required for planning application approval. The report would generally be compiled after a site walk-over by our qualified practitioner and would highlight potential project, development, environmental and other issues requiring further investigation.
2 – Phase II Intrusive Site Investigation
Intrusive site investigations are undertaken based on areas highlighted in the Phase I Desk Study. Techniques include:
- Contaminated site investigation.
- Trial pits & trenching.
- Soakaway / permeability tests.
- Sample collection.
- Rock coring.
- Borehole drilling.
- Plate bearing tests.
- California bearing ratio (CBR) tests.
- Laboratory analysis.
3 – Monitoring & Advanced Investigations
Project requirements or results from Phase II Site Investigations may lead to further investigations such as:
- Environmental monitoring.
- Geotechnical monitoring.
- Stability assessments.
- Radon monitoring.
- Gas monitoring / protection.
- Immediate remediation designs.
- Advanced contaminated site investigation.
Phase 4 – Reporting & Works / Remediation Consultancy
A detailed site investigation interpretive report is compiled from the information and results established in previous steps.
Where remedial action such as ground stabilisation or underpinning is required, we provide consultancy and design services. We also provide design and construction of specialist foundation solutions.
Accreditation & Compliance
Holequest operate to the latest industry standards and health and safety legislation and guidance. Learn more about our accreditations.
Traceable Records
We operate a fully computerised database for the production of borehole records, trial pit records and other laboratory test data, ensuring our records are fully traceable.
SPT Calibration
Holequest have an in-house calibration equipment and test facility for all Standard Penetration Testing (SPT) systems.
BS EN ISO 22476-3 states that that the hammer energy has to be known and a certificate of calibration available, especially where ‘N’ values are to be used for the quantitative evaluation of foundations.
Checks on SPT systems should be carried out on a 6 monthly basis or after damage / repair. Our clients have the option to request a calibration prior to the commencement of a project. We use the SPTMAN system provided by Testconsult, who provide certified training for our operatives.
