Soil Testing & Geotechnical Investigation in Kolkata

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Every structure finally transfers its entire load to the ground. Without a proper assessment of the soil or rock below, it is not possible to decide the right type, size and depth of foundation. Even a single-storey building can tilt or crack because of differential settlement on soil that was never investigated.

BS Projects & Engineers Pvt. Ltd. has carried out geotechnical investigation since 2002, for soil and rock, across West Bengal and other states. With our own soil testing laboratory and engineers who also design structures, we give you foundation recommendations that are safe and economical, not just test results.

Whether you need soil testing for building construction in Kolkata, Howrah or North and South 24 Parganas, or a full geotechnical investigation for an industrial project, our field team and in-house soil testing lab handle the work end to end: boring, SPT, sampling, rock coring, laboratory tests and the final foundation recommendation.

When You Need a Geotechnical Investigation

• Before designing any new building, factory shed, tower, tank, bridge or road
• Before adding floors or heavy loads to an existing structure
• When an existing building shows cracks, tilting or settlement
• For sites on filled ground, soft clay, expansive soil or near water bodies
• When an authority, architect or structural designer asks for a soil report

Our Investigation Process

1. Planning – number and depth of boreholes fixed from the size and load of the proposed structure.
2. Field work – boring, in-situ tests and collection of disturbed and undisturbed samples.
3. Laboratory testing – samples tested in our own soil laboratory.
4. Analysis – safe bearing capacity, settlement and, where needed, pile capacity.
5. Report – borelogs, test results and clear foundation recommendations, including ground improvement where required.

Field Investigation

• Boring by auger, shell and auger or wash boring (IS 1892)
• Standard Penetration Test, SPT (IS 2131)
• Undisturbed sampling (IS 2132)
• Rock coring and Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
• Groundwater level observation
• Plate load test for bearing capacity and settlement at foundation level (IS 1888)
• Static and dynamic pile load tests, and pile integrity tests

Laboratory Testing

Our in-house soil laboratory carries out tests as per IS 2720, including:

• Natural moisture content, bulk density and specific gravity
• Grain size analysis and Atterberg limits (liquid and plastic limit)
• Unconfined compression and triaxial shear tests
• Direct shear test
• Consolidation test, for settlement analysis
• Free swell index, for expansive soils
• Chemical tests of soil and water, such as sulphate, chloride and pH
• Strength tests on rock cores

Our Laboratory and Field Work

Our soil testing laboratory	Laboratory testing of soil samples
Boring at a project site	Borehole drilling for soil investigation

What Your Soil Report Includes

• Site plan with borehole locations
• Borelogs with soil layers, SPT values and groundwater level
• Laboratory test results
• Safe bearing capacity and settlement analysis
• Recommended type and depth of foundation, and pile capacity where piles are needed
• Advice on ground improvement where the soil is weak

Selected Experience

From our List of Work:

• Geotechnical investigation for the Public Works Department, Government of West Bengal, at Siliguri
• Soil testing and structural design for the South Bengal Frontier, BSF, at Kolkata, Krishnanagar, Berhampore and Malda
• Geotechnical investigation for the WBSETCL office building at New Town, Kolkata
• Geotechnical investigation for Data Core India Pvt. Ltd. at Asansol, and for Skipper Steel Ltd.
• Soil tests and foundation design for telecom towers of Tata Teleservices, Vodafone, Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers

Why BS Projects & Engineers

• Working since 2002 in geotechnical and structural engineering
• Own soil testing laboratory
• Soil and rock investigation by experienced engineers
• Foundation advice from engineers who also do structural design
• Recommendations focused on safety and economy

Frequently Asked Questions

How many boreholes does my project need?
It depends on the plot size, the type of structure and its load. We fix the number and depth of boreholes after reviewing your drawings.

Do you investigate rock as well as soil?
Yes. We carry out rock coring and test rock cores along with soil investigation.

Will the report tell me which foundation to use?
Yes. The report recommends the type and depth of foundation, the safe bearing capacity and, where needed, pile capacity.

How deep should the soil test be for my building?
It depends on the building’s height, its loads and the soil found on site. We set the number and depth of boreholes after reviewing your drawings, following IS 1892, so the report covers every layer that affects the foundation.

Do you have your own soil testing laboratory?
Yes. Samples are tested in our in-house soil testing laboratory, so we control quality and turnaround from site to report.

What is a plate load test and when is it needed?
A plate load test loads a steel plate placed at the proposed foundation level and measures how much it settles. It gives the bearing capacity and settlement behaviour of the soil directly at site, and is mainly used for shallow foundations such as footings and rafts.

Which areas do you cover for soil testing?
We carry out soil testing in Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas and all over West Bengal, and also in other states.

Request a Soil Investigation

Call or WhatsApp +91 98304 83074, email hello@bspepl.com, or fill in our enquiry form.