Specifications include, but are not limited to: A. A vertical bore shall be installed according to these specifications. The completed bore shall be located so that it is incorporated into the final ground-loop heat exchanger design. Document exact location of the borehole. A completed vertical test bore shall consist of the vertical bore with an approved polyethylene u-bend assemble installed to the completed bore depth with an approved grouting material installed in the bore annulus. B. Test Procedures shall meet or exceed those recommended by The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) procedures for performing formation thermal conductivity tests for geothermal applications (ASHRAE 2023 HVAC Applications handbook, chapter 35 -1.3 Thermal Property Testing) and The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) lists test procedures in their 2017 Design and Installation Standards. C. Vertical bore can be drilled either by a mud-rotary drilling rig or by a compressed-air drilling rig whichever is most feasible based on geological conditions. D. Drilling contractor shall provide a detailed test bore report. The report shall include the following information: 1. Each formation type encountered (drill log) 2. Each formation depth (in feet) 3. Depth of any significant cracks, fissures or caverns encountered 4. All water bearing zones and if encountered: a. Zone depths b. Estimated flow rate 5. Type of drilling equipment used (i.e. mud-rotary, air-rotary, air-hammer, etc.), and rig model number 6. Bag quantity of drill mud used where applicable 7. Total time to drill the test bore excluding shut-downs to obtain water or mechanical break-downs. E. A completed, signed report shall be supplied immediately at the conclusion of the drilling process. F. Drilling contractor shall be responsible for all permits and following all applicable codes and regulations. Where any discrepancy exists between local codes and regulations and this specification, the more stringent of the two documents prevail. G. Drilling contractor shall take all necessary precautions to protect the site from anydamage resulting from the drilling operation.
