1.

Donut Hammer

Safety Hammer

Automatic Hammer

Operated by rope
and cat head or
mechanical
tripping.
Not recommended
because the
hammers are more
dangerous to
operate and are
less efficient than
safety hammers.
Delivers
approximately
45% of the

Lifted and dropped

with a rope and a
cat head
Delivers
approximately
60% of the
maximum free fall
energy

Used frequently
and are preferred
because the
hammers are safer
and offer close to
true free fall
conditions
Delivers
approximately 95100% of the
maximum free fall
energy
Consistent and
effective energy

2. Provision/ Guidelines
(National Structural Code of
the Philippines)
For structures two stories or higher, it is recommended that a geotechnical
study to be performed to evaluate in-situ soil parameters for foundation
design and analysis
It is recommended that a minimum of one borehole per 200 m 2 of the
structures footprint be drilled to a depth of at least 5 m into hard strata or
until suitable bearing layer is reached unless otherwise specified by the
consulting geotechnical engineer
The total boreholes per structure should not be less than 2 for structures
whose footprints are less than 300 m2 and no less than 3 for those
structures with larger footprints
For buildings with basements, it is recommended that the depth of boring
should extend twice the least plan dimensions of the structures footprint
plus the depth of the basement
A geotechnical investigation should also be conducted in cases of
questionable soils, expansive soils, unknown groundwater table to
determine whether the existing ground water table is above or within 1.5
m below the elevation of the lowest floor level
3.

N CORRECTED =C N N FIELD

Principles of Foundation Engineering (Braja Das)

N 60=

N H B S R
60

where: N60 = standard penetration number, corrected for field conditions

N = measured penetration number
H = hammer efficiency (%)
B = correction for borehole diameter
S = sampler correction
R = correction for rod length

4. I would contract/ procure a geotechnical company to conduct geotechnical

investigation and prepare the geotechnical evaluation report, even if the cost of
the investigation is expensive due to the following reasons:
a) It is the provision/ requirement of the NSCP to conduct geotechnical
investigations specifically boreholes for structures/ buildings 2 storeys and
more.
b) The borehole logs will show the kind/ classification of soil by layers
c) The geotechnical evaluation report will be the basis of the structural
engineer to prepare the structural analysis/ design of the building
particularly the foundation. Without the geotechnical evaluation, the
designer/ engineer will only make assumptions thereby he may over
design the building which will cost more instead of saving. The
geotechnical investigation will help us design the building economically
and appropriately.