SECTION 02225

TRENCHING AND BACKFILLING

1. PART 1 GENERAL

1.01 SECTION INCLUDES

A. Trench excavation.

B. Backfilling.

C. Removal and disposal of excess excavation materials as well as importing the

required bedding and fill materials if necessary.

1.02 REFERENCES

A. ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM D 698 Test Methods for Moisture-Density Relations of Soils and Soil-
Aggregate Mixtures using 5.5-lb (2.49-kg) Hammer and 12-
inch (305 mm) drop

ASTM D 1556 Test Method for Density of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone
Method

ASTM D 1557 Test Methods for Moisture-Density Relations of Soils and Soil-
Aggregate Mixtures Using 10-lb (4.54-kg) Hammer and 18-
inch (457 mm) Drop

ASTM D 1559 Test Method for Resistance to Plastic Flow of Bituminous

Mixtures Using Marshall Apparatus

ASTM D 2922 Test Methods for Density of Soil and Soil-Aggregate in Place
by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)

ASTM D 4253 Test Methods for Maximum Index Density of Soils Using
Vibratory Table

ASTM D 4254 Test methods for Minimum Index Density of Soils and
Calculation of Relative Density

1.03 SUBMITTALS

A. Submit test reports of backfilling materials and compaction showing compliance

with the requirements specified herein.

B. Submit field density test reports.

C. Submit one optimum moisture-density relationship curve for each type of soil to
be used for fill or backfill.

1.04 HAZARDS
 A. Whenever the Engineer determines that excavation or fill on Owner's property
which was created by a Contractor and which is a hazard to life and limb, or
endangers property, or adversely affects the safety, use or stability of a roadway
or drainage channel, the responsible Contractor, upon receipt of a notice in
writing from the Engineer, shall within the period specified therein repair or
eliminate at his own expense such excavation or fill so as to eliminate the hazard
occurring.

1.05 DEFINITIONS

A. Bedding Material: Materials utilized for bedding under pipes in trenches.

B. Initial Backfill Material: Materials utilized for backfilling around pipes 150 mm
above the top of pipe.

C. Unsuitable Materials

1. Materials including, but not limited to, silts or clays containing organic
materials, soils containing large amounts of roots, grasses, and other
vegetation, debris, decomposable materials or as identified by the
Engineer.

2. Materials consisting of gypsum, salt deposits, and clayey marl with

plasticity index in excess of 20.

2. PART 2 PRODUCTS

2.01 MATERIALS

A. Clean Sand

1. Dune Sand containing only windblown material meeting the gradation

below; and/or

2. soil material meeting the following gradation containing less than 3 percent
weight of organic material, marl or clay:

Sieve Size Percent Passing

1/4 inch (6.25 mm) 100
No. 10 (2.00 mm) 90 - 100
No. 20 (0.075 mm) 10 or less

B. Dune Sand: Wind-deposited sand consisting of relatively single-sized particles

generally passing the No. 16 sieve (1.18 mm) and containing less than 10
percent soil particles passing No. 200 sieve (0.074 mm).

C. Marl: A wide variety of inorganic calcareous soil materials which may vary from
clay to gravel sizes and may include cobble and boulder sized pieces.

2.02 BEDDING MATERIALS

 A. Provide clean sand conforming to the gradation and requirements specified
herein.

B. Compact sand bedding to at least 70 percent relative density or 95 percent

proctor density according to ASTM D 698 whichever is applicable and gives
greater density.

C. Determine maximum/minimum densities of a representative bedding sample

according to ASTM D 4253/ASTM D 4254 for all locations. Obtain field density in
accordance with ASTM D 1556, Sand-Cone Method.

2.03 INITIAL BACKFILL MATERIALS

A. Provide clean sand conforming to the gradation and the requirements specified
herein.

B. Compact clean sand to 70 percent relative density from the bottom of pipe to
150 mm above the top of pipe. Maximum lifts of 150 mm are recommended.

2.04 FILL MATERIALS

A. Provide marl or soil materials for backfill from 150 mm above the top of pipe to
the top of trench meeting the following requirements:

1. Not more than 3 percent organic or decomposable materials.

2. No debris.

3. A maximum particle size of 150 mm or one-half the lift thickness,

whichever is smaller.

4. Minimum compaction shall be in accordance with the following Table:

Non-Traffic Areas Motor Vehicle Highways with

Traffic Areas Heavy Truck Traffic
Non-Cohesive 65% relative 70% relative 85% relative
Soils (Sand) density* density* density*
Cohesive Soils 85% of maximum 95% of maximum 95% of maximum
density** density** density***

* Relative Density: Determined in accordance with ASTM D 4253 and

ASTM D 4254.

** Maximum Density: Determined in accordance with ASTM D 698.

*** Maximum Density: Determined in accordance with ASTM D 1557.

5. Compact backfill materials to densities specified in accordance with ASTM

D 4253 and ASTM D 4254 or ASTM D 698 whichever is applicable and
 gives the greater density.

2.05 WARNING TAPE

A. Warning Tape: Metallic core polyethylene color-coded type, 150 mm wide, 100
micron thick, and labelled in Arabic and English alternately for the appropriate
service.

3. PART 3 EXECUTION

3.01 GENERAL

A. Unclassified Excavation: Perform excavation as indicated on Drawings in

whatever material encountered.

B. Unsuitable Materials

1. Excavate materials designated as unsuitable for use as fill by the Engineer

until suitable material is found.

2. Remove and dispose off site materials excavated during trenching, which
is unsuitable for backfill at no extra cost.

3.02 TRENCH EXCAVATION

A. Excavate trenches to the width and depth required and establish the indicated
invert elevations.

B. Saw cut asphalt and concrete pavement providing a minimum of 100 mm

beyond the required trench including allowances for sheeting and other works, or
to a total width of 1 m, whichever is greater.

C. Trench Dewatering: Conform to the requirements of Section 02200 -

EARTHWORK. If trench dewatering is necessary, no construction shall start until
the approval of design of dewatering system by the Engineer. Dewatering
systems shall not discharge into existing sewers, completed sections of new
sewers, or into open surface areas. Trench bottom shall be dry before pipe
installation. Cap the end of pipes between shifts and weight the pipe to prevent
floating.

D. Trench bottom shall be continuous, smooth, free of rocks, and to the lines and
grades shown on Drawings. Shape trench beds at joint locations to
accommodate the larger outside diameter of joint, so as to provide a continuous
support for the pipe. Trench contour shall not cause joint angular deflection or
pipe bending radius exceeding the Manufacturer's limit.

E. Depth of trench shall allow a minimum of 150 mm of sand bedding below the pipe.
Remove a minimum of 300 mm of unstable soil and replace with a minimum of

150 mm of crushed stone, maximum size of 38 mm (1-1/2 inch) and 150 mm of

sand on top of stone.

F. Sheeting or Shoring: Conform to the requirements of Section 02200 -

 EARTHWORK.

G. Unless live loads, dead loads, pipe deflections, and pipe stresses are calculated
by a method acceptable to the Engineer to verify the adequacy of pipe with less
cover, and unless Manufacturer's recommendation require deeper burial, the
minimum cover over the top of pipe shall be as shown on Drawings and
approved by the Engineer.

3.03 BEDDING

A. Provide clean sand bedding, 150 mm thick for trench bottom. Tamp or Compact
sand bed to provide uniform bearing.

3.04 BACKFILLING

A. Place the initial backfilling materials in maximum lifts of 150 mm around pipes
and to 150 mm above the top of pipes.

B. Compact backfill to the corresponding densities specified above. Within 300 mm

of the pipe, backfill shall be hand tamped, or a board shall be used to protect
pipe damage from vibratory plate compactors.

C. Sheeting and Shoring

1. Remove sheeting and shoring gradually as the backfill is placed. Fill voids
under and behind sheeting as sheeting is withdrawn.

2. Cut and leave sheeting in place, where in the opinion of the Engineer,
damage to the pipe may occur.

D. Exceptions

1. Backfill trenches with concrete where trench excavations pass within 450
mm of column or wall footings and that are carried out below bottom of
such footings or that pass under wall footings. Place concrete to level of
bottom of adjacent footing. Backfill trenches after completion of tests and
inspections and the Engineer approval. Backfilling shall not damage or
displace piping systems.

2. Provide 100 mm thick concrete base slab support for piping or conduits
less than 750 mm below surface of roadways. After installation and testing
of piping or conduits, provide 100 mm thick encasement (sides and top) of
concrete prior to backfilling or placement of roadway subbase.

3.05 COMPACTION TESTING

A. Test Method: To verify that the specified degree of compaction has been

achieved, perform in-place density tests by the nuclear method conforming to

ASTM D 1556 and ASTM D 2922.

B. Frequency: Perform compaction tests after the compaction of each lift of fill, at a
minimum rate of one in-place density test for every 50 linear meters of
compacted soil. Spacing between test locations shall be approximately equal.
 C. Extra Test: When test results fail to meet the established criteria for testing,
perform the remedial Work to the satisfaction of the Engineer. Re-test the
repeated Work using same methods and procedures specified herein to confirm
achieving the required established criteria.

3.06 WARNING TAPE

A. Place warning tape over utility lines in trenches and to the depths shown on
Drawings.

3.07 PAVEMENT REINSTATEMENT

A. Asphalt Concrete Paving: Conform to the requirements of Section 02510 -

ASPHALT CONCRETE PAVING.

B. Pavement base course shall be of the same depth and material as the original
base course.

C. Prime edges of the existing pavement and base course.

D. Surface course shall be identical to the original surface course.

E. Roll the paved patch in both directions with a 5-ton roller so as to compact the
patch to 96 percent of Marshall density in accordance with ASTM D 1559.

END OF SECTION