Foundation Failure
Donan Engineering has investigated thousands of foundation failures in residential, commercial, and industrial structures. Foundations are, of course, a building’s support to the earth’s soil. Settlement is the primary parameter when dealing with foundation failure. Many of our studies have been related to claims for original design and construction errors, product failures, storm and flood damages, vehicle impact damages, mine subsidence, earthquakes, and blasting vibrations.
A failed mechanical connection on a buried 12-inch supply line beneath the pump station, resulted in the foundation soils being washed out from beneath it, which in turn caused the building to settle.
Water-saturated soils have resulted in the differential settlement of the foundation causing the stair-step crack beneath the window. The two most likely sources of water in a foundation are from inadequate perimeter ground slopes and from roof drains discharging too near the wall.
