AS 1289 is the standard behind the soil tests, not the slab. It rarely reaches a homeowner directly, but the numbers it produces shape how your home's foundation is designed and built.
What AS 1289 actually means
AS 1289 sets out the standard methods for testing soils for engineering purposes — how to measure a soil's properties, its moisture behaviour and its compaction. Consistent test methods mean the results can be relied on and compared.
Where it applies in your new home
Two documents that matter to your build depend on AS 1289 methods: the site classification report (which classifies your soil's reactivity for the AS 2870 slab design) and the fill compaction test reports (which confirm engineered fill has been placed to specification under AS 3798).
What VG Inspect checks against it
A building inspector does not perform soil tests. At the pre-pour inspection, the check is that the relevant soil and compaction documentation is present and covers the site — because the slab design and the ground preparation both depend on it. Missing compaction reports for fill is a recognised red flag.
What it does and doesn't cover
AS 1289 covers the test methods. What is done with the results — the slab design (AS 2870) and the earthworks (AS 3798) — is governed by other standards. AS 1289 is the common measuring stick beneath them.
A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector (QBCC Licence 1318443) confirms the soil and compaction documentation at pre-pour. Call 07 3180 8041 or book a pre-pour inspection online.