What is ASTM, and why must soil boring reports reference it?
ASTM refers to the test method standards published by ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials), a US standards organization that geotechnical engineers worldwide reference more than any other. Testing to ASTM makes results comparable no matter which company or country performs the work, because every step — equipment dimensions, hammer weight, loading rate, oven temperature — is defined identically.
In Thailand, soil and pile test methods follow ASTM as the primary reference, while design criteria and legal requirements follow Thai standards such as DPT standards (issued by the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning) and EIT standards. The two systems are used together; one does not replace the other.
A quality soil boring report must state the ASTM standard used for every test, so readers can be confident the results follow international standards and can be relied on for foundation design.
Which ASTM standards apply to field tests?
Field standards cover drilling and sampling through to in-situ testing of soil properties. This table summarizes the standards actually used for soil investigation in Thailand. There is no dedicated DPT standard for soil investigation, so the methods mainly reference ASTM (D1586, D1587, D2113) and EIT guidelines.
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| ASTM | Test | Result obtained | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| D1586 ⭐ | Standard Penetration Test (SPT) — split-spoon sampler driven by a 63.5 kg hammer falling 76 cm | N-value (blows for the last 30 cm of a 45 cm total drive) + soil sample | Almost every soil boring project; the most widely used test in Thailand (How to interpret N-values) |
| D1452 | Auger boring | Disturbed soil sample | Preliminary investigation, shallow depths |
| D1587 | Thin-walled tube (Shelby tube) sampling | Undisturbed clay sample | Sampling soft clay for lab testing (consolidation, triaxial) |
| D2113 | Rock coring | Rock core, RQD, % recovery | Hillside projects, dams, rock-socketed piles |
| D5778 (electric) / D3441 (mechanical) | Cone Penetration Test (CPT) — cone pushed into the ground at 2 cm/s | Continuous qc, fs, u over the full depth | Bangkok soft clay; work needing continuous data |
| D2573 | Field Vane Shear Test (FVST) | In-situ undrained shear strength (Su) | Very soft clay that is hard to sample |
| D1195 / D1196 | Plate Bearing Test (repetitive / non-repetitive) | Load–settlement relationship of soil beneath a steel plate | Checking bearing capacity of fill, parking areas, factory floors (Plate Bearing Test details) |
| D1556 | Field Density — Sand Cone | In-place density of fill (% compaction) | Compaction QC (Field Density Test procedure) |
| D6938 | Field Density — Nuclear Gauge | Density + moisture, fast readings | Road works needing many test points per day |
| D6951 | Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) | Penetration index (mm/blow), correlated to CBR | Checking shallow fill layers, road works (DCP vs KPT vs SPT) |
| D7400 | Downhole Seismic Test | Shear/compression wave velocities Vs/Vp of soil layers | Seismic design (site class) |
The diagram below arranges all the standards along the actual path of a soil sample, from the borehole and field tests to the laboratory. Note that each type of sample suits a different group of tests.
Which ASTM standards apply to laboratory tests?
Lab tests fall into 3 main groups: index properties, strength (shear strength) and consolidation/compaction. For a detailed procedure for each test, see What laboratory soil tests are there?
Group 1: Index properties — basic soil properties
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| ASTM | Test | Result | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2216 | Water content — soil oven-dried at 110°C | Soil moisture content, % (w) | Basic value used in almost every test calculation |
| D7263 | Unit Weight (Bulk Density) | Soil unit weight (kN/m³, t/m³) | Calculating overburden stress in soil layers |
| D4318 | Atterberg Limits | LL, PL, PI (PI = LL − PL) | Classifying clays; indicates sensitivity to water |
| D6913 | Sieve analysis | Particle size distribution of coarse soil (> 0.075 mm) | Classifying sand–gravel |
| D7928 | Hydrometer — sedimentation | Particle size distribution of fines (silt/clay) | Classifying fine-grained soils |
| D854 | Specific Gravity | Gs (sand ≈ 2.65, clay ≈ 2.70–2.80) | Calculating void ratio and density |
| D2487 | Soil Classification (USCS) | Soil classification symbols, e.g. CH, CL, SM, SP | Describing soil type in the boring log (How to read a boring log) |
Group 2: Strength tests — soil shear strength
The choice of strength test depends on soil type and the nature of the work. This table compares all 4 methods at a glance.
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| Test | ASTM | Result | Best for | Strengths / limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unconfined Compression (UC) | D2166 | qu → Su = qu/2 | Clay | Fast and economical, but no confining pressure on the specimen |
| Direct Shear | D3080 | c′, φ′ | Sand, coarse-grained soils | Simple and fast, but the shear plane is forced |
| Triaxial UU | D2850 | Su (undrained) | Saturated clay | Models short-term loading (construction stage) |
| Triaxial CU | D4767 | c′, φ′ + Su (pore pressure measured) | Advanced work, slope stability | Most complete data, but takes longer and costs more |
Group 3: Consolidation and compaction — settlement and compaction
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| ASTM | Test | Result | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2435 | One-Dimensional Consolidation (Oedometer) | Cc, Cv, Pc′ | Predicts the magnitude and rate of foundation settlement on soft soil — critical for Bangkok soft clay |
| D698 | Standard Proctor — 2.5 kg hammer, 30.5 cm drop | Maximum Dry Density + Optimum Moisture Content | Setting compaction criteria for general fill |
| D1557 | Modified Proctor — 4.54 kg hammer, 45.7 cm drop | MDD + OMC (~4.5 times the energy of D698) | Roads and airports requiring high density |
| D1883 | California Bearing Ratio (CBR) | CBR value (%) | Designing pavement layer thickness |
Which ASTM pile test standards pair with which DPT standards?
Pile testing in Thailand references ASTM test methods together with DPT standards issued by the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning. This table pairs them clearly (for more on choosing a test method, see How many types of pile test are there? and Comparing ASTM D5882, D4945, D1143)
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| ASTM | Test | Paired Thai standard | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| D4945-26 | Dynamic Load Test (PDA) | DPT 1252-51 | Verifies pile load capacity; faster and cheaper than static |
| D5882-16 | Seismic integrity test (low strain) — ASTM withdrew the standard in 2025; it can be cited with its year, with DPT 1551-51 as the primary reference | DPT 1551-51 | Checks pile integrity; every pile can be tested |
| D1143/D1143M-20e1 | Static load test (compression) | DPT 1251 (referenced via DPT 1106-64, clause 6.1) | Most accurate reference method; large projects |
| D3689/D3689M-25 | Static load test (uplift/tension) | — | Piles resisting uplift, e.g. foundations under wind load |
| D3966/D3966M-25 | Lateral load test | — | Piles resisting lateral load, e.g. retaining walls, piers |
| D6760-16 | Cross-hole sonic logging (CSL) — ASTM withdrew the standard in 2025; cite it with its year | ACI PRC-228.2 used as the method reference | Checks the concrete of large-diameter bored piles |
| D8381/D8381M-21 | Parallel Seismic Test | — | Finding the length of existing piles in buildings with no drawings |
Which standard pairs are most often confused? Compared in one table
The questions site engineers and contractors ask most are about these 3 pairs of standards with similar names or that are used interchangeably.
ASTM D698 vs D1557 — Standard vs Modified Proctor
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| Topic | D698 (Standard) | D1557 (Modified) |
|---|---|---|
| Hammer weight | 2.5 kg | 4.54 kg |
| Drop height | 30.5 cm | 45.7 cm |
| Compaction energy | ~600 kN·m/m³ | ~2,700 kN·m/m³ (~4.5 times higher) |
| Suitable for | General fill, building works | Roads, airports, works requiring high density |
Caution: for any % compaction in a specification, you must know which Proctor it refers to — 95% of D698 is not the same as 95% of D1557.
ASTM D1586 (SPT) vs D5778 (CPT) — which to choose?
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| Topic | SPT (D1586) | CPT (D5778) |
|---|---|---|
| Principle | Sampler driven with a hammer | Cone pushed at a constant 2 cm/s |
| Result | N-value every ~1.5 m + soil sample | Continuous qc, fs, u at every depth |
| Soil samples for lab testing | Yes | No |
| Use in Thailand | Highest; used on almost every project | Specialized work, e.g. very soft soil, sea reclamation |
ASTM D422 has been withdrawn — what replaces it?
ASTM D422 (the former grain size analysis standard) was withdrawn in 2016 and split into 2 new standards: D6913 (sieve analysis) and D7928 (hydrometer). Likewise, D1194 (the former plate bearing standard) has been replaced by D1195/D1196. Many specifications still cite the old numbers; an up-to-date report should state the current standard numbers.
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| Old standard (withdrawn) | Replaced by |
|---|---|
| D422 (withdrawn 2016) — Grain size analysis | D6913 (Sieve) + D7928 (Hydrometer) |
| D1194 (withdrawn 2003) — Plate bearing test | D1195 (repetitive) / D1196 (non-repetitive) |
How is ASTM used alongside Thai and other international standards?
Each system plays a different role — ASTM defines the "test method", while Thai standards define the "criteria and requirements". In practice they are always referenced together.
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| Standard | Issued by | Role in soil boring/testing |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM | ASTM International (USA) | Field and lab test methods — the primary reference in Thailand |
| DPT | Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT) | Test criteria, e.g. dynamic load test: DPT 1252-51 · pile integrity: DPT 1551-51 · plate bearing: DPT 1253-62 |
| EIT | Engineering Institute of Thailand | Pile and foundation standards (check the latest edition with EIT before citing) |
| Eurocode 7 | European Union | Geotechnical design, international projects |
| BS 5930 | United Kingdom | Site investigation guidance |
What do ASTM suffixes like -20e1 or (2024) mean?
A full ASTM designation shows both the edition and its year. For example, ASTM D1143/D1143M-20e1 reads as follows:
- D1143 — the standard number (static load test of piles)
- /D1143M — an SI (metric) version is included in the same document
- -20 — the year of issue or last technical revision, i.e. 2020
- e1 — the 1st editorial change after that year, with no change to the test method
- (2024) as in D5092/D5092M-16(2024) — the year the committee reapproved the standard as still valid without changing its content
A withdrawn standard has no current edition to cite, e.g. D422 (withdrawn 2016) and D1194 (withdrawn 2003). The pile integrity standards D5882 and D6760 were withdrawn in 2025, so they should be cited with their year together with DPT 1551-51 or ACI PRC-228.2. For the latest status of pile test standards, see Pile test standards update 2026
The 3D model below brings together a real site view showing which ASTM standard each test uses, with a panel summarizing how to read standard numbers and which standards have been withdrawn.
How do you check that a soil boring report really follows ASTM?
Before accepting a report or choosing a soil boring company, check these 4 points:
- ✅ The report states the ASTM number for every test, and it is the current number (e.g. D6913/D7928, not D422)
- ✅ Equipment has a valid calibration certificate that has not expired
- ✅ Lab staff are trained in the standard test methods
- ✅ The report is signed and certified by a civil engineer licensed by the Council of Engineers Thailand (COE), with license number
Summary: how a good soil boring report should reference ASTM
ASTM standards are the common language of soil investigation — a report that states the ASTM number for every test is reliable and traceable. The most common standards are D1586 (SPT), D2216 (water content), D4318 (Atterberg limits) and D2435 (consolidation). For piles, the dynamic load test uses D4945-26 together with DPT 1252-51, and the seismic integrity test relies primarily on DPT 1551-51 (with ASTM D5882-16 cited by year — ASTM withdrew it in 2025).
SPN Soil Engineering carries out field and laboratory testing fully in accordance with ASTM standards. Every report states the ASTM standards used and is signed and certified by a civil engineer licensed by the Council of Engineers Thailand (COE), suitable for building permit submissions. See soil investigation and testing services, check budgets at house soil boring prices 2026, or call 064-746-9601 to discuss your project.