Soil ( MAST (6th) ):

(Revised:  07/17/2015)

Class 1:

A Profile consisting of:

Rock of Material Classes 1 through 4, or

Rock of any characteristic, either shale-like or crystalline in nature, which has a shear wave velocity greater than 2000 feet per second, or

Stiff soil conditions where the soil depth is less than 200 feet and the soil types overlying rock are stable deposits of weathered bedrock of Material class 5.

Dense to very dense till, gravel or sand and gravel of Material Classes 6 and 7.

Dense to very dense sand of Material Classes 8 and 9.

Dense inorganic silt of Material Class 9.

Stiff to hard clay of Material Class 10 with un-drained shear strength of 2000 pounds per square foot or greater, or

Compacted granular fills provided that the fill soils are compacted throughout as required in 780 CMR 1904.1.

Class 2:

A soil Profile meeting the requirements for S1 except the soil depth exceeds 200 feet, or

A soil profile which contains up to 40 feet of medium stiff clay (Material class 10), with un-drained shear strength of 1000 pounds per square foot or greater, or

A soil profile which contains up to 40 feet of medium dense gravel, sand and/or silt (Material classes 7 through 10), that is not susceptible to liquefaction in accordance with 780 CMR 1802.2.

Class 3:

A soil profile containing 40 to 100 feet in thickness of medium stiff clay (Material Class 10) with an un-drained shear strength of 1000 pounds per square foot, or greater, with or without intervening layers of granular soils, or

Up to 40 feet of soft clay (Material Class 10) with un-drained shear strength of less than 1000 pounds per square foot, or

Up to 40 feet of very loose to loose gravel, sand or silt (Material Classes 7 through 9), or

Up to 20 feet of organic soil (Material Class 11) or loose or soft fill which was not placed in accordance with 780 CMR 1804.1.

Class 4:

A soil profile containing more than 100 feet of medium stiff clay (Material Class 10) with un-drained shear strength of 1000 pounds per square foot or greater, with or without intervening layers of granular soils, or

More than 40 feet of soft clay (Material Class 10) with un-drained shear strength of less than 1000 pounds per square foot, or

More than 40 feet of very loose to loose sand or silt (Material Classes 8 and 9), or

More than 20 feet of organic soil (Material Class 11), or

More than 20 feet of loose soft fill which was not placed in accordance with 780 CMR 1804.1, or

More than 20 feet of soils of any type having a shear wave velocity of 500 feet per second or less.

 

See also:

§ Building Loading - Seismic