Foundation load testing is a reliable means of determining the capacity of the foundation elements. Foundation load testing is governed by Standard Specification Item 405. The various testing methods that can be used are:

Not all foundations will require foundation load testing. Typically, load testing of a drilled shaft foundation is used in conjunction with Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) or other integrity testing. Consult with the Geotechnical Branch prior to using foundation load testing on a project.

Driven piles use PDA while installing foundation which can be considered another form of load test. Drivability analysis is required for cases of driven piles and clear termination criteria should be established based on equipment used by contractor, as described in Section 4.