Bevan Craig from Underfoot Services Christchurch spoke to a large crowd at the Christchurch Cathedral on the 23rd February 2015 in relation to earthquake issues and EQC, specifically around foundation issues.

2. The Reality of damaged
Foundations and slab issues
In Christchurch

3. Pre 1970 foundations

9. Specification dated 1949

18. 1970 - 1980 Foundation

20. 1980- 2010 Concrete slab foundations

21. The Elephant in the room is the way
the existing home is constructed and
the real damage that has occurred
The reality is the way MBIE guidelines
are interpreted and used often does
not relate to the house or the real
damage

22. The MBIE Guidelines have been written by
Engineers but the majority of your houses
were designed and drawn up by Architects
or Builders.
The practitioner has been cut out of the
process and that knowledge of how your
houses were constructed, particularly older
homes is missing in the Guidelines

25. Guideline Status

27. In reality it is not robust or well
balanced and is being used as a
guide to minimise repairs and
mitigate costs not repair your
homes correctly

29. Epoxy crack repair
Jack & Pack
Rebated Bearers
Partial foundation replacement
 Manipulation of floor levels
Self levelling floor toppings
No Geotechnical investigation

30. Assessed as Grind out and Epoxy Fill

46. It may surprise you that four
and half years on that rubble
foundation are still not
acknowledged as existing in
the Guidelines.

47. Epoxy crack repair
Jack & Pack
Rebated Bearers
Partial foundation replacement
 Manipulation of floor levels
No Geotechnical investigation

48. Minor damage is a judgment
call and it can only be
quantified by the experience
of the person making that
judgement

51. Floor Re-Levels
Jack & Pack
Rebated Bearers
Partial Foundation
Replacement

52.  It should be noted that the Geotechnical profession
acknowledges there is a strength loss following a
liquefiable event and that the bearing capacity will
decrease. Because the residual bearing capacity is
unknown and there is currently no simplified or
empirical method to estimate this, it is critical that the
existing bearing capacity of the damaged foundation is
established

63. River Tailings

66. The MBIE guidelines Sec 5.3 discusses foundation and floor
options and notes that “Poorly graded river gravels (tailings
or 20/40 rounded river stone) that have commonly been used
in Christchurch as sub grade material should not be used.
This type of material is prone to forming unstable stone
arrangements (bridges) that may collapse with future
vibrations, leading to a localised loss of support to the
overlying slab.”

70. EQC Repair
The Gap is Widening
Insurance Repair

76. Where does the
responsibility lie

77. With Yourself
Its your house

78. The poof of loss is your
responsibility

79. Own your own information
Get independent assessments of
the real damage
Get independent advice on your
entitlements under the EQC act
and your Insurance policy

81. Peter Sparrow