Florida General Contractor Florida General Contractor Soils and Foundation Systems 3

Question 1

In a Standard Penetration Test (SPT), what does the 'N-value' represent?

Accepted Answer

The number of hammer blows required to drive the sampler 12 inches into the soil

Answer

The SPT N-value is the blow count — the number of blows from a 140-lb hammer dropped 30 inches required to drive the split-spoon sampler 12 inches, indicating soil density or consistency.

Question 2

An SPT blow count of 50 or 'refusal' most likely indicates which soil condition?

Accepted Answer

Very dense granular soil or rock

Answer

A blow count of 50 (or refusal when the sampler will not advance) indicates very dense granular soil or rock, which generally has high bearing capacity.

Question 3

Under the Florida Building Code, who is authorized to prepare and seal a geotechnical investigation report for a construction project?

Accepted Answer

A licensed geotechnical or civil engineer registered in Florida

Answer

Florida law requires geotechnical reports to be prepared and sealed by a licensed professional engineer (geotechnical or civil) registered in Florida, as it involves engineering judgments about subsurface conditions.

Question 4

What is the purpose of a French drain installed near a building foundation?

Accepted Answer

To redirect subsurface groundwater away from the foundation and reduce hydrostatic pressure

Answer

A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that intercepts and redirects groundwater away from the foundation, preventing hydrostatic pressure buildup and moisture intrusion.

Question 5

What is the purpose of a soil percolation (perc) test?

Accepted Answer

To measure how quickly water drains through the soil

Answer

A percolation test measures the rate at which water is absorbed by the soil, which is critical for sizing septic/drain field systems and evaluating on-site drainage design.

Florida General Contractor Practice Test

Florida General Contractor Practice Test

Florida General Contractor Florida General Contractor Soils and Foundation Systems 3