[TowerTalk] Compacted vs. Undisturbed Soil

[Dick Flanagan]

A friend of mine is installing his first tower.  It is a US Tower 
HDX454.  (I thinks that's the right number.  I have an HDX572 and his 
is the next one shorter than mine.)

He had the tower specs checked by a local PE for the requisite wet 
stamp needed for his building permit.  The PE calculated and 
specified a tower footing of 5'x5'x7.5' in undisturbed soil.

His contractor dug him a 10'x10'x8' hole and is going to put a 
5'x5'x8' plywood frame in the hole enclosing the rebar cage.  He is 
then going to fill the frame with concrete and when it cures is going 
to remove the frame and back-fill the hole with compacted soil.

My friend is being told that properly compacted back-fill is the 
equivalent of undisturbed soil.  Is that true??

Dick
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC
dick at k7vc.com