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Appendix B Geotechnical Report Limitations and Guidelines for Use Report No. P-0004952 B.2.3 Read the Full Report Costly problems have occurred because those relying on a geotechnical-engineering report did not read the report in its entirety. Do not rely on an executive summary. Do not read selective elements only. Read and refer to the report in full. B.2.4 You Need to Inform Your Geotechnical Engineer About Change Your geotechnical engineer considered unique, project -specific factors when developing the scope of study behind this report and developing the confirmation -dependent recommendations the report conveys. Typical changes that could erode the reliability of this report include those that affect: • the site's size or shape; • the elevation, configuration, location, orientation, function or weight of the proposed structure and the desired performance criteria; • the composition of the design team; or • project ownership. As a general rule, always inform your geotechnical engineer of project or site changes — even minor ones — and request an assessment of their impact. The geotechnical engineer who prepared this report cannot accept responsibility or liability for problems that arise because the geotechnical engineer was not informed about developments the engineer otherwise would have considered. B.2.5 Most of the "Findings" Related in This Report Are Professional Opinions Before construction begins, geotechnical engineers explore a site's subsurface using various sampling and testing procedures. Geotechnical engineers can observe actual subsurface conditions only at those specific locations where sampling and testing is performed. The data derived from that sampling and testing were reviewed by your geotechnical engineer, who then applied professional judgement to form opinions about subsurface conditions throughout the site. Actual sitewide-subsurface conditions may differ — maybe significantly — from those indicated in this report. Confront that risk by retaining your geotechnical engineer to serve on the design team through project completion to obtain informed guidance quickly, whenever needed. B.2.6 This Report's Recommendations Are Confirmation -Dependent The recommendations included in this report — including any options or alternatives — are confirmation -dependent. In other words, they are not final, because the geotechnical engineer who developed them relied heavily on judgement and opinion to do so. Your geotechnical engineer can finalize the recommendations only after observing actual subsurface conditions exposed during construction. If through observation your geotechnical engineer confirms that the conditions assumed to exist actually do exist, the recommendations can be relied upon, assuming no other changes have occurred. The geotechnical engineer who prepared this report cannot assume responsibility or liability for confirmation -dependent recommendations if you fail to retain that engineer to perform construction observation. B.2.7 This Report Could Be Misinterpreted Other design professionals' misinterpretation of geotechnical engineering reports has resulted in costly problems. Confront that risk by having your geotechnical engineer serve as a continuing member of the design team, to: • confer with other design -team members; • help develop specifications; • review pertinent elements of other design professionals' plans and specifications; and • be available whenever geotechnical engineering guidance is needed. You should also confront the risk of constructors misinterpreting this report. Do so by retaining your geotechnical engineer to participate in prebid and preconstruction conferences and to perform construction -phase observations. B.2.8 Give Constructors a Complete Report and Guidance Some owners and design professionals mistakenly believe they can shift unanticipated -subsurface -conditions liability to constructors by limiting the information they provide for bid preparation. To help prevent the costly, contentious Appendix B — Page 2 of 3 AMERICAN ENGINEERING TESTING, INC