EXCAVATION WORKS

I. Objective:

This methodology shall set a generic procedure for excavation works and
shall help the constructor plan, execute and assess the best excavation
scheme for the actual site.

II. Scope and Limitations:

This methodology is focused on general excavation works. Any other scope of

activity shall be discussed in another methodology. This serves as a generic
procedure and any other special cases shall be assessed by the constructor
and dealt with his own discretion.

III. Definition of Terms:

A. Underground utility service - shall include but are not limited to

service connections for electrical, water supply, sanitary and
sewerage, drainage and telecommunications systems

B. Bore hole test - one of many geotechnical investigation tests

performed for the purpose of determining soil properties relevant in
design and construction activities

C. Excavator - a standard equipment used for mechanical excavation

D. Cohesion - soil property that binds the soil particles together with
each other and prevents them from breaking apart

E. Angle of Internal Friction / Repose - soil property that determines

at which angle will soil particles start to slide past each other without
any applied loading

F. Shear Strength - soil property that determines the ability of a soil to

resist shear forces

G. Slope Protection - any means employed to prevent erosion of soil or

any method used to ensure slope stability (e.g. soil-nailing, rock-
anchoring, shot-creting, sheet-piling, bracing etc.)

H. Benching - the process of providing a horizontal landing area in

between certain height /depth of excavation (generally 3 m)

I. Dewatering - the process of removing water from a certain location

and transferring to a designated drainage area

J. Unsuitable material - any type of material that may adversely affect

the integrity of a structure (generally includes mud, vegetations and
roots, and other organic materials)
 K. Rock blasting - a means of removing hard rock layer by planned and
careful blasting

III. Materials, Tools and Equipment:

The materials, tools and equipment shall include but are not limited to the
following:

A. Shovel - used in manual excavation

B. Excavator - standard equipment for mechanical excavation

C. Pump - dewatering equipment

D. Generator - source of electricity

E. Electric Lamps - shall be of sufficient capacity and strategically

positioned to illuminate the area to be excavated during night shift
operations

F. Surveying instrument - used in determining the location and

required elevation

G. Stakes - used to establish boundary lines

H. Inspection requests / reports - shall be used for documentation

prepared by Construction Department, and submitted to
relevant inspecting party (e.g. QA/QC and client and consultant

I. Hard barricades - shall be installed around the excavation at one (1)

meter from the edge of excavation

J. Safety signages - shall be installed at strategic locations and will

serve as warning devices to all personnel

K. Safety access and egress - shall be of capacity and quality that will
permit all personnel to safely access all areas on site

L. Safety Helmet - PPE

M. Safety Gloves - PPE

N. Safety Shoes / Boots - PPE

IV. Responsibility:

1. Project Manager - shall oversee the general construction process,

establish start and end dates for construction activities, plan the
allocation of resources, facilitate coordination of different
departments

2. Project Engineer - shall report to the project manager, responsible

for detailed scheduling of activities, allocate resources on site
as planned by project manager, requests purchase of needed
resources, reviews approved plans and drawings, implements
construction activities as per approved plans and drawings, prepares
inspection requests and coordinates with other departments

3. Foreman - shall report to the project engineer, responsible for the

implementation of construction activities as per instructions of the
project engineer, coordinates with project engineer on actual site
conditions, monitors and delegates responsibilities to workers

4. Warehouseman - shall be responsible for the issuance of materials

and tools, quantity check and custody of incoming materials, prepares
material inspection request of incoming materials, inventory of
materials

5. Logistics coordinator - shall be responsible for scheduling of heavy

equipment usage as per request by the construction department,
schedule maintenance of heavy equipment, monitor equipment-
hours, inventory and request of necessary consumables

6. QA/QC Engineer - administratively reporting to Project Manager;

functionally reporting to QA/QC Manager, responsible for quality
inspection processes as requested by the construction department,
coordinates with client regarding quality inspection and other
quality related issues, calibration of testing equipment, quality inspection of
incoming materials as requested by warehouse department,
monitors conformance of products and services

7. Safety Officer - administratively reporting to Project Manager;

functionally reporting to ESH & S Manager, responsible for safety
inspections on site, coordinates with other department on safety
related issues

8. Surveyor - shall be responsible for laying out survey points to

determine location and elevation of structures as per approved plans
and specifications, coordinates with construction department and
QA/QC department during construction and inspection

9. Heavy Equipment Operator - shall be responsible for the heavy

equipment; shall report to the logistics coordinator and shall
coordinate with project engineer / foreman regarding activities to be
done
 10. Spotter / Banksman - shall serve as guide for the heavy equipment
and ensures safety of all personnel, materials, tools, equipment
and structures near the heavy equipment

V. Procedure:

1. Prior to any excavation works, verify the presence of any underground

utility service in the location. Coordinate with local government unit
or other relevant parties.

2. Survey and stake out the boundaries as per coordinates and approved
construction drawings.
3. Additional geotechnical investigation may be required to verify bore
hole test results used during the design stage. Actual bore hole test
results will also help the constructor to assess the best excavation,
slope protection and construction method to be used.

4. Plan the method of excavation to be used. Excavation may be done

manually or mechanically depending on the scale of excavation
activity. Mechanical methods are further classified depending on
depth of excavation and other special factors. Generally, a standard
excavator is employed. Special cases may require excavator with long arm,
crane with clamshell attachment, and other equipment suitable for the
process.

5. Soil properties that may affect stability of excavation works include but
are not limited to cohesion, angle of internal friction or angle of
repose, and shear strength of soil.

Generally, constructors excavate at a slope less than the angle of

internal friction or the angle of repose (ranging from 30 to 45
degrees). Other constructors may even use lower slopes if soil properties
are found unreliable. Such methods however requires a large area
for site development and may prove to be unsuitable for small and confined areas.

In the event that actual site conditions will not permit such excavation
methodology, necessary measures to ensure soil stability shall be
done and may include soil-nailing, rock-anchoring, shot-creting,
sheet-piling, bracing and other slope protection methods. It is the
discretion of the constructor as to what methodology best suits the actual
excavation to be done.

6. Techniques are often employed to provide access and workability of

construction activities. Generally an excess of one (1) m all around the
structure foundation line is employed for hauling of materials,
scaffolding works, and for formworks shoring. Additional
allowances may still be employed as the constructor deems it to be
necessary.
 Benching at every three (3) m is often employed for deep excavations
to provide access and workability for excavator. Again, this will
require a large area for site development. The constructor may
resort to alternative methods (e.g. using excavator with long arm
or crane with clamshell attachment) upon his own discretion.

7. Pumps and other dewatering equipment shall be prepared in case

there is presence of water during excavation. Necessary planning
shall be done to ensure the best drainage scheme is employed for
the construction activities.

8. Unsuitable materials shall be removed from site. Also, presence of

water may significantly lower the soil strength at the bottom
level of foundation. Inform QA/QC and client and consultant of
such event to assess necessary measures to be taken.

Generally, client and consultant will require all unsuitable materials to

be removed. However, in some cases, this may prove to be very
difficult especially in deep excavations. An alternative may
be done upon agreement with client and consultant by excavating
an additional one (1) m depth exceeding from the established bottom level
of foundation. Boulders/gravel/engineered backfill is then used to
replace excavated one (1) m to establish up to the required bottom
layer of foundation.

9. In case hard rock strata is met during the process of excavation, it is

necessary to inform client and consultants of such event as it may
affect approved construction drawings. Rock blasting may be
required as per agreement with client and consultant.

10. Survey the established foundation level prior to concreting, rebar

works, formworks and other preceding activities.

11. Documentations shall be given prime importance.

Requests for inspection shall be properly prepared by the construction

department, submitted to QA / QC for scheduling of internal
inspection, and coordinated to client and consultant for final
inspection. Lead time allowances in submission of requests as per
agreement with QA/QC and client and consultant shall be followed.

Inspection process shall be well documented. Inspection reports shall

reflect whether inspection items were approved, rejected or
pending. Pending works to be done shall be coordinated to construction
department and shall be coordinated and scheduled for re-inspection
with QA/QC and client and consultant.

All documents and record shall be duly filed and transmitted.

 Coordinate with QA/QC for all documentation and inspection required.

12. Safety procedures shall be implemented.

Set an allowance of one (1) m from the boundary of excavation at the

top level and provide hard barricades. No personnel, materials,
tools, or equipment shall be allowed near the edge. This is to prevent
hazards such as erosion of soil, falling from height, falling
debris/objects, etc.

Lighting and ventilation shall also be provided especially in deep

excavations. Shoring and bracing for soil and dewatering
equipment shall be prepared to ensure safety of personnel and
equipment against untoward incidents.

All heavy equipment shall have its own spotter / banksman.

Coordinate with Safety personnel for necessary hazard identification

and safety procedures to be done.