REPORT ON

SOIL INVESTIGATION FOR

“PROPOSED ICONIC HOTEL ON LOT37 & 38, SEC.1, GEORGETOWN,
PULAU PINANG”

FOR M/S ETIKA UTAMA SDN BHD

FEBRUARY 2009

CONSULTING ENGINEER
ARUP JURURUNDING SDN BHD
58-6-1, WISMA FORTUNE HEIGHTS
CANTONMENT ROAD
10250 PENANG
TEL : 04-227 8908 FAX : 04-229 7352

CONTRACTOR
SOIL MECHANIC SDN BHD
7 LORONG TALANG SATU
PRAI GARDEN,
13600 PRAI
TEL: 04-390 9279 FAX: 04-399 1893

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 CONTENT
Item Title Page

TITLE 1
CONTENT 2
1 INTRODUCTION 3
2 SITE DESCRIPTION 3
3 PURPOSE OF SOIL INVESTIGATION 3
4 SCOPE OF WORKS 4
5 FIELD WORKS 4
Table 5.1 Reduce Level, Rock Level and Termination Depth of boreholes 4
5.1 Rotary Wash Boring 5
5.2 Standard Penetration Test 5
5.3 Soil Sampling 5
5.4 Rock Coring 6
5.5 Groundwater Table Observation 6
5.6 Field Permeability Test 6
6 LABORATORY TESTING 7
6.1 Classification Test 7
6.2 Soil Strength Test 7
6.3 Chemical Test 7
7 TEST RESULT AND INTERPRETATION 7
7.1 Engineering Borelog 7
7.2 Ground Water Conditions 8
8 CONCLUSION 9
Appendix A : Engineering Borelog
Appendix B : Soil Profile
Appendix C : Field Permeability Test Result
Appendix D : Water Level Monitoring Data
Appendix E : Laboratory Test Result
Appendix F : Site Photograph
Appendix G : Setting Out Plan

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REPORT ON
SOIL INVESTIGATION FOR “PROPOSED ICONIC HOTEL ON LOT37 & 38, SEC.1,
GEORGETOWN, PULAU PINANG”

1 INTRODUCTION

This report presents the results of Soil Investigation for the above caption. The site
investigation was carried out by M/S SOIL MECHANIC SDN BHD to fulfill the requirement
set by the local authority and in accordance with the BRITISH STANDARD CODE OF
PRACTICE OF BS 5930: 1981” SITE INVESTIGATION”. The work was carried out for
M/S ETIKA UTAMA SDN BHD (Client) under the instruction and supervision by ARUP
JURURUNDING SDN BHD (Consulting Engineer). Details of the study are presented in this
report.

2 SITE DESCRIPTION

The proposed site is located on Lot 37 & 38, Section 1, Jalan Kelawei, Georgetown, Penang.
The proposed site is flat land and accessible.

3 PURPOSE OF SOIL INVESTIGATION

The purposes of the site investigation are mainly:

i To determine the subsoil conditions for foundation design consideration.
ii To obtain soil samples for visual examination, and
iii To determine the ground water table within the investigated area.

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4 SCOPE OF WORKS

In order to accomplish the above state objectives and purposes, SEVEN (7) exploratory
boreholes namely BH-1 to BH-7 and additional FIVE (5) boreholes namely ABH-1, ABH-2,
ABH-2A, BH-5A and BH-6A were drilled. The locations of these boreholes were indicated in
the Setting Out Plan in Appendix G.

The details of these fieldworks are briefly described as follows:

5 FIELD WORKS

Fieldwork was conducted commenced on 22nd of November 2008 and completed on 21st of
January 2009. Rotary wash boring was carried out as more representative undisturbed samples.
TWELVE (12) exploratory boreholes were sunk to the depth as shown in Table 5.1 below.

Table 5.1 : Reduce Level, Rock Level and Termination Depth of boreholes.

REDUCE LEVEL ROCK LEVEL TERMINATION DEPTH

BH
(m) (m b.g.l.) (m b.g.l.)
BH-1 5.21 ~ 45.45

BH-2 4.74 ~ 45.45

BH-3 5.41 ~ 69.40

BH-4 5.25 ~ 69.45

BH-5 5.04 ~ 60.45

BH-6 5.28 ~ 45.45

BH-7 5.24 ~ 60.35

ABH-1 4.99 72.00 73.50

ABH-2 5.08 ~ 52.95

ABH-2A 5.08 ~ 66.20

BH-5A 5.04 69.80 71.30

BH-6A 5.28 ~ 66.45

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5.1 Rotary Wash Boring

Rotary drilling with water as flushing medium was used to sink the exploratory holes. Casing
of Nw size (88.9mm) were advanced into the borehole in order to stabilize the borehole walls.
Advancing of the borehole was achieved by chopping and rotary action of the tungsten shoe
fitted at the lower end of the casings. The loose materials were flushed out by means of
circulating water under high pressure and discharges into a pit where the coarse material
setting out and from which the so-called “wet samples” can be examined for preliminary
results.

5.2 Standard Penetration Test

In this exploratory hole, Standard Penetration Test (S.P.T.) were carried out at regular
intervals of 1.5m to record Standard Penetration values, N and also to obtain representative soil
samples for classification purposes. The SPT was carried out as per BS 1377: Part 9: 1990
using a self-tripping hammer of 63.5 kg and a split-spoon sampler. The split-spoon sampler is
made up of a driving shoe of 76mm long, split barrel of 450mm long and a coupling of 150mm
were attached to the end of the drilling rod. The sampler is driven by the self-tripping hammer
with a standard free drop of 760mm. The penetration resistance of “N” value is recorded as the
number of blow count required to achieve a penetration of 300mm after an initial penetration
of 150mm.

5.3 Soil Sampling

i) Disturbed Samples

The disturbed samples were obtained in conjunction with the Standard Penetration Test from
the split-spoon sampler. The samples recovered from the boreholes were kept in heavy-duty
polythene bags for visual examinations.

The description of the soil strata together with other relevant information’s were shown in
Engineering Borelog presented in Appendix A.

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5.4 Rock Coring

Drilling competent and relatively unweathered rock, conventional triple tube core barrels are
used. Non-retractable triple tube ball bearing type core barrel equipped with diamond tipped
drill bit of 54.0mm (N size) core diameter. The recovered rock core samples were carefully
placed in a special constructed wooden core box in a consistent sequence for further
examinations. The core recovery ratio and Rock Quality Designation (RQD) were computed
and recorded in the borelogs as in Appendix A.

5.5 Ground Water Table Observation

The groundwater level in the borehole was measured while drilling was in progress daily at the
following time:

i) Before commencement of work in the morning, and

ii) After finished work in the evening.

The records of the measurement were shown in the borelogs.

To determine the ground water conditions, Standpipe were installed to monitor the ground
water table for the proposed site. FOUR (4) numbers of observations well were sunk in BH-1,
BH-4, BH-6 and BH-7.

5.6 Field Permeability Test

Constant Head Permeability Test in boreholes is a test in which water is made to flow through
soil under a constant difference in head. The test was carried out for soils of intermediate
permeability.

NINE (9) numbers of permeability tests were carried out in BH-1, BH-3 and BH-5. The results
were presented in Appendix C.

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6.0 LABORATORY TESTING

6.1 Classification Test

The samples collected from the split-spoon sampler were used for classification tests. Particle
sizes analysis and Atterberg Limits Test where necessary were carried out and the soil samples
were classified as per British Soil Classification System for Engineering purposes (BSCS. BS
5930:1981).

6.2 Soil Strength Test

The Undisturbed soil samples recovered were used for soil strength tests besides classification
tests. Consolidated Undrained Triaxial Compression Test with pore water measurement (CIU)
was performed on selected undisturbed soil samples as recommended by Bishop and Henkel
respectively.
All the laboratory testing was carried out according to the engineer assignment.

6.3 Chemical Test

The soil and water samples recovered from the boreholes were used in chemical test. Test for
Organic Content, Total Sulphate Content, pH Value, Chloride Content and Sulphate Content
were carried out on the selected soil samples and water samples recovered from the borehole.
All laboratory test results were summarized in Appendix E.

7 TEST RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION

7.1 Engineering Borelog

The soil formations of the site as delineated in this report were based on the field exploration
and visual examinations. Appendix A had shown the Engineering Borelog for the boreholes.
The Engineering Borelog gave details of soil types and Standard Penetration Resistance up to
end of boreholes and rock level. The Engineering Borelog gives general representation the
subsurface conditions.

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It can be seen that the ground of the proposed site is composed of THREE (3) distinctive soil
formations Alluvium, Residual Soil and Granitic Rock.

a) Alluvium

The Alluvium was registered at the top of boreholes. It comprises layers of CLAY and SAND
strata. The CLAY strata comprise layers of silty CLAY or sandy CLAY, whilst the SAND
strata comprise layer of clayey silty SAND. The strata were mainly light grey, yellowish,
brownish and whitish in colour or their combinations. The Standard Penetration Test indicated
these layers were either in soft to very stiff condition in CLAY layers or in very loose to
medium dense stage in SAND layers. Thickness of this Alluvium was found varied about
26.7m to 29.7m.

b) Residual Soil

The Residual Soil was registered at the top of boreholes. It comprises layers of SILT and
SAND strata. The SILT strata comprise layers of sandy clayey SILT, whilst the SAND strata
comprise layer of clayey silty SAND. The strata were mainly yellowish, brownish and greyish
in colour or their combinations. The Standard Penetration Test indicated these layers were
either in soft to very stiff condition in SILT layers or in very loose to dense stage in SAND
layers. Thickness of this Residual Soil was found varied about 15.75m to 44.60m.

c) Granitic Rock

The Granitic rock was encountered after the residual soil. It’s mostly consisting of grayish
decomposed to fresh granite. The Rock Quality Designation (RQD) indicated the Granitic rock
was in poor to good condition.

7.2 Ground Water Conditions

To determine the ground water conditions, measurement was made during the field
explorations for initial and final water table conditions. The ground water table for the
proposed site was found varied about 2.50m to 12.00m b.g.l.

Water level monitoring data was present in Appendix D.

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8 CONCLUSION

On the basis of field test performed and observation made, the following conclusion and
recommendations were made.

a) Broadly, the subsoil across the investigated area consisted of THREE (3) distinctive soil
formations of Alluvium, Residual Soil and Granitic Rock.

b) The above findings were based on the soil strata encountered at the site and report herein.
The soil conditions as described in this reports may differ from the actual soil conditions,
as the boreholes are limited. However, further interpretation of the site Investigation results
and final decision of the type of foundation to be adopted rest with the client’s consultant.