AS 2870 · soil test for your slab
Residential Site Classification
Aitken Rowe is a NATA-accredited testing laboratory with labs at Wagga Wagga, Griffith and Albury/Wodonga. A residential site classification is the soil test that sets your footing design — a borehole investigation and engineer-signed AS 2870 report, so your builder can price the slab with confidence.
What a site classification tells you
Classifying the site is one of the most important steps for owners and builders before a new home. The classification depends on a range of factors, so it is crucial it is undertaken by a suitably qualified person.
Our qualified geotechnical engineers have been preparing AS 2870 reports across NSW, ACT and Victoria, NATA accredited since 1992.
What every ARTL soil test includes
Comparing prices? These six things separate a usable report from a cheap one.
- Reports prepared by qualified geotechnical engineers
- Trailer-mounted rig boreholes to 3–4m, not hand augers
- NATA-accredited lab testing to AS 1289.3.4.1 and 7.1.1
- Bearing capacity by DCP testing to AS 1289.6.3.2
- Full-depth soil modelling for ys and yt movement
- Options for problem sites, to minimise construction delays
Soil test prices
Local pricing for a standard residential lot.
| Base Laboratories | Wagga | Griffith | Albury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drilling depth required | 3.0m | 4.0m | 3.0m |
| Boreholes required | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) test | Included | Included | Included |
| Site Classification (soil test) | $1,100 +GST | $1,350 +GST | $1,100 +GST |
| Land Capability Assessment (LCA) | $1,100 +GST | $1,100 +GST | $1,100 +GST |
| Site Classification + LCA Booked together · $100 saving | $2,100 +GST | $2,350 +GST | $2,100 +GST |
Subdivisions and combined bookings. Discounts apply where testing can be carried out in one visit, where travel is shared, and where site classifications are booked in bulk. For a new subdivision with every lot tested, the price can come down to $500 +GST per lot. Send us the lot count and we will price it.
How it works
- 01Book the testSend the lot and suburb, we quote the same day.
- 02Drill and sampleOur rigs drill to 3–4m with DCP testing on site.
- 03Laboratory testingSamples tested in our NATA-accredited laboratory.
- 04Engineer's reportSigned AS 2870 classification, ready for your builder.
Common questions
How much does a soil test cost?
A standard residential site classification is $1,100 +GST from our Wagga Wagga and Albury laboratories, and $1,350 +GST from Griffith, where the required drilling depth is 4.0m rather than 3.0m. That covers two boreholes, DCP testing, NATA-accredited laboratory testing (linear shrinkage and shrink swell index) and the engineer's report. Booked together with a Land Capability Assessment the pair is $2,100 +GST from Wagga Wagga or Albury/Wodonga and $2,350 +GST from Griffith, a $100 saving on ordering them separately. For a new subdivision where every lot is tested, site classifications can come down to as low as $500 +GST per lot.
How long does it take?
Typically 10 days from the drill date to report. Laboratory testing takes time to get accurate and reliable results. Some cheap providers rush these jobs through with little or no lab testing, leaving the builder with no choice but to make conservative designs, resulting in a more expensive slab. ARTL are often engaged to retest sites where other providers have taken shortcuts. Test it right; do it once.
What do the classes A, S, M, H, E and P mean?
They describe how much the ground is expected to move with moisture. A is stable sand or rock, S slight, M moderate, H high, E extreme and P problem sites needing specific engineering. The class drives your footing design and therefore your slab cost.
My block has no sewer connection — do I need anything else?
Yes. You will also need a Land Capability Assessment, sometimes called an Effluent Disposal Assessment, so your septic system is designed for the site. We can do both in the one visit.
Discuss your project
Speak to one of our geotechnical engineers — no call centre, no sales script.
Contact details