What Auckland clients say
“Sam and the team at Chambers Consultants are absolute professionals and provide excellent service and communication. They helped us recently with a complex pre purchase inspection and saved us from making a big mistake!”
Jeremy M., Google review
“The team was professional, reliable, and delivered high-quality results on time. Very responsive and easy to work with—I highly recommend them for any geotechnical needs.”
Hossein G., Google review
“Good reliable Consultant Engineers, technically sound.”
Shahid A., Google review
Read all reviews on Google · Geotechnical engineers in Auckland · What a geotechnical report costs
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a geotechnical report for a building consent in Auckland?
Usually yes, unless the site can be shown to have good ground as defined in NZS 3604. Auckland Council will typically require a geotechnical report where the site is on a slope steeper than about 1 in 5, has fill of unknown origin, sits within a mapped landslide or coastal hazard area, has soft or peaty soils, or where the design falls outside NZS 3604 and needs specific engineering design. If the site is flat, on undisturbed natural ground, and the building is a standard NZS 3604 dwelling, a report may not be required, but the ground still has to be verified.
What does a geotechnical report include?
A geotechnical investigation report for building consent normally contains a desktop study of published geology and council hazard records, a site walkover, intrusive investigation such as hand auger or machine boreholes with Scala penetrometer or CPT testing, laboratory testing where required, a ground model describing the soil profile and groundwater, an assessment against the good ground criteria of NZS 3604, allowable bearing capacity and settlement estimates, geohazard assessment covering slope stability and liquefaction where relevant, and specific foundation recommendations. It is signed by a Chartered Professional Engineer.
What is good ground under NZS 3604?
Good ground under NZS 3604 is ground with an ultimate bearing capacity of at least 300 kPa that is not subject to erosion, subsidence, slippage or liquefaction, does not contain uncontrolled fill, and is not on a slope steeper than 1 in 5 or within the zone of influence of such a slope. If any one of those conditions is not met, the site is not good ground and specific engineering design is required.
Who prepares and signs your geotechnical reports?
Our geotechnical reports are prepared and signed by Chartered Professional Engineers (CPEng) registered with Engineering New Zealand, working to NZS 3604, MBIE guidance and New Zealand Geotechnical Society guidelines. Chambers Consultants is based in Papatoetoe, Auckland, and works across Auckland, Northland and New Zealand wide.