VES - 2010

SITE PREPARATION, EARTH AND CIVIL WORKS

TABLE OF CONTENT

PAGE
1.0

SCOPE

2.0

APPLICABLE STANDARDS

3.0

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

4.0

MATERIALS

5.0

EQUIPMENT

6.0

GROUND PREPARATION

7.0

DRAINAGE

8.0

ACCESS ROADS

10

9.0

FENCING

10

10.0

CONSTRUCTION METHOD

12

11.0

INSPECTION AND CONTROL

17

12.0

SAFETY WORKS

17

13.0

EXCAVATION SAFETY PROCEDURE

18

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1.0

SCOPE
This Specification, together with the referenced standards, covers the requirements for
production facility site preparation, grading and fencing in Company's concession area in
East Kalimantan. This Specification will apply to site clearance, grubbing,
excavation, filling, back filling, dumping, removing, transporting, laying, spreading,
compacting and fencing and associated earthworks required to form a sound
foundation for process plant facilities.

2.0

APPLICABLE STANDARDS
The following standards (latest edition) shall form a part of this specification:
ASTM D-698

Tests for Moisture Density Relations of Soils.

ASTM D-1556

Test Method of Test for Density and Unit Weight of Soil

in Place by the Sand Cone Method

ASTM D-1557

Tests for Moisture Density Relations of Soils (may be applied

instead of D-698 in the text).

ASTM D-2049

Relative Density of Cohensionless Soils.

ASTM D-2167

Tests for density of soil In-place by the Rubber Balloon

Method.

ASTM D-2487

Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes.

ASTM D-2922

Test for Density of Soil and Soil Aggregate In-place by Nuclear

Methods (Shallow Depth).

ASTM D-422

Particle Size Analysis of Soils.

ASTM D-424

Test for Plastic Limit and Plasticity Index for Soils.

AASHTO T11 & T27

Sieve Analysis

AASHTO T88, T89 &

T90

Plastic Limit

AASHTO T96

L.A Abrasion Test

AASHTO T97

Plasticity Index

AASHTO T99

Moisture-Density Relationship

AASHTO T104

Soundness Test

AASHTO T176

Sand Equivalent

VES-2500

Landscaping

Construction Safety

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3.0

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
3.1

3.2

Definitions
Company

VICO Indonesia, a Division of Virginia Indonesia

Company LLC.

Contractor

the Contractor, and all his subcontractors, awarded the

contract to carry out the work to which this Specification
applies.

Drawings

the applicable design drawings as listed in the Scope of

Work attached to the bid document.

Responsibilities
It is Contractor's direct responsibility to Company to ensure that whoever performs
the work follows all the provisions set out herein. In the event that any of these
provisions are impractical, it is Contractor's responsibility to immediately bring this to
Company's notice, in which case, Contractor should not proceed in the immediate
area concerned without receiving instructions from Company.

3.3

Standard Verification
Meeting of all standards specified herein shall be verified at Contractor's expense
by written documentation from an independent third party authority previously
approved by Company.

4.0

MATERIALS
Contractor is required to locate suitable sources for filling, back filling and banking materials.
No borrow pit is available from Company. The source selected by Contractor must be outside
Company property areas and approved by Company.
Contractor must obtain Surat Ijin Pertambangan Daerah issued by the Governor of East
Kalimantan for compliance with the Indonesian Government Mining Regulation Class C
should fill materials be required.
Filling materials are classified as silty clay or sandy silt or classified by United Soil
Classification System/USCS as CL, ML or SM which approved by Company as filling
materials.
Highly expansive soil which has "activity" value of higher than 1.0 (specified by AASHTO
T258 as highly expansive soil) may not be permitted to be used as fill material.

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5.0

EQUIPMENT
Contractor shall submit to Company the proposal of working method including daily
equipment productivity output, type and numbers of equipment to be used for executing the
work.
Type of equipment to be used such as : dump truck, bull dozer, swampy-dozer, sheep foot
roller, vibro roller or smooth drum roller, grader etc.
Equipment to be used must consider the condition of working areas, type of existing soil,
distance of borrow pit and the surroundings.
Equipment to be used by Contractor shall fulfil the minimum requirement determined by
Company. Contractor shall use the equipment which proposed in the tender or it has been
approved to be used at the time that the contract is signed.
Equipment shall be inspected by Company prior to starting the work.
Contractor shall immediately repair within 48 hours for any trouble of the equipment during
operation, otherwise Contractor shall replace with the new equipment to replace the broken
equipment with Company's approval.

6.0

GROUND PREPARATION
6.1

Swamp and Tidal Areas

6.1.1

The site
The site is defined as the area shown on the drawings pertinent to the
project and included in the bid documents shall be prepared, set out
and staked to Company approval, plus a perimeter strip 6 meters wide
surrounding this area.

6.1.2

Clearing
The site shall be cleared of Nipah Palm by cutting the fronds off at
ground level over the site and removing them from the area. Other
areas designated as swamp shall have the vegetation cut to within
500 mm of ground level over the site and removed. No disturbance of
the top soil shall be permitted within the site area and up to 6 meters
outside, either by use as a construction road or any other means.

6.1.3

Drain and Bund

A drainage ditch shall be excavated around the site. The selected
excavated material shall be used to construct a bund around the
staked area. The bund shall be built up in compacted layers, the first
layer approximately 300 mm above the water line and the subsequent
layers not exceeding 200 mm maximum thickness for each lift to form a
nearly water tight retaining wall. Minimum width at the top shall be 1
meter and maximum side slopes shall not be steeper than 3:1.

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6.1.4

Excess materials
Excess materials shall be removed from the site, and disposed of by
Contractor at a site approved by Company.

6.1.5

Fill Material
Fill material shall contain nil percent smaller than No. 100 mesh sieve
size. The purpose of using granular fill is to allow easy water drainage
from the area and limit overall ground loading in the subsoil. More
granular materials up to a maximum size of 50 mm may also be used.
Material excavated from the site shall not be used as fill material.

6.1.6

Filling
The construction access to the area to be filled shall be prepared by
filling with a front-end loader of low ground pressure characteristics, at
most 55 kPa (0.56 kg/cm2, 8 psi). The area inside the bund shall then
be uniformly covered with 800 mm of fill by the same method causing
minimum disturbance to the topsoil. Compaction of this first layer
should be limited to that obtained by running a tracked vehicle over the
whole area.
Care shall be taken to ensure that the lower layers of fill are placed
and compacted using only that amount of compactive effort necessary
to create a bridge over the weaker soils. As the fill height is increased,
the compactive effort may be increased to attain the desired density in
the upper layers of fill.
Subsequent fill should be applied in layers of 200 mm and compacted
using a rubber tired vehicle, such as a loader. Over 1.0 m depth,
compaction will be obtained by uniformly running the rubber tired
vehicle over the whole area until a compaction is obtained of 95% of
maximum dry density determined by the Standard Proctor Compaction
test described by ASTM D-698, or a minimum of at least 70% relative
density as determined by ASTM D-2049. The latter method is more
suitable for materials containing minimum fines. Maximum dry density
of clays should be determined by the Proctor test.

6.2

Jungle Covered High Ground Areas

6.2.1

Clearing
Clearing shall consist of the trimming, and cutting of trees into sections,
and the satisfactory disposal of the trees and other vegetation
designed for removal, including down timber, snags, brush, and
rubbish occurring within the limits of clearing and grubbing, as
indicated on the Project Drawings. Trees, stumps, roots, brush, and
other vegetation in areas to be cleared shall be cut-off flush with or
below the original ground surface. Clearing shall also include the
removal and disposal of structures that obtrude, encroach upon, or
otherwise obstruct the work.

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6.2.2

Grubbing
Grubbing shall consist of the removal and disposal of stumps, roots
larger than 3 inches in diameter, and matted roots from the designated
grubbing areas. This material, together with logs and other organic or
metallic debris not suitable for foundation purposes, shall be excavated
and removed to a depth of not less than 18 inches below the original
surface level of the ground within the limits to be cleared and grubbed,
as indicated on the Project Drawings.
Depressions made by grubbing shall be filled with suitable on site
material and compacted to an equivalent density similar to existing subgrade. All depressions shall be back filled approximately to the original
grade.
The disposal of all cleared and grubbed material shall be to a location
approved by Company.

6.2.3

Excavation
Acknowledgement, acceptance and due consideration of the soil
conditions of the site must be made by Contractor.
All excavation work shall be carried out in conformity with the line,
grades, sections, and dimensions shown on the drawings.
All suitable material removed by excavating shall be used as far as is
practicable in the formation of road embankments, dikes, back-fill,
bunds, shoulders, etc. Unsuitable material, which may include subgrade soil, shall be disposed of at location approved by Company.
In areas of poor soil, it may be required that additional muck and
overburden be removed to ensure proper stability before any fill is
placed. Fill will not be permitted to be placed in any area where it is
deemed that the final stability of the earth fill will be impaired.
Slopes of all excavations shall be cut true and straight and all loose
stones in the slopes shall be removed. In no case shall a slope be
steeper than 1:3 unless specifically shown otherwise on the Drawings.

6.2.4

Preparation for filling

Filled areas shall be compacted according to Section 4.2.7. If fill
material is clayey, the site shall first be scarified to a depth of 150 mm.
After compaction, the site shall be proof rolled with two passes of a
rubber tired roller having a minimum contact pressure of 200 kPa (2.1
kg/cm2, 30 psi). The roller should travel between 3 km/hr and 9 km/hr
(2 mph to 6 mph). All areas that rut or do not compact during proof
rolling shall be stabilised by additional compaction or by removal of
unsuitable material and replaced with properly compacted back-fill.

6.2.5

Fill Material
Fill material to raise the finished grade level shall be suitable excavated
material or granular with a maximum dimension of stone or rock
fragments of 50 mm and nil percent smaller than No. 100 mesh sieve
size.

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6.2.6

Placing of Fill Material

The placing of fill may be commenced only after the area to be filled
has been inspected and approved by Company.
All fill shall be compacted properly in separate layers not exceeding
200 mm in thickness and compacted with equipment travelling in a
uniform manner across the entire area of the fill. Each layer shall meet
the compaction requirements before the next layer is placed. See
Section 4.2.7 for compaction of the fill.
For the stability of all fill embankments the maximum side slopes shall
not be steeper than 3 : 1, and if required shall be protected against
erosion by using ground cover vegetation as stipulated in specification
VES 2500.
Where underground piping has to be embedded in fill, this fill shall be
placed first and compacted to a height of 300 mm above the top of the
pipes, following which, all pipes shall be layed in excavated trenches,
and back-filled again.
All piping shall be completely surrounded by a 150 mm minimum cover
of sand prior to back-filling with any other specified type of fill.

6.2.7

Compaction
Before starting the formation of filling, Contractor shall conduct trials for
compaction, using suitable fill material and the same equipment
proposed for the main work, to determine the optimum moisture content
and the relationship between the number of passes of compacting
equipment and density obtained for the soil types under the trial. Trial
results shall be approved by Company.
All areas of the site shall satisfy the compaction requirements set out
below. If additional compaction is required on original grade, or in
areas of excavation, then these areas shall be compacted and filled
with granular material.
Sandy clay and cohesive soils as defined herein shall be placed and
compacted to at least 95 percent of the Standard Proctor maximum
density determined in accordance with method A of ASTM D-698.
Granular soils shall be compacted to an in-situ density of at least 70
percent relative density, as defined in ASTM D-2049. At least one
density test shall be made for every 500 cubic meters (or part thereof)
of each classification of compacted fill deposited.
Controlled placement of soils containing less than 15 percent fines in
normally better accomplished using the relative density method.
Maximum dry density of clays should be determined by the Standard
Proctor test. A minimum of one grain size analysis shall be performed
for each significant change in material being used.

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Care shall be taken to ensure that the lower layers of fill are placed
and compacted using only that amount of compactive effort necessary
to create a bridge over the weaker soils. As the fill height is increased,
the compactive effort may be increased to attain the desired density in
the upper layers of fill.
6.3

Tank Farm's Dikes

Tank farm's dikes shall be constructed as per item 4.2, and in conformity with the
lines, grade, and sections indicated on the project drawings. Unless otherwise
specified, the minimum width at the top of dikes shall be 1.2 meters with a slope not
steeper than 3:1, and protected from erosion using ground cover vegetation as per
specification VES 2500.

7.0

DRAINAGE
7.1

The project site shall be rough graded to the elevations indicated on the Project
Drawings after clearing, grubbing and filling operations are completed. The whole
site shall be maintained in such condition that it will properly drain at all times,
including construction of all necessary temporary outlet ditches, dams, or diversion
channels.

7.2

Ditches shall be cut to the lines, grades and sections indicated on the Project
Drawings to provide for proper drainage of the site.

7.3

All drain culverts and conduits indicated on the Project Drawings shall be installed,
bedded and back-filled. Normally culverts are constructed before the foundation of
the embankment. Bedding shall conform to the requirements given below for Class
A, B, C or D bedding as indicated on the Project Drawings. If bedding class is not
shown, use Class C bedding.
7.3.1

For Class A bedding, the lower part of the pipe exterior shall be
bedded in a continuous cradle of 2,000 psi concrete, having a minimum
thickness under the pipe of one-forth the nominal inside diameter and
extending up the sides of the pipe for a height equal to one-forth of the
inside diameter. The cradle shall have a width at least equal to outside
diameter of the barrel of the pipe plus 200 mm and shall be
constructed monolithically without horizontal construction joints.

7.3.2

For Class B bedding, the pipe shall be carefully placed on a minimum

100 mm thickness of the granular material, over an earth foundation
shaped to conform to the lower part of the pipe exterior for a width of at
least 60 percent of its external diameter. Compactible soil materials
shall be placed and compacted in 150 mm layers to fill completely all
places under and adjacent to the pipe for a distance of at least 300 mm
above the top of the pipe.

7.3.3

For Class C bedding, the pipe shall be bedded with "ordinary" care in
an earth foundation shaped to fit the lower part of the pipe exterior for
a width of at least one-half its external diameter. Granular material
shall be placed and tamped to the level of the top of the pipe, so that
all spaces under and adjacent to the pipe are filled and compacted.

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7.3.4

8.0

For Class D bedding, no special care is required in shaping the bed or

back-filling, except the fill shall be in contact with the pipe at all points.

7.4

Culvert material, length and invert elevations shall be as indicated on the Project
Drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the culvert material will be 16 gage
corrugated metal pipe fully coated outside and inside with an asphalt coatings and
have a minimum diameter of 60 cm.

7.5

Concrete work related to drainage system other than special bedding requirement
for culverts is included under specification VES-3080.

7.6

After major construction work is completed for the Project, final grading will be
required to insure that grades are in agreement with the Project Drawings. Surface
irregularities resulting from construction activities shall be repaired, fill added, and
ditches dressed as required to insure proper drainage of the site.

ACCESS ROADS
When the installation work at the facility is complete, Contractor shall provide for levelling,
cleaning and re-compacting the access roads inside and outside the facility. Pavement for
roads, if required, is included under specification VES-2100

9.0

FENCING
9.1

Material
9.1.1

Fencing shall be 7'0" overall height, with three (3) strands of barbed
wire facing to the outside.

9.1.2

Fabric shall be 72" chain link steel wire galvanized by the hot-dip
process after weaving. Weight of galvanizing shall be 1.2 oz. of zinc
per square foot of area in accordance with ASTM A-392, Class 1 Wire
for fabric shall be No. 9 gage woven in a 2" mesh. Top and bottom
salvages shall have a twisted and barbed finishing.

9.1.3

Line posts shall be galvanized 2 3/8" O.D. standard weight pipe

(schedule 40). Line posts shall be spaced not more than 10'-0" apart
in the line of the fence.

9.1.4

End, corner, angle, and pull posts shall be 2 7/8" O.D. standard weight
galvanized tubular pipe (schedule 40).

9.1.5

Swing gate posts shall be galvanized standard weight pipe. Size to

vary as follow:
Gate Leaf Width
Up to and including 4'
Over 4' to 10'
Over 10' to 18'

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Post Size
2 3/8" OD
2 7/8" OD
4" OD

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9.1.6

Slide gate posts shall be minimum 4" O.D. standard weight tubular
pipe. Single or double post construction shall be used depending on
overhead clearance and opening size. Larger posts shall be used
where required by loading.

9.1.7

Setting of posts shall be in concrete, finished above grade, crowned at

top to shed water. Hole sizes to vary with the post type.
Line Post
Terminal Post
Gate Post

10" diameter
12" diameter
24" diameter

3' deep
3' deep
4' deep

9.1.8

Holes shall be deeper than post to provide a minimum 3" depth of

concrete below the post.

9.1.9

Extension arms shall be of pressed steel, hot-dip galvanized. End and

corner posts, shall be set with heavy malleable iron or pressed steel
arms. Each arm shall carry three (3) barbed wires securely fastened.
Topmost barbed wire shall be 12" above the fabric and 12" in from the
fence line.

9.1.10

Top rail shall be hot-dip galvanized; 1 5/8" O.D. standard weight

tubular steel pipe. Expansion rail couplings shall be provided when
required. The top rail shall pass through the extension arm base and
shall form a continuous brace from end to end of each stretch of fence.
The top rail shall be securely fastened to end, gate, and corner posts
by suitable galvanized connections.

9.1.11

Braces shall be hot-dip galvanized. Horizontal braces shall be

furnished for end, gate and corner posts. The brace material shall be
the same as the top rail. Braces shall be spaced midway between the
top rail and the ground and shall extend to the first line post.
Braces shall be securely fastened to the posts by galvanized pressed
steel connections, then trussed from the line post back to the end, gate
or corner posts with 3/8" diameter galvanized rods with turnbuckles.

9.1.12

Fittings shall be hot-dip galvanized. All fittings shall be malleable cast

iron or pressed steel.

9.1.13

Barbed wire shall be three (3) lines of 4 point pattern each composed
of two (2) strands of No. 12 1/2 gage wire, galvanized after weaving.
Wire shall meet requirements of ASTM A-121, Class III.

9.1.14

Gates shall have frames fabricated from pipe of adequate size and
thickness properly braced and trussed to prevent excessive sag for the
opening sizes indicated. Slide gates, if required, shall be furnished with
heavy duty rollers. Double swing gates shall have a ground latch to
prevent wind from springing the standard latch. Standard latches
capable of locking shall be furnished for all gates.

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9.2

10.0

Installation
9.2.1

Finished fences shall be in proper alignment, with posts plumb and all
wire work properly tensioned. Care shall be exercised to equalise the
tension on each side of the posts. All corner, end, and gate posts shall
be diagonally braced in an approved manner.

9.2.2

Posts shall be checked before the concrete is set to insure the

alignment has been maintained. Bracing for all end, corner and gate
posts shall be secured in place before posts are subjected to strain.

9.2.3

Stretches of fence more than 10.0 ft. in length shall have a pull post
with braces midway between the stretch provided.

9.2.4

All changes in direction of 30 and over shall be considered as a corner.

9.2.5

Pull post shall be used where there is an abrupt change in the grade.

9.2.6

Two truss rods shall be used at each braced section, one from the top
brace to the brace at the fabric mid-point and one from the mid-point
brace to the ground at the terminal post.

9.2.7

Electrical grounding of fences, where required, will be by others.

CONSTRUCTION METHOD
10.1

Survey Lines, Levels and Joint Survey

Contractor shall set out the work in conformance with the drawings confirming the
accuracy of all lines and levels prior to starting the work. Any discrepancies shall be
referred to Company for solution.
Company will establish permanent bench marks for reference which lines and
elevations will be established. Contractor will have final responsibility for accurately
setting out the work.
Contractor, together with Company, is required to perform a joint survey prior to
starting the work.

10.2

Clearing and Grubbing

All vegetation and obstacles surfaces and underground shall be completely cleared
and flattened as necessary prior to excavate or filling.
All organic top soil shall be stripped and deposited in the area designated by
Company. The depth of stripping shall be approved by Company.
Roots of trees and any obstacle projecting above the finished surface shall be
grubbed and replaced with suitable materials approved by Company. The grubbed
material shall be disposed off as directed by Company.
Proper temporary drainage shall be provided and maintained prior to starting the
work.

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10.3

Excavation
Before commencing the work, Contractor shall submit drawings of cross sections
showing the original ground surface and excavated ground surface for Company's
approval. Excavation shall be executed to the dimensions, levels, lines and profiles
as shown and detailed in the drawings. Contractor shall notify Company in writing at
least 1 (one) week prior to start the excavation work.
Contractor shall have full responsible to guarantee safety of all labour and Company
property including existing facilities during executing the work.
If sheeting and shoring is required, a detailed scheme indicating type, depth,
installation procedure and relevant detail shall be submitted to Company for
approval.
The faces and beds of all excavations, after being excavated to the required
dimensions, shall be carefully trimmed to the required profiles and levels and shall be
cleaned excavated from all loose mud, dirt and other debris and replace with suitable
materials.
Over excavation below the specified level shall be filled with suitable material or lean
concrete up to the specified level as approved by Company.
Heavy equipment shall not be used for the excavation which closer than 1.5 meter
from edge of an open excavated area.
Where an existing facility is anticipated to be encountered below grade during
excavation, the location shall be examined in advance and excavation shall be
carefully done so as not to damage such facility.
Sides of excavation shall be stabilized by cutting the sides to the proper stable angle
or by any other suitable methods and maintained during the works.
Water, which may effect construction work, flowing from outside shall be drained
away by suitable means.

10.4

Disposal of Surplus Soil

Surplus soil shall be disposed to the dumping area as directed by Company.
Surplus soil shall not be mixed with construction debris and rubbish.
The surplus soil disposal area shall be properly drained and graded.

10.5

Back Filling (Existing Material)

Back filling shall not be allowed before forms are removed and trash, debris, water
and sludge are cleaned and construction below grade is inspected, tested and
approved.
Excavated materials containing highly organic soils, peat, roots or other plants and
highly compressible soil which to Company's opinion will be difficult to compact, it may
not be permitted to be used as structural permanent back filling materials.

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All excess materials which not be used for back filling shall be dumped and flattened
in thin layers in the dumping areas as directed by Company.
Back filling shall be done in layers not exceeding 30 cm in thickness before
compaction unless otherwise specified in the drawings.
Top soil materials containing vegetation shall not be used as back filling material.
Back-filling materials shall not be placed against unsupported walls until the mortar or
concrete has attained sufficient strength for supporting the back load.
10.6

Filling and Banking

Contractor shall propose sample of filling materials not later than 14 (fourteen) days
prior to start filling work, at least 2 (two) samples of 50 kg dry weight fill material by
which of one will be kept by Company as reference material.
Contractor shall submit to Company :
-

Results of field compaction test (sand cone or similar type)

Results of measurement of compacted surface to prove that it meet the

tolerance.

If any mud encountered especially on the swampy areas, Contractor shall

remove all mud until the hard layers are achieved and replaced with Company's
approved filled material. All mud shall be removed from site to Company's
dumping areas.

Contractor shall maintain the working area to be always dry during filling and
compacting.

The filled surface shall have appropriate inclination and shall have drainage
trenches to drain water well. Water from working area shall be drained to the
nearest permanent drainage. Mud trap or silt trap shall be provided not to
pollute the permanent drainage.

Before placing fill material, all grass and other vegetation shall be removed to a
depth of minimum 20 cm.
Filling and banking shall be placed evenly on well prepared surface in layers not
exceeding 20 cm thickness before compaction and compacted thoroughly using
approved equipment.

Each layer of soil shall extend over the full width of the embankment.

Fill and embankment shall be compacted to the lines and grades shown in the
drawings.

The final compacted fill surfaces which is not as shown in the drawings and does
not meet the required tolerance must be corrected by removing the excess fill or
by adding fill as needed and re-compacted.

Fill which is too dry to be compacted shall be wetted by means of water to the
designated moisture content around optimum moisture content then recompacted.

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10.7

Fill which is too wet to be compacted shall be scarified and grading several times
to reduce the moisture content. If drying is too hard to be achieved to
designated moisture content then the fill material shall be removed from site and
replace with new fill material.

After satisfactory completion, Contractor shall cover the compacted fill with
tarpaulin or plastic to protect from rain water and becoming reduce in quality.

Filling may not be laid, spreaded or compacted during rain and there will be no
compaction after rain stop where the soil to be compacted is still wet.

Compaction
As soon as layer of fill material is placed and spreaded, every layer shall be
compacted to not less than 95% Modified Proctor Maximum dry density as
determined by ASTM D-1557.
Compacting of fill shall only be carried out if moisture content of the material is within
+/- 3% of the optimum moisture content. The optimum moisture content shall be
determined in laboratory compaction test as refer to AASHTO 99 or ASTM D 698.78.
The following measures shall be taken to control the moisture content of dry soil :
-

The thickness of each layer shall be limited to a thickness through which sprayed
water is absorbed to the bottom of the layer. When the soil absorbs more water
than necessary for the compaction, compaction operation shall be started after
the moisture content becomes suitable for compaction.

The material and water shall be mixed prior to filling by construction equipment
such as shovel or back-hoe until optimum moisture content is obtained.

Prior to commencing compaction, in order to obtain the maximum thickness of each

layer and the minimum number of passes of the compaction requirement, it shall be
determined by field compaction test as determined by AASHTO T-19, ASTM D-1556
and specified in section to ensure that the compaction meets the specified
requirement. The maximum thickness but not more than 20 cm thickness and the
minimum number of passes shall be approved by Company.
As a minimum requirement, in order to obtain maximum compaction, the following
number of passes is required for each type of compactor used.
-

Sheep-foot Roller
60" diameter - 6 passes minimum
40" diamater - 9 passes minimum

Rubber Tire Roller

6 passes minimum

Compaction shall be carried out layer horizontally. If compaction is to form an

inclined slope, the layers to be compacted shall be horizontal to guarantee
compaction quality.

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Fill shall be compacted at the outer edge first and moving to the middle with a
method that every part has equal compactness.
Filling in a location when there is no access for a heavy regular compactor, each
layer to be compacted shall not be more than 15 cm thickness by using approved
mechanical tamper.
10.8

Drainage Area
Drainage area shall be provided to prevent flooding of the graded areas.
Drainage shall consist of open type earthen ditches running parallel and adjacent to
roads.
The slope and shape of temporary drainage ditches shall be such to minimise
erosion and sedimentation.

10.9

Dewatering
A suitable dewatering system shall be provided to maintain quality and ensure
progress of earth work. Contractor shall provide suitable, adequate tools and
equipment such as pump, hoses, power and cabling.
Where necessary a temporary sump and trench shall be installed for dewatering and
where no longer required shall be back filled with suitable material approved by
Company.
Prior to starting excavation work, dewatering method shall be submitted to Company
for approval.

10.10 Tolerance
Unless otherwise specified the finished surfaces shall be within the following
tolerances:
-

Excavation
Level excavation of bottom foundation and structure: + 0.00 mm and 20.0 mm

Banking
Level of general banking: +/- 30.0 mm

Site Surfaces
Level of Process area
Level of the other areas

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:
:

+/- 30.0 mm
+/- 50.0 mm

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11.0

INSPECTION AND CONTROL

11.1

General
The final lines level and slopes shall be inspected to ensure that the specified
requirements have been met.

11.2

Inspection of Compaction
Final or back fill will be accepted when the material has been placed in layers not
exceeding the specified thickness and compacted with compactor in at least number
of passes determined in section 10.7.
Inspection of compaction for earth work shall be performed in accordance with the
compaction test specified in section 11.3 below.

11.3

Field Compaction Control

Maximum dry density of fill material shall be determine in accordance with ASTM D
1557.
Dry density in place shall be obtained in accordance with ASTM D 1556.

Compaction shall be considered to meet specified requirement when the value C

shown below is not less than the value specified in the drawings or Company
specifications.

C=
Where :

W
x100%
W max
- W
= dry density obtained from ASTM D 1556
- Wmax = maximum dry density obtained from ASTM D 1557

A method determining the specified compaction, other than above, may be employed
if approved by Company and provided that the relationship between the results of
the adopted method and the specified density is established prior to inspection.
Compaction shall be considered to meet the specified requirements when this
relationship is met.
Test report shall be prepared for all tests and submitted to Company immediately
after the tests are completed.

12.0

SAFETY OF WORKS
Temporary fences, guard rails, barricades, lights and other protective measures required for
the safety of works and personnel shall be provided and maintained.
Method of the safety of works shall be met with the safety regulation of Company.

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13.0

EXCAVATION SAFETY PROCEDURE

-

Introduction
Excavation is an essential element of the construction processparticularly in relation to
the construction of foundations, drainage work and site regarding of all kinds.
In carrying out an excavation, the soil conditions can very widely, often in short distances.
No soil, whatever its nature, can be relied upon to support its own weight for any length
of time let alone any additional loads which may be imposed by plant and materials. It
should never be forgotten that 1 m3 of earth weights approximately 1.7 tonnes. Even a
small fall of earth is capable of inflicting serious injury, even if it does not kill. Unless,
therefore, the excavation can be battered to a safe slope, the sides will need supporting
to prevent the possibility of collapse and thus:
1. Provide safe conditions for persons working in or adjacent to the excavation and, in
some situations, the public as well,
2. Enable the works to be carried out without interruption and
3. Protect adjacent property and/or public services.
A safe place of work means that safe of access to and from it must be provided. The
property of others must also be safeguarded. Whenever excavation has to be
undertaken, therefore, adequate prior consideration needs to be given to the soil
conditions that will be met, the method of excavation to be used and the manner in which
any necessary support will be provided.
Traditionally, timber has been used in the support of excavations, However, modern
methods incorporate steel and proprietary systems are invariably of metal construction.

Grounding Conditions
Before commencing any excavation, it is important to identify the type of ground in which
the excavation is to be carried out. Detailed information may be available with the
contract documentation, or in the form of bore-hole or trial pit logs carried out as part of
the site investigation. Whichever method is used, it is helpful to have a simple means of
identifying the various strata that may be found.
When examining bore-holes or trial pit information, particular importance should be paid
to the location of any water table. If the water table is going to be exposed by the
excavation, careful consideration will need to be given to how it may effect the stability of
the excavation sides. Ground water can greatly effect the stability of any soil and in
particular, non-cohesive materials. Water can also enter an excavation as surface runoff.
Whatever the source of water, effective action is necessary, either to stop the water from
surface sources entering altogether or, in the case of ground water, minimising its effect
to the greatest possible degree.

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a. Surface Water
Surface ditches, stream etc., likely to be interrupted by the excavation, may need
diversion. Where the excavation is across a slope in the ground, cut-off ditches
should be considered if the work is to be carried out in a rainy period. Where the
location of field drains is visible, they should be cut off diverted before the main
excavation starts.
b. Ground Water
The presence of ground water is more difficult to deal with than surface water. It may
effect the sides of the excavation to the extent that, even if supported, wash out of
material will occur between sheeting. In certain soil conditions, the bottom of
excavation can become unstable and boil, with the inevitable total collapse of the
trench. The relationship of ground water to the soil conditions needs careful analysis
before a decision is made as to the support method to be used.
If the ground is suitable, one of several ground dewatering techniques may be used.
Such methods involve either shallow well pumping or well pointing. In either case, the
pumping out of water has the effect of lowering the ground water table to a level
below that to which the excavation is to be taken. Wells or well pointing, for their
successful use, require a proper soil analysis to make sure that the method is
feasible. It must also be established, at the same time, that no fine material will
consequent risk of settlement.
Modern technology provides alternatives to dewatering the ground. Stabilisation of
the ground can be achieved by chemical injection or freezing. Injection and freezing
methods are always expensive compared to dewatering and are therefore only used
when other methods cannot cope with the situation. They require highly skilled
technologists to operate them and will be effective only in soils suitable to their use.
Before any decision is made to use them, specialist advice from a soil mechanics
expert is essential.
Where a water bearing strata overlays an impervious one and the depth of this
impervious strata is not too great, the use of sheet piling may be more effective and
economical. The piling, being substantially watertight, cuts-off the water from the
excavated area, thus enabling the excavation to proceed in dry.

Use of sheet piles to cut-off excavation from water-logged ground.

1.
permeable strata. 2. water. 3. impermeable strata.

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There is also the growing use of permanent construction to provide both temporary
support and deal with water problems. Diaphragm walls and seacant piling are
frequently used in this way.
c. Failure Modes
The importance and indeed necessity, of providing proper support to excavations is
often hard to explain to site operatives. The reason is not hard to find. Clays to the
inexperienced, often look very stable when first excavated. They stand up vertically,
in many cases, for a surprisingly long time and a false sense of security is built up.
Rock tends to be assumed as being highly stable, and not needing any support at
all. Why such assumptions are dangerous is illustrated in the following paragraphs.
-

Saturated Clayey Silts present the most difficult problem as the sides will slump
into the excavation. The only really satisfactory solution is dewater the ground
outside the limit of the trench.

Header
Main

Excavation

Original
ground level
Original
water table

Well
point

New water table

Dewatering
-

Saturated Silt or Sand Dewatering outside the line of the proposed trench will,
in general, provide the most satisfactory and safe solution. If this is not possible,
sheet piling will needed to provide a watertight support. To achieve a safe
toeing-in at the bottom of excavation, the piling may need driving to a
considerable depth to avoid the bottom of the excavation boiling up and causing
total collapse of the trench support. Only if the silt or sand overlays an
impervious strata, and a cut-off is possible, will a really safe and economic
solution be possible.

Sand Where a degree of silt is present in the sand, the material may well stand
up initially. The illusion of stability is false, as a heavy rainfall can provide the
lubrication necessary to allow the trench side to slip into the excavation. The
cohesion of the material is also effected by the side of the excavation drying out.
Again the sides of the excavation will collapse, usually without warning. Bettered
sides are the best answer, provided that suitable surface water cut-off drainage
is provided. The alternative is to provide adequate support with the minimum of
delay.

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Soft Clays Battered excavations in soft clays require careful consideration in

relation to the slope to be used. If too steep, failure ca occur by rotation.

Side too steep

Slip surface
Failure by rotation. Soft clay

If battering to a safe angle is not possible, full sheeting of the excavation will be
necessary. The method of installation should:
1. allow for the sheeting to be pre-driven before excavation takes place, or
2. be capable of sheeting to a pre-determined depth before excavation
proceeds further, or
3. allow the main supporting members to be installed horizontally as the
excavation proceeds downwards.
-

Firm or Stiff Clay These clays, with or without a degree of sand or gravel
present, will stand unsupported after excavation, but what is often not
appreciated is that the apparent stability can deteriorate rapidly in a short period
of time; then the face will be liable to collapse without warning.
Collapse is initiated in two ways:

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1. When a trench is excavated, soil at the sides is relieved of lateral restraint

and tends to swell inwards. Cracks occur causing unstable lumps. These, in
turn, can break away and fall into the excavation without warning.
Failure due to cracks. Stiff Clays.

Cracks formed by drying out

Water penetration softens clay,
which can slide or fall into the
trench due to lack cohesion

Cracks formed

Unstable
lumps

Clay Swells Inwards

2. Many clays contain fissures, or cracks, which appear due to the drying out of
the clay. When rain, or other surface water, penetrate the crack or fissure,
the clay is softened and lumps can readily break away. Earth fall are
therefore more frequent in wet weather.
Battering must be at a shallow enough slope. If battering is not suitable, properly
assessed support will be necessary.
-

Rock At first sight, rock excavation would seem to present the least problem. In
fact, all rock masses (including chalk, which can be classes as soft rock) are
separated into blocks by bedding planes, cleavage planes and fissures. All
these are planes of weakness; they can contain water or thin layers of clay which
act as lubricants which will facilitate sliding along the planes.
Rock excavation, by its very nature, tends to leave ragged faces. Small but
heavy fragments may be held in place quite loosely and vibration, e.g. due to
blasting, will dislodge them. All rock excavations should have such loose
fragments knocked down as the digging proceeds. Further examinations must
be carried out daily, before work commences is the excavation. Chances must
never be taken in rock; support must be provided if there is any doubt.

Method of Excavation
Where an excavation has to be provided with a suitable form of supported, the system
and the method to be adopted for the excavation cannot be considered individually, in
isolation. Each will inevitably react on the other and persons dealing with the temporary
support must maintain close liaison with whoever is marking decisions on the plant to be
used. Such liaison is particularly important in drainage work, when long pipes or large
pre-cast manhole rings may have to be lifted through any supporting struts etc.

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Basic Principle of Support

There are many ways by which excavation can be made safe to work in, avoid settlement
to adjacent land and building and allow work to proceed with minimum hindrance. There
are, however, only the following four fundamental principle involved.
a. Battered Side
This is probably the safest method and accidents resulting from the collapse of
properly designed and executed battered systems are rare. Almost all soils can
executed to a safe batter, provided that sufficient space is available (i.e. The batter
will not adjacent buildings, etc.) and a safe angle of response is known and adhered
to.
Where water logged ground is involved, specialist advice should be taken, as some
system of ground dewatering will be needed to improve stability. Only test can show
whether or not the ground is capable of being dewatered.
Surface water can serious effect the stability of battered slopes. Where such flow is
likely to happen in wet conditions, intercepter trenches, to cut off surface water and
lead it away from the excavation, should be provided.
b. Double Side Support
With this method support, the forces exerted by the earth are transmitted from one
side of the excavation to the other by walings and horizontal struts, i.e. the forces
imposed by the earth on the supporting materials are resisted by the earth on the
opposite side of the excavation. Hence, if the support is adequately designed, a
state of equilibrium is maintained between the two sides.
Of method using a form structural support, this is the most satisfactory, as only
horizontal forces are involved. The method lends itself to the use of pre-designed
(standard) solutions and proprietary systems, which are installed in accordance
with manufacturers tables provided.
In saturated silt and sand, where dewatering is not being used, there is serious risk
of the bottom of the trench boiling upwards. If this happens, total collapse of
support system results. In such conditions, therefore, standard solutions must in no
circumstances be used. The penetration of sheeting is a key factor in the safety of
the support, which requires design by a competent person.
Double sided support. All forces horizontal.

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Penetration

Sheet pile solely in non-cohesive and wet soil.

Penetration must be adequate to avoid boils or blows and determined by a
competent temporary works designer.
c. Single Sided with Raking Support
Only one face of the excavation is involved. Earth pressure from the excavated face
is resisted by transferring the load through the support material via walings to either
raking shores or ground anchors. In the raking shore approach, an adequate
foundation is needed to transfer the loads involved to the un-excavated ground.
When raking shores are used to resist horizontal forces, the load in the raking
member is greater than the horizontal load and a vertical uplift force is introduced
into the support system. The design for sufficient toeing-in of the sheeting to resist
these upward forces, as must the design of the connections between strut, waling
and sheeting.

Raking Support

Vertical uplift force

Compressive force in
struts

Earth
pressure

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With ground anchors, the situation is the same, but the forces are reversed. The
ground anchor system is in tension, while vertical component is trying to pull the
whole assembly downwards. Care must therefore be taken to ensure that the forces
in individual anchors are not too great for the ground to resist their vertical
component.
Whether shores or anchors are used, single-sided support systems are not suitable
for standard solutions. They must be designed by suitably qualified persons and with
ground anchors, the anchors designed and installed by specialists. It should be
noted that single sided support is most frequently used to protect boundary
conditions.
Use of ground anchors.

Earth
pressure

Downward
force

Diagonal
Tensile
force in
anchor
d. Single-Sided Cantilever Support
Whatever variation of this principle is adopted, it should always be designed by
suitably qualified persons.
Free cantilever.

Earth
pressure

Overturning
moment

Resisting
moment

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The method can be used only:

1. in ground conditions which are sufficiently stable to provide the necessary
resistance to balance the overturning forces, or
2. Where the effect of superimposed loads and their stability is not critical.
All cantilevers will deflect to degree. Such deflection will create risk to adjoining
installations and structures, roads, etc. and their use in these circumstances should
be avoided.
The use of cantilever systems can be improved, in terms of deflection, by what is
known as a propped cantilever. This involves tying back the top of the sheeting
system to an appropriate anchor block. The effect of introducing a horizontal tieback is to reduce any deflection and at the same time maintain a system involving
horizontal forces only.
Propped cantilever.

Anchor block

Earth
pressure

Penetration to
provide end fixing

System of Support
Within the basic principles of support, a variety of materials and method may be used:
a. Timber
Timber is used as sheeting material, in the form of poling boards and runners, and
also as walings and struts. Examples of its use are given later in this section under
trenches, shafts and headings.
b. Steel Trench Sheeting
Trench sheeting has the advantage of easy driving in poor ground, prior to an
excavation being commenced. In stiffer ground, it can be part driven initially, then
further driven as the excavation proceeds.

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c. Steel Sheet Piling

Obtainable in a variety of sectional stiffness, sheet piling is interlocking and being
much stiffer than trench sheeting, it can be pre-driven to much greater depths before
any excavation is started.
Sheet piling is expensive in the cost of driving and in its subsequent extraction.
However, its use has the following advantages:
1. By pre-driving, the main structural support is in place before any excavation is
started.
2. The interlocking is reasonably watertight, making its use ideal where waterlogged
or very unstable ground is to be supported.
3. Because of its structural strength, steel sheet piling can used for any of the basic
principles of support. It is the only really satisfactory material where a cantilever
support is used.
4. Where impermiable conditions exist below a waterlogged strata, sheet piling can
be used to cut-off the waterbearing layer from the excavation. Where no cut-off
is economically possible and wet, non-cohesive material is to be supported, the
design of the piling must allow sufficient penetration to avoid the bottom of the
excavation heaving or blowing
In all cases where steel sheet piling is the proposed solution, calculations should be
made by a competent person.
d. H-piling or Soldier Piling
In this system, steel universal column sections are pre-driven, at determines centres,
prior to any excavation commencing. If the ground conditions make driving difficult
or, if vibration or noise to be avoided, the steel sections can be positioned in predrilled holes with the bottom end held in concrete.
As excavation proceeds, the exposed face is supported by timbering or trench
sheeting set horizontally between the piles. In effect, the sheeting takes the form of
horizontal poling boards, wedged in position as shown below.
The H piling method has a number of very important advantages when heavy
support is needed, e.g.:
1. The main structural support is in place before excavation commences.
2. The sheeting can be kept tight up with the excavation, which need not be left
unsupported for any length of time.
3. Maximum economy in sheeting material is possible; e.g. if the ground appears
suitable, as exposed, hit and miss sheeting may be adequate in some strata
while, in other levels, close sheeting may be needed.
4. If insufficient sheeting has been used, i.e. if the ground is seen to be pushing
through gaps in the sheeting, it can be cut away and additional sheeting installed
in the gaps.

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5. Where services cross an excavation, the H pile method is particularly adaptable

(see illustration in next column). The piles can be installed between above and
below. If the gap resulting is excessive, vertical sheeting can be tucked behind
the horizontal members to fill in the gaps.
H Piling can be applied to both double or single sided methods of support. It is not,
however, applicable to cantilever support, or in ground conditions which are
waterlogged. As an engineered system, it must be designed by competent persons.
e. Proprietary Systems
The number of proprietary systems is constantly growing. They are designed
primarily to allow the support system to be installed in a trench without the need for
persons to enter. Some methods, however, merely provide a waling and strut
assembly that can be used to support timber or steel trench sheeting.
Examples of the use of proprietary systems are given in the following paragraphs
under Trenches.
-

Trenches
Standard solutions can normally be applied up to depth of 6 m, provided that the
excavation is in non-water bearing ground. In all other situations, designed solution must
be used.
a. Standard Solutions
The use of standard solutions in trench excavation will mean using either
Traditional methods, or proprietary systems.
b. Traditional Methods
Traditional methods use timber or steel trench sheeting as the sheeting material,
timber walings and either timber or adjustable steel struts. With these components, a
number of options are possible, to suit varying conditions.
The use of poling boards is dependent o the material to be excavated standing up
to a height equal to the length of poling board used during the boards installation.
Two variations in installation are possible:
1. The Middle board method, shown opposite, is installed by excavating to a depth
equal to the length of the poling board being used. Poling boards are then set
up plumb, at a distance apart equal to the length decided upon for the walings,
on both sides of the trench. The walings are placed in position and strutted
against the first poling boards. The intermediate boards are next located,
removing the minimum of face soil to provide a snug fit behind the waling
member. When all boards are in position, the final number of struts required are
installed. All poling boards between struts must be checked and, where
necessary, wedges driven between the poling boards and walings to provide tight
contact with the excavation.
Excavation can then proceed downwards, for the next level of poling boards.
Although the diagrams show timber struts, these can, of course, be replaced by
metal trench struts.

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2. The Tucking Frame method shown below, only differs from the middle boards
approach in that the waling and struts are located at the top and bottom of poling
boards, instead of the middle.
The excavation, prior to the installation of a level of poling boards, needs to be
slightly deeper than the poling board length. This is to enable the boards to be
tucked up and behind the waling.
Runners are used where the ground will not stand long enough to allow the
installation of a poling board system. Runners are longer sheeting members than
poling boards and can be in timber or steel trench sheeting.
In bad ground, where continuous support is needed, the runners are pitched and
held vertically in a temporary frame work (usually a lightweight version of sheet piling
frame). They are driven into the ground as far as they will reasonably go, without
damage. A shallow depth of excavation is carried out and the first level walings and
struts installed. The numbers are wedged tightly to the excavation, and digging
continued until the end if the runner is only just held in the excavated material. The
wedge on each runner is loosened separately, the runner driven down again, and
the wedge re-tightened. This continues until the next waling is inserted.
Two sets of wedges have to dealt with at each runner position. In this way, the
excavated face can be continuously supported while excavation to the full depth of
the runner is carried out. Extra depth is possible by inserting a new set of runners
inside the first and continuing downwards.
Where ground conditions permit, the procedure can be simplified. A shallow
excavation is first cut and the pitching frame set up in it (as shown opposite). The
runners are pitched and plumbed and excavation carried out to the depth that the
earth will stand. The runners can the allowed to drop into driving, until they bed into
and excavated continued. The sequence is repeated as required.
c. Proprietary System
Proprietary systems fall into a number of well defined groups:
1. Hydraulic struts associated with waling systems (usually in aluminium to save
weight).
2. Shields or boxes which are dragged along the trench as work proceeds.
3. Box or plate supports.
4. Special methods.
As there are many suppliers and varieties, the groups above are only outlined in this
section. All proprietary methods should be used strictly in accordance with the
manufacturers instructions.
Hydraulic Strut/Waling
A typical hydraulic strut/waling system is shown below. The objective is to provide a
strut/waling assembly which can be lowered into the trench and hydraulically stressed
against the sheeting without anyone entering the trench. Such systems are normally
only suitable for the support of trenches up to 6 m deep.

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Shield or Drag Boxes

As the name suggests, these are designed primarily as protection for persons
working in excavation, rather than an excavation supprot. The side sheeting and
strutting, which keeps the sheeting apart, provide a rigid box. As the work proceeds,
the box is pulled forward by excavating machine to the new working area.
Such boxes are simple to make and, as they are rigid structures, require little
maintenance. Inevitably, though, they are heavy and the excavator has to be
powerful enough to pull them forward in trench.
Box or plate lining systems
Box or plate lining systems are designed for support, not just protection and should
not be confused with shields or drag boxes.
Box support systems, as shown opposite, have strutted support walls of a modular
nature, which can be positioned by machine, and built up vertically and laterally.
They are not designed to be dragged along the trench.
Plate lining methods work on the principle of installing a vertical member and struts at
set intervals, between which heavy plates slide into position.
With either box or plate lining systems, cross services present a problem, as the run
of the system has to be interrupted. Other methods for support have to be used in
such areas.
Designed Solution
Where the depth of trench exceeds 6 m, the support system should be designed by a
competent person. To do so, an adequate soil report should be available, giving all
necessary data on water levels, the depths at which they occur, and whether any
particular strata is liable to boil if cut-off is not achieved.
1. Use of Runners
While timber or steel trench sheeting can be used in deep excavations, by
installing one set of runners inside another setting, the labour intensive nature of
the method tends to limit its use.
2. Sheet Piling
Where water-bearing ground has to be dealt with, sheet piling is the obvious
choice. Its interlocking nature and stiff section enable pre-driving to the full
depth of the excavation and the creating of a watertight barrier. Where the strata
is suitable, the water-bearing strata can be cut-off from the excavation by the
sheet piles penetrating into a non-previous layer below.
3. H-piling (Soldier Piling)
If water is not present in the excavation, the H-piling method of support is
normally used. In association with steel walings and struts, considerable depths
can be supported.

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Wide and Single-sided Excavation

When a trench becomes very wide, problems arise with the strutting. The struts
themselves become long, and bending due to their own weight has to be taken into
account, as well as the compressive forces induced by the earth pressure. The effect of
bending is to reduce the compressive forces that can be resisted. In these
circumstances, a proper structural analysis needs to be made by a competent temporary
works designer.
An alternative is to adopt a single-sided support method. Whichever approach is used, a
designed solution is essential.
-

Single-sided Support
It is desirable that the main structure of the support is in place before any excavation
takes place. For this reason, steel sheet piling and H-piling are the only satisfactory
methods to use, unless permanent construction is being specified as the sheeting
material. (Diaphragm walling, continuous bored piles and secant piling, to which
Contractor has to provide temporary support are described under Permanent works
as temporary support.

Shafts
The method of supporting a shaft, as with any excavation, is likely to be determined by
the ground conditions. In reasonably good ground, which will stand for one metre or
more, support systems based on the poling board can be used. In bad ground, systems
based on runners will be needed, unless sheet piling or soldier piling are considered
necessary.
a. Used of Poling Boards
The commonly used technique is very similar to that used in trenching and the same
length and section of boards are used. The ground is opened up to a depth equal to
the length of the poling boards, when the first setting of boards is installed and
supported by walings and struts. Waling may be installed at mid point of the poling
board (middle board method), or may be positioned at about the quarter point, as
shown below.
As in trenching, the waling frames are supported at the corners of the shaft by
puncheons, which may be termed angle posts. Where an intermediate strut is used,
the supporting puncheon is installed as in trenching practice.
The waling frames are normally installed by positioning two walings which run the
whole length on opposing sides of the trench. The other walings are cut to length
between the inside faces of the walings already positioned and should bear on timber
stretcher or cleats spiked to them (see illustration below, plan at B-B). The frame is
then supported be puncheons placed at the ends of the longer members.
When the waling frames are positioned and the poling boards tightened against the
excavation by wedges between the walings and poling boards, the next phase of the
excavation can proceed and lower levels of poling boards installed.
During the excavation of shafts, and at the completion of the installation, waling
frames should be secured and supported by lacing, ground props and foot blocks as
appropriate.

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Both timber and trench sheeting may be used for the poling boards. Timber is well
suited for walings as dimensional problems can readily be overcome, while the same
applies to struts. Even so, proprietary system are available and can be used when
the dimensions are appropriate.
b. Use of Runners
Where the ground conditions are less stable, the use of runners can ensure virtually
continuous support to the shaft as the excavation proceeds.
Runners, up to 3 m long, are used and are driven to form the lower level support in
much the same manner as described for trenches. The ground is first excavated to a
safe depth for the ground conditions. Vertical corner boards are positioned and the
first walings cut and installed between them. The second walings at right angles, are
then cut and positioned. Having restrained them by struts, to produce a rigid box
frame, the runners are then introduced into the gap between the excavation and the
walings and driven down as far as the ground conditions will allow. Each runner is
then forced against the excavation by wedges inserted between the walling and the
runner. Wedges are progressively eased and re-tightened as the excavation
progresses downwards, at the same time as the runners are driven down to cover
the excavated face.

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