SABS 1200 DB-1989 6

Earthworks (pipe trenches)

3.6 UATERIALS POR REINSTATEMENT OY ROADS AND PAVED AREAS

3.6.1 Subbase and Base, Where trenches cross o r run along surfaced roads and paved areas of which the surfaces
are scheduled to be reinstated, the Contractor shall obtain prhor approval of subbase and base materials
that may be required to supplement such materials lost during ercavation.
3.6.2 Gravel. Where trenches cross or run along gravel roads of which the surfaces are scheduled to be
reinstated, the Contractor shall, for the purpose of reinstatement, separately store the top 300 mm o f
material excavated.
3.6.3 Bituminous Construction. Materials for bituminous construction shall comply with the applicable

.........................................
requirements of the appropriate of the following specifications:
Primer
Cutback bitumens or emulsions
Coarse aggregate (stone chips)
.....................
SABS 748 or SABS 749

....................
SABS 308 or SABS 309
SAEG 1083
3.6.4
a) 6,7 mm coarse aggregate (stone chips)
RC 250 cutback bitumen
..........
Asphalt Carpet. An asphalt carpet shall consist of either of the follouinq mixes:

.........................
100 parts by mass, plus
7 parts by mass of emulsion

..........
or
b) 6,7 mm coarse aggregate (stone chips)
premix Grade 60 bitumen emulsion ...............
100 parts by mass, plus
8 parts by mass of emulsion

3.7 SELECTION. The Contractor, in addition to complying with 5.4, shall not wastefully dispose of excavated
material that complies with 3.3 and 3.4.
The Contractor is not required to use selective methods of excavating but may, if he so wishes, screen,
wash or otherwise treat excavated material in order to produce material suitable for the bedding. He
shall take positive steps t o avoid burying or contaminating materials which otherwise would be suitable
for use as
a) selected fill for the blanket or selected granular mateiial for the cradle, unless other materials
have been specified, or
b) topsoil, or
c) road materials for re-use in terms o f 5.9.
when otherwise suitable material from a trench is contaminated, the Contractor shall, to make up any
shortfall, obtain (at his own expense if the contamination is due to his methods of working) suitable
material from other excavations on the Site, or by opening up borrow pits, or by importing from commer-
cial o r other sources.
Subject to the requirements of 3.5, hard rock and boulder13 from excavations that conform to the
classification given in Subclauses 3.1.2(c)-(e) (inclusive) of SABS 1200 D or Subclauses 3.1.2(c)-(e)
(inclusive) of SAES 1200 DA, as applicable, shall be incorporated in the backfill. The Engineer m y
direct that the material be suitably mixed with other backfill material.

4. PLANT
4.1 EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT. The Contractor may use trenching plant that will excavate to a width such that the
side allowance does not exceed the appropriate value specified in 5.2 by more than 50 X , except that
where, in terms of the project specification or of the drawings, the base width of a trench for a
pipeline or a portion of a pipeline is not to exceed the minimum base width or a stated value, the
Contractor shall use trenching plant that will produce the required trench width or he shall accept
responsibility for all costs incurred in strengthening the relevant pipeline.

4.2 CONTROL OF WATER. The Contractor shall use appropriate techniques or provide plant such as pumps, well
points and sheeting or close timbering for keeping the trenches sufficiently free from water to enable
him to lay pipes true to line and level and to bed them soundly, all as specified in this specification
(see 5.1.2).

4.3 COMPACTION EQUIPMENT. The Contractor may use mechanical compaction equipment but he shall select such
equipment and operate it in such a manner that the pipeline, duct or cable is not stressed or damaged.
Machine compaction shall not be used directly above the pipe until sufficient backfill has been placed to
ensure that machine compaction loads transmitted to the top O F the pipe are no greater than would be
imposed by nonnal road traffic over a pipeline with cover of depth 600 mm.

5. CONSTRUCTION
5.1 PRECAUTIONS
5.1.1 General. The requirements of Subclause 5.1 of SABS 1200 D or Subclause 5.1 of SABS 1200 DA, as
__
applicable, - - - in addition to the requirements of 5.1.2 below.
shall apply
5.1.2 Stormwater, Seepage and Dewatering o f Excavations
5.1.2.1 Throughout the Works. In dealing with water as required in terms of Subclause 5.5 of SABS 1200 A or
Subclause 5.3 of SABS 1200 AA, as applicable, and Subclause 5.1.3 of SABS 1200 D or Subclause 5.1.4 of
SABS 1200 DA, as applicable, the Contractor shall, subject only to such particular items as are scheduled
for designated hazards in terms of 5.1.2.2, properly and adequately protect the Works from flooding and
damage by stormwater, flow from springs, and seepage.
5.1.2.2 Special water hazards. The Engineer may schedule particular items for dealing with a special water hazard
at a designated point or in a designated part ot the Works and as required in terms of the project
specification (see 8.3.2 and 8.3.4(b)).
5.1.2.3 Sloping ground. In the case of a trench on sloping ground, the Contractor shall take approved measures
(such a s the construction of cross-embankments) to minimize erosion in the trench and adjacent ground
from which vegetation has been removed.
5.1.3 Accoemodation of Traffic and Access to Properties. Where the work affects the operation or safety of
public traffic,
a) in addition to complying with the relevant requirements of Subclause 5.1.6 of SABS 1200 D or Subclause
5.1.8 of SABS 1200 DA, as applicable, the Contractor shall
1) constmct or put in order such bypaes(e6) as may be required to deviate traffic from portions of the
road that are to be affected by the construction; or
2) where half-width construction is ordered or approved (as in the case of most direct crossings of
roads), so arrange his work that the traffic will at all times have free one-lane access to at least half
the width of the roadway;
3) wherever possible, where half-width construction is used, ensure that the whole road is open at night
and, at the end of each day's work, is left in a good and safe trafficable condition, complete with the
traffic signs and the protection facilities specified in Subclause 5.1.6 of SABS 1200 D or Subclause
5.1.8 of SABS 1200 DA, as applicable;
 7 SABS 1200 DB-1989
Earthworks ( p i p e t r e n c h e s )

4) ensure t h a t t h e u s a b l e width o f road i s ,

i) f o r two-way t r a f f i c , a t l e a s t 6 m, and
ii) f o r s i n g l e - l a n e t r a f f i c , a t least 4 m f o r each lane; and
b) t h e C o n t r a c t o r s h a l l p r o v i d e and allow reasonable access t o persons occupying p r o p e r t i e s t h a t f a l l
w i t h i n or a d j o i n t h e a r e a o v e r which he i s working. I f , f o r any r e a s o n , such a c c e s s h a s t o be c l o s e d f o r
any p e r i o d ( s ) d u r i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n p e r i o d , t h e persons a f f e c t e d s h a l l be given reasonable n o t i c e , i n
w r i t i n a< .. o f each such n e r i o d of closina.
5.1.4 E x i s t i n g S e r v i c e s t h a t Intersect or Adjoin Trenches. The requirements o f Subclause 5.1.2 of SABS 1200 D
or Subclause 5.1.3 o f SABS 1200 DA, as a p p l i c a b l e , s h a l l apply.

5.2 MINIMUM BASE WIDTHS. Unless o t h e r w i s e s p e c i f i e d (see 4.1) i n t h e p r o j e c t s p e c i f i c a t i o n or on t h e

drawings or elsewhere i n t h e s p e c i f i c a t i o n s , t h e base width of a t r e n c h (see Drawing DB-4) s h a l l be n o t
less than t h e e x t e r i i a l diameter o f t h e p i p e b a r r e l p l u s t w i c e t h e s i d e allowance determined from t h e
following table :

E x t e r n a l d i a m e t e r of p i p e b a r r e l , oun S i d e allowance on each s i d e , mm

I

-
Over Up t o and i n c l u d i n g
- 125 300 (See (b) b e l o w )
125 700 300
700 1 000 400
2 000
-
1 000 500
2 000 600

a) Where t w o o r more p i p e s are t o b e placed i n one t r e n c h , t h e b a s e width of t h e t r e n c h s h a l l be n o t less

t h a n t h e sum of t h e e x t e r n a l d i a m e t e r s of t h e p i p e b a r r e l s p l u s t h e s i d e allowance f o r each o u t e r p i p e
p l u s , between each p a i r of a d j a c e n t p i p e s , t h e average of t h e s i d e allowance f o r each pipe.
bl The minimum base width f o r p i p e s of e x t e r n a l diameter n o t exceeding 125 mm and l a i d a t a d e p t h not
exceeding 1 , 5 m may be less than 6 0 0 mm for f l e x i b l e continuous p i p i n g t h a t , i n terms o f t h e drawings,
p r o j e c t s p e c i f i c a t i o n or schedule, r e q u i r e s no bedding o r j o i n t i n g i n t h e trench.

5.3 SITE CLEARANCE. The C o n t r a c t o r s h a l l c l e a r (as s p e c i f i e d i n SABS 1200 C) an area of s u f f i c i e n t width

along t h e r o u t e of t h e p i p e l i n e t o e n s u r e t h a t h i s selection o p e r a t i o n s are n o t hampered (see 3.7).
Where t r e n c h e s are i n s e r v i t u d e s o r wayleaves of s p e c i f i e d width, t h e C o n t r a c t o r s h a l l ensure t h a t
c l e a r i n g and damage t o p l a n t growth i s r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e s e r v i t u d e or wayleave a r e a .

5.4 EXCAVATION. Pipe t r e n c h e s s h a l l be excavated i n l e n g t h s approved by t h e Engineer, t o widths t h a t , i n

each c a s e , provide a t l e a s t t h e a p p r o p r i a t e s i d e allowance ( w i t h i n t r e n c h s u p p o r t s and wales, i f any)
given i n 5.2, and such t h a t h a l f o f t h e b a s e width i s on e i t h e r s i d e of t h e d e s i g n a t e d c e n t r e - l i n e o f t h e
pipe. The s i d e s o f each t r e n c h from t h e b o t t o m up s h a l l be a s n e a r l y v e r t i c a l a s p o s s i b l e f o r a t least
t h e h e i g h t of t h e bedding. (See a l s o t h e requirements r e l a t i n g t o t h e s t o c k p i l i n g of excavated material
given i n 3.7 and t h o s e r e l a t i n g t o excavated m a t e r i a l given i n Subclause 5.1.4.3 of SABS 1200 D or i n
Subclause 5.1.6 of SABS 1200 DA, a s a p p l i c a b l e . )

5.5 T W C H BOTTOM.M a t e r i a l t h a t t h e Engineer c o n s i d e r s t o be u n s u i t a b l e as t h e b o t t o m of t h e t r e n c h s h a l l be

excavated t o t h e depths and disposed of i n t h e manner d i r e c t e d . The r e s u l t i n g space s h a l l be r e f i l l e d ,
a s o r d e r e d , w i t h approved m a t e r i a l and compacted a s d i r e c t e d .
Should bedding of t h e p i p e l i n e i n accordance with SABS 1200 LB form p a r t o f t h e contract, the depth of
t h e t r e n c h s h a l l be such t h a t t h e s p e c i f i e d d e p t h of t h e c r a d l e can be placed under t h e p i p e l i n e , and t h e
trimming and g r a d i n g of t h e b o t t o m of t h e t r e n c h s h a l l be such t h a t t h e b a r r e l of each l e n g t h o f p i p e can
be uniformly supported o v e r i t s f u l l l e n g t h , f r e e a t t h e j o i n t s , and a t t h e correct g r a d e s and l e v e l s .
Except where t h e t r e n c h excavation i s i n rock, hard o b j e c t s and b o u l d e r s t h a t may a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t t h e
u n i f o r m i t y of t h e foundation s h a l l be removed t o a depth of 100 nun b e l o w t h e s p e c i f i e d t r e n c h b o t t o m .
Where t h e b o t t o m of t h e t r e n c h h a s been loosened d u r i n g e x c a v a t i o n , i t s h a l l be compacted a t OHC to 90 %
o f modified AASHTO maximum d e n s i t y p r i o r t o bedding and p i p e l a y i n g .
The bottom of t r e n c h e s s h a l l be s u f f i c i e n t l y s t r a i g h t (or t r u e t o alignment i n t h e case o f curved
p i p e l i n e s ) t o e n a b l e t h e p i p e s t o be l a i d without r e d u c t i o n of t h e s i d e allowances given i n 5.2 and i n
conformity with t h e a p p l i c a b l e t o l e r a n c e s s p e c i f i e d i n any s t a n d a r d i z e d s p e c i f i c a t i o n c o v e r i n g pipework
t h a t forms p a r t o f t h e c o n t r a c t .

5.6 BACKFILLING
5.6.1 General. B a c k f i l l i n g of p i p e t r e n c h e s s h a l l commence a f t e r t h e p i p e h a s been l a i d and f i r m l y bedded i n
t h e s p e c i f i e d c r a d l e and t h e b l a n k e t h a s been placed and a d e q u a t e l y compacted a t OMC around, under t h e
overhang and o v e r t h e t o p o f t h e p i p e t o t h e h e i g h t of b l a n k e t cover s p e c i f i e d elsewhere i n the c o n t r a c t
(see Drawing DB-1).
B a c k f i l l i n g s h a l l be c a r r i e d o u t i n accordance with 5.6.2 o v e r t h e f u l l e x t e n t of t h e actual t r e n c h
e x c a v a t i o n and t o o r i g i n a l ground l e v e l , e x c e p t where o t h e r w i s e d i r e c t e d . Unless p r i o r approval h a s been
o b t a i n e d , no f i l l i n g s h a l l b e placed i n water. (See a l s o 5.1.2.)
5.6.2 M a t e r i a l for B a c k f i l l i n q . Unless t h e C o n t r a c t o r i s a u t h o r i z e d by t h e Engineer to use o t h e r m a t e r i a l
(see 5.6.5), m a t e r i a l f o r b a c k f i l l i n g above t h e bedding ( c r a d l e and b l a n k e t ) s h a l l be o b t a i n e d from
t r e n c h excavations.
Hard and r o c k m a t e r i a l s h a l l be i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t h e b a c k f i l l above t h e bedding o n l y t o t h e e x t e n t
approved. Depending on t h e q u a l i t y o f t h e m a t e r i a l , t h e Engineer may d i r e c t t h a t it be s u i t a b l y mixed
with o t h e r b a c k f i l l material.
I n a r e a s s u b j e c t t o road t r a f f i c l o a d s and where t h e a v a i l a b l e b a c k f i l l h a s a P I h i g h e r t h a n 1 2 , t h e
C o n t r a c t o r s h a l l o b t a i n s p e c i f i c i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m t h e Engineer b e f o r e proceeding with t h e p l a c i n g of t h e
backf ill,
5.6.3 Disposal o f S o f t Excavation Material. Excavation m a t e r i a l f r o m t h e t r e n c h , which is u n s u i t a b l e or h a s
become s u r p l u s because o f bulking, displacement by t h e p i p e and i m p o r t a t i o n , s h a l l be d i s p o s e d of along
t h e t r e n c h s e r v i t u d e w i t h i n t h e f r e e h a u l d i s t a n c e from t h e source of such excavation m a t e r i a l , u n l e s s
o t h e r w i s e r e q u i r e d i n terms of t h e p r o j e c t s p e c i f i c a t i o n .