TYPICAL STANDARDS AND ESTIMATES FOR CAISSON CONSTRUCTION

V. M. Tsvetkov

Standards and estimates for the construction of caissons are a necessary prerequisite
to increasing the output per man-hour of the working force, also as a means of lowering the
cost of construction and for the most complete realization of the socialist principle of
payment for work done. This also means that standards should be well founded and accurate.
Among these are the typical standards and estimates for T-56 "Caissons," published by the
TsNIB of Minmontazhspetsstroi of the USSR in two issues, drawn up to supplement existing in-
dividual and departmental standards and estimates for the subject work. Issue No. 1 of the
collection contains typical standards and estimates (TNiR) for operations involved in the
construction of caissons up to 60 m in depth and 10-60 m in diameter, by excavator with
buckets 0.15-0.5 m 3 in capacity and with the excavated soil unloaded by a caterpillar-
tracked or pneumatic-tired crane of 25-ton capacity or by a tower crane of 3-ton to 5-ton
capacity, stationed on the ground outside the caisson.
The standard provides for the soil to be excavated in layers, removed in cuts 0.3-0.5 m
deep, and for loading into two alternately interchangeable buckets with capacities of i and
2.5 m 3, which are transported by a crawler crane, using an auxiliary hook, to spoil or hopper.
In addition, the standards also provide for such operations as shifting the excavator and
crane during the caisson sinking, the pushing of oversize clumps sideways by the excavator
when digging in frozen or rocky soils, the slinging and unslinging of buckets, and signaling
during the raising and lowering of the bucket outside the visibility zone of the crane oper-
ator; the standards also take into account the subsidiary operations ensuring normal working
of the plant. The introduction to the symposium (issue No. I) contains other features, which
control the plant operations and the operators when constructing caissons according to specific
working conditions.
Issue No. 2 contains typical standards and estimates for earthwork when constructing
caissons, using excavators equipped with clamshell (grab) buckets, working in sandy soils,
groups I and II. The standards provide for ground excavation by clamshell bucket, from the
center of the caisson well toward the sides, forming a recess in the center, for caissons up
to i0 m in diameter; and for greater diameter, by bulldozer, with the worked material removed
by clamshell bucket; it also specifies the composition of crews for different depths of cais-
son. For caissons up to i0 m deep, the crew consists of one excavator operator 6th class,
his assistant excavator operator 5th class, and a digger-tunneler 4th class. For deeper cais-
sons, the operators are of the same classes, but the digger-tunneler should be of 5th class.
Inasmuch as the standards and estimates in this issue provide for excavation of soils of nor-
mal water content, for much higher water contents, when the soil sticks to the bucket walls
and teeth to a great extent, the standard for the time and the estimate are multiplied by a
factor of i.i. A factor of l.l is also applied in the case where caisson sinking is carried
out in the winter, in ground which is not frozen but which freezes onto the bucket walls and
teeth.
It is necessary to note that this issue's standards and estimates also take into account
the subsidiary operations which are not subject to additional payment. These operations in-
clude the following: inspection of the plant, testing, and handling over to the next shift,
servicing with fuel and lubrication materials and water. Instructions are also given on how
accounting should be made when making computatlons, inregard to the workmen, for the scooping
of soil out of water and hand excavation from under the blade. Other recommendations are
presented regarding the application of typical standards and estimates contained in the issue,
taking into account the corresponding working conditions.
Central Bureau for Investigations of Standards (TsNIB) of the Minlstry Of E r e c t l o n a n d
Special Construction Works (Minmontazhspetsstroi). Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroi-
tel'stvo, No. 4, pp. 55-56, April, 1979.

0018-8220/79/0004-0407507.50 9 1979 Plenum Publishing Corporation 407

408 V. M. TSVETKOV

The estimates in the symposium are calculated in accordance with the hourly pay rates,
without allowing for their increase for heavy or especlally heavy work and for work under
adverse or especlally adverse working conditions. The evaluation of various work is pre-
sented in accordance with the Tariff Scale and Professional Skill Manual (TKS), 1969.
The standards were established having regard to the level of engineering and Scientific
Organization of Labor (NOT) achieved on earth-excavation work and on caisson construction
projects, and likewise in accordance with leading levels of labor.
The standards and estimates are being brought into use by Construction and Installation
Directorates (SMU) with the consent of the Construction Trade-Union Committee, and are being
applied in caisson construction, as local standards. Also, in order to link them to local
conditions, their level can be adjusted where necessary, within the range • 15%,provlded the
appropriate engineering grounds are established.
The symposium was prepared by TsNIB and edited by the State Trust for Construction of
Special Foundations (Gidrospetsfundamentstroi); it was coordinated in the Central Bureau for
Standards in Labor in Construction at the All-Union Scientific-Research and Design Institute
(VNIPI) for Labor in Construction, State Construction Committee (Gosstroi) of the USSR.