July/August 2023 - 111

Assessing Risks for Deep Foundation Contractors
in Design-Build Projects
Design-bui ld projects have gained
significant popularity in the construction
industry due to their streamlined approach
that combines the design and construction
phases. While this project delivery method
offers numerous benefits, it also presents
unique challenges and risks. One area of
concern is the involvement of deep foundation
contractors, whose work plays a critical
role in the overall schedule of the project.
Risk of Inadequate Geotechnical
Contractual and Coordination Issues:
A regular column
from the DFI Risk and
Contracts Committee
Investigation: Design-build projects often
have compressed schedules, which can lead
to inadequate time for comprehensive
geotechnical investigations. Insufficient site
exploration and testing can result in limited
understanding of the subsurface conditions
generating serious design risks and
operational risk for the foundation installation.
The final report also incorporates
information from the bridging documents
issued by the owner, generating a blur delimitation of the legal
ownership in regards to the geotechnical data.
Complexity of Foundation Design: Deep foundation
systems, such as piles and caissons, are commonly employed
in design-build projects to support structures on challenging
soil conditions. The design and installation of these complex
systems require specialized expertise. Inadequate understanding
of the project's specific requirements (due to the
limited information in the owner's bridging documents) and
geotechnical data can lead to multiple iterations in the
foundation design with serious consequences on schedule,
procurement and cost.
Project Delivery Risk
MONDAY, JULY 24
DFI's Risk and Contracts Committee has organized a
panel discussion on risk and project delivery systems to
be held at the Geo-Risk 2023 conference, organized by
the American Society of Civil Engineers' Geo-Institute
in Arlington, Virginia, July 23-26.
" Project Delivery Risk in Deep Foundations - Legal
and Operational Approaches " takes place on Monday,
July 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. ET.
Information is available at www.geo-risk.org.
Authored by:
Alexander Filotti, P.E.,
M.B.A., chair of the
DFI Risk and
Contracts Committee
In design-build projects, deep foundation
contractors often join the project at a later
stage, once the design is already in progress.
This delayed involvement can lead to
potential conflicts between the design team
and the contractor. Differences in interpretation,
scope changes or miscommunications
can emerge, leading to
disputes and delays.
Quality Control and Inspection
Challenges: Monitoring the quality of deep
foundation work is crucial to ensure
compliance with design specifications and
industry standards. However, design-build
projects may present challenges in maintaining
proper oversight and inspection.
Time constraints and the degree of design
fluidity can hinder the contractor's ability
to generate the proper quality control
documents. Inadequate quality control
documents can result in difficulty with the inspection
schedule, coordinat ion wi th the owner 's qual i ty
assurance/quality control and permitting, as well as
increasing the project risks.
Mitigating the Risks: To mitigate the risks associated
with deep foundation contractors in design-build projects,
several measures should be implemented. First and foremost,
thorough geotechnical investigations should be conducted to
gain a comprehensive understanding of the site conditions.
Early involvement of the deep foundation contractor in the
design process can facilitate collaboration and prevent
conflicts. Also, it can create an opportunity for the contractor
to implement its input in the design of the foundations.
Regular inspections, quality control measures and adherence
to industry standards are essential to ensure the proper
installation and performance of the foundation systems.
Conclusion
While design-build projects offer efficiency and collaboration
advantages, the involvement of deep foundation contractors
introduces unique risks. Inadequate geotechnical investigation,
complex foundation design, contractual issues and quality
control challenges can all pose significant threats to the success
of a project. By recognizing these risks and implementing
appropriate mitigation strategies, design-build teams can
minimize uncertainties and enhance the overall performance
and safety of deep foundation systems in their projects.
DEEP FOUNDATIONS * JULY/AUG 2023 * 111
RISK CORNER
http://www.geo-risk.org
July/August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2023
