“P” Classification: In accordance with AS 2870 a site must be classified as a “P” or Problem site
if it falls outside the scope of this Standard. This could be as a result of the following factors; over
400mm of fill, loose soils, land contamination, flood prone areas, land slip, mine subsidence,
extremely reactive soils etc.

A S 2870: This is a BCA Compliant Australian Standard for the design and Construction of
slabs for domestic housing. Its use by engineers and builders is controversial as this standard
attempts to establish an acceptable Classification for slab failure, contrary to home owner’s
expectations and recent High Court legal precedence. (Refer IdealSlab™ Overview)

A S 3600: This is a BCA Compliant Australian Standard for the design and construction of
concrete structures. Engineers use this Standard extensively for the design and construction
of Commercial Structures. AS 3600 is much more rigid in performance requirements than AS
2870.

Acid Sulfate Soil (ASS): Acid sulfate soils are the common name given to naturally occurring
sediments and soils containing iron sulfides (principally iron sulfide or iron disulfide or their
precursors). The exposure of the sulfide in these soils to oxygen by drainage or excavation
leads to the generation of sulfuric acid. Note: The term acid sulfate soil generally includes
both actual and potential acid sulfate soils. Actual and potential acid sulfate soils are often
found in the same soil profile, with actual acid sulfate soils generally overlying potential acid
sulfate soil horizons.

AHD (Australian Height Datum): mean sea level based on official tide gouges around the
coastline.

Batters: the sloped sides of the walls surrounding the building platform.

Bearing Capacity: The term used to describe the maximum load that can be sustained by the soil at
the proposed founding depth. Bearing Capacity is a function of the soil matrix and size and shape of
the foundation piling.

Bore Hole Sampling: Bore Hole Sampling is generally required only for clay soil sites. It is
necessary to determine the depth at which permanently stable clay is found (the stable zone) and
take samples for laboratory testing.

Building Code of Australia (BCA): The BCA is the compliant Code in Australia for the design and
construction of all Habitable Structures.

Building Platform: The area of a site that is to be occupied by a house including the
immediate surrounds.

Commercial Grade Slab: Refer AS 3600

Cut and Fill: If a building platform is sloping, the builder will CUT the high section and use this
material to FILL the lower section. This process will create a level Building Platform.

Dynamic Cone Penetrometer Tests (DCP’s): The Dynamic Cone consists of a small drop hammer
attached to a “cone” or rod. The number of blows to drive the cone into the soil in incremental
lengths is recorded. DCP results effectively tell us the soil profile and its strength.

Excessive Soil Movement: Soil movement (heave or settlement) which causes a slab to deflect
from 15mm to 25mm over any 3 Metre length is considered excessive.

Expansive Soils: Most clay soils will swell up when wet and shrink back when dry. The degree of
expansion and contraction depends on the grain size and distribution throughout the soil matrix. This
volume change may vary from 20mm through to 120mm. Sites that contain reactive soils need to be
prepared correctly and the correct slab system used, otherwise sever damage to the structure may
occur.

Fill: Refer Cut and Fill

Fill Settlement: Irrespective of Fill Compaction, fill will still settle over time. Depending on the quality
of the fill this settlement may be excessive which can affect the structural integrity of a structure.
Refer to Excessive Soil Movement and Structural Integrity.

Founding Depth: The depth at which the screw piers will be installed: Refer Screw Piers and
Bearing Capacity.

Fully Suspended Slabs: Most slab systems are built on the ground e.g. Waffle Pods. Fully
suspended slabs do not rely on the near surface soil for support; instead they rely on a close network
of screw piers to provide uniform support to the slab and the structure above. Refer IdealSlab™.

Geotechnical Assessment: This is a broad term to define the application of the principles of Soil
and Engineering Mechanics, used in the assessment of a site.

Ground Water: Water held beneath the soil surface, especially water that flows or seeps downward
and saturates the soil.

IdealSlab™: A proprietary Slab System developed by IdealFoundations™ to provide the Housing Industry with a failsafe
solution to the problems encountered with differential movement of the slab/structure caused by near surface soils that are
affected by either soil swelling, soil shrinkage or by fill settlement.

In Situ Soils: This term describes original soils in place on a site.

Laboratory Testing: Clay soils are subjected to a series of Laboratory Tests to determine their
shrink swell potential (Ys value). The result of these tests will determine the “Soil Classification”.
Refer Expansive Soils and Soil Classification.

Long Term Serviceability: This term refers to the ability of the slab system to remain in service,
without failure, for the life of the structure. Housing is required to be designed for a service life of 50
years.

Raft Slab: Raft Slabs are designed primarily to distribute building loads to the sub grade soil. These slabs are designed
to be stiff enough, structurally to distribute these loads but, may still fail in service e.g. Slab tilting, Torsional Stress and or
Centre Heave.

Reactive Clay Soils: This is another term to describe Expansive Soils.

Screw Piers: Screw Piers are products manufactured by IdealFoundations™. They are a self drilling piling system capable
of sustaining significant loads, both in tension and compression with minimum deflection over the life of the structure.

Shrink Swell Potential: This term refers to the volume change of clay soils. Refer Laboratory Testing.

Site Classification: On completion of the Site Investigation process the Engineer will classify the site accordingly. Refer
Site Investigation and Soil Classification.

Site Investigation: A Site Investigation is undertaken to accurately assess all risks associated with construction on a
particular site. On completion of the process a Site Investigation Report is prepared and submitted to the client. The
Engineering Details contained within the Site Investigation Report are used as the basis for the IdealSlab™ Design.

Site Preparation: This term refers to the work undertaken in order to prepare the site for construction. Refer Cut and Fill
and Soil Scarification.

Slab Design: This term refers to working drawings designed and certified by the Engineer. Refer IdealSlab™.

Soil Classification: AS 2870 requires that all soils on sites be classified in accordance with their shrink swell potential.
Refer Laboratory Testing, AS 2870 and “P” Classification.

Soil Heave: Clay soils swell when wet. This is called soil heave. Refer expansive soils and IdealSlab™ Overview.

Soil Movement: All soils moves. The degree of movement depends on the properties of the in situ soils. Refer AS 2870,
Reactive Soils and “P” Classification.

Soil Scarification: If a site has been classified as either “H” or “E” than the building platform will be scarified or ripped to
a specified depth typically from 600mm to 800mm. The scarification process is used to induce voids to the sub-soil strata.
In the event of soil swelling the heave forces are dissipated into the scarified cavities. This process neutralises potential
damaging uplift forces acting to raise the slab and the structure off the ground. On “E” sites this can be as much as
100mm +. Refer IdealSlab™ Overview Document.

Soil Test: A series of Laboratory or Field Tests undertaken to understand the engineering properties of soil from a
building site. Refer Laboratory Testing and Dynamic Cone Penetration Tests.

Subsurface Drainage: An underground network of drains to minimise infiltration of surface water near a structure. Refer
Expansive Soils.