Sub-Surface Conditions

The Contractor has a duty to himself in ascertaining the sub-surface condition of a work he intends to carry out activities on. This normally is based on experience to avoid future arguement on whose shoulder the responsibility should there be a failure in future. Secondly the tender documents direct the tenderers to ascertain all factors that will enable him quote and execute for the work in other words sufficiency of tender.

I had worked on a bridge project for which the piling works were carried out obviously long time ago without adequate documentation. We insisted on a separate investigation to determine the structural stability of the existing works and our fear was confirmed as the pile loading test failed.

Normally,

During the Pre Tender stage (Especially for Buildings), no contractor will do a physical check by appointing an agency..(Since it is in tendering stage) They will check for the data from the near by ongoing / existing projects, if any...

Even if the client had given the data in the Tender document, am sure wisely they would add "Soil data given in the Tender is for information purpose only, contractor has to confirm/check the data before quoting"

Venkat

Hi Raphael & Jaya

Thanks for your openions & views.

let us wait for some more views on this topic.

Thanks again

Cheers