Site classification reports

AS 2870 site classifications for Sydney builds: the report your engineer and council need.

Required for your CDC, DA or CC submission. Hand auger boreholes, DCP testing and an AS 2870 classification signed by a registered engineer, reactivity assessed by visual logging and regional Sydney geology, the engineering-judgement method the standard allows. Fixed fee, quoted the same day, whether it's a granny flat or a standard single dwelling or duplex on a flat metro lot.

What you receive

• AS 2870 site classification (A, S, M, M-D, H1, H1-D, H2, H2-D, E or P)
• Hand auger borehole on the building footprint (additional boreholes on request, or where scope requires: large footprint, sloping site, known fill)
• Two Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) tests for in-situ bearing capacity
• Visual logging of recovered samples: reactivity assessed by engineering judgement against regional Sydney geology
• Footing recommendations referenced back to AS 2870 Table 2.1
• Borehole logs, site sketch, photos and a classification summary
• Signed by a registered engineer (HYKSOS engineering partner)

Not included

• Full geotechnical investigation (rig-drilled boreholes, deep stratigraphy)
• Contamination, asbestos or hazmat assessments
• Bushfire (BAL) assessments (separate consultant)
• Acid sulfate / salinity / aggressive ground assessment beyond reactivity
• Retaining wall design or footing structural design (engineering, not classification)
• Council fees, lodgement, or DA package preparation

Pricing (metro Sydney, ex-GST)

Every job is priced as a fixed fee from your drawings, quoted the same day. No hourly billing, no surprises.

How it works

01. Send the site details

Lot address, building footprint (rough is fine), and any existing drawings or survey if available.

02. Scope + fixed fee in 24 hours

We confirm borehole count and your fixed fee within 24 hours, then lock in a site-visit window, usually within 5 business days.

03. On-site investigation

Hand auger borehole plus two DCP tests on the building footprint. Typical visit: 1–1.5 hours.

04. Signed report delivered

Borehole logs, classification and footing recommendations written up and signed. Standard turnaround: 5–10 business days from the site visit.

Common questions

What's the difference between this and a full geotech investigation?

A site classification answers one question: what's the AS 2870 class, and what footing system does the engineer need to design for? A full geotechnical investigation is a deeper product: rig-drilled boreholes, lab analysis on multiple parameters, slope stability, settlement modelling. Most residential builds only need the classification.

Do you do NATA lab testing on soil samples?

Our standard classification doesn't include NATA lab testing. Reactivity is assessed by visual logging of recovered samples combined with regional geological knowledge. This is the engineering-judgement approach AS 2870 explicitly allows, and it's what most Sydney councils accept for residential classifications.

Who signs the report?

A registered engineer through our engineering partner. Reports are signed and stamped to the standard most NSW councils and certifiers expect for residential AS 2870 work.

How many boreholes do I get?

Standard residential is one hand auger borehole positioned on the building footprint, supplemented with two DCP tests. Larger footprints, sloping sites, known fill, or jobs where more boreholes are wanted get additional holes, quoted up front before booking.

Do you cover outside metro Sydney?

Yes, wider NSW including Central Coast, Wollongong, Newcastle and the Blue Mountains. Travel surcharge may apply beyond ~75 km from Wetherill Park; we quote it upfront.

Can you do it faster than 5–10 days?

Usually yes. Without lab testing in the standard workflow, the report itself isn't the bottleneck: booking the site visit is. Once we've been on-site, a rush report typically lands in 3–5 business days.

Call 0421 125 249  Request a fixed fee