NR-L3-CIV-140-52C - Earthworks PDF

Reference NR/L3/CIV/140/52C
Issue 2
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Publication date 4 September 2010
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Compliance date 4 December 2010
SECTION 52 EARTHWORKS
Contents Page
52.001 Granular starter layers 2
52.002 Fill materials 2
52.003 Placing, compacting and in situ testing of fill material 4
52.004 Particular requirements for PFA embankments 6
52.005 Requirements for finished subgrade and capping 6
52.006 Protection against attack by sulphates 8
52.007 Filling to mobilise passive resistance to structures 8
52.008 Carrying of earthworks over and adjacent to bridges, culverts, 8
walls, etc.
52.009 Drainage 9
52.010 Permeable backing to earth retaining structures 10
52.011 Soil nails 10
52.012 Crib walling 18
52.013 Gabions and protective mattresses 18
52.014 Blanketing 19
52.015 Geotextiles 19
52.016 Geosynthetic soil reinforcement materials 19
52.017 Refacing of slopes 20
52.018 Topsoiling 20
52.019 Landscaping 21
52.020 Instrumentation and monitoring 22
52.021 Specialist surveys 30
52.022 Ground improvement 31
52.023 Swallow holes, naturally occurring cavities and disused mine 33
workings
52.024 Earthworks for reinforced soil and anchored earth structures 33
References 37
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British Standards 37
Network Rail standards 38
Model Clauses 38
Other publications 39
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SECTION 52 EARTHWORKS
Granular starter 52.001 Basal granular starter layers between embankment fill material
layers and the subgrade shall comply with Classes 6B, C or D as
appropriate to table 6/1 of the Highways Agency Specification
for Highway Works (SHW).
Where a chalk embankment is constructed, a basal granular

starter layer complying with Classes 6C or D as appropriate of
table 6/1 of the SHW shall be provided.
Granular starter layers shall be not less than 300 mm thick and
shall be formed in layers not exceeding 200 mm thick.
Fill materials 52.002 The Contractor shall be responsible for classifying and
determining the acceptability of earthworks materials in
accordance with table 6/1 of the SHW on the basis of tests
carried out at the point of excavation for on-site materials, and
at the point of deposition for imported materials. The source(s)
of imported material shall be agreed with the Employer’s
Representative before any materials are permitted to be
brought to site. If, in the opinion of the Employer’s
Representative, the material has become unacceptable for any
reason, the acceptability tests given in table 6/1 of the SHW
shall be repeated by the Contractor.
The Contractor shall undertake such tests as necessary to

provide sufficient information for the Employer’s Representative
to approve the classification and acceptability of materials. A
minimum frequency of testing by the Contractor is indicated in
Table 52.001 of the Appendix to Section 52. The Employer’s
Representative may instruct further testing to check the results
obtained by the Contractor. A copy of all test results for the
selected fill materials shall be provided to the Employer’s
Representative.
The Employer’s Representative may carry out compliance

testing of materials proposed for incorporation into the Works or
already in the Works. The Contractor shall remove or render
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acceptable any material not complying with the Specification.

Such testing by the Employer’s Representative shall not
absolve the Contractor of any obligations under the Contract.
Acceptable material for use as general granular fill shall comply

with the requirements for Classes 1 and 3 of table 6/1 of the
SHW.
Acceptable material for use as free draining, uniformly graded,

granular material shall comply with the requirements of Class
6C of table 6/1 of the SHW.
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The requirements in table 6/1 of the SHW for testing for the
effective angle of friction for granular fill may be relaxed if, in
the opinion of the Employer’s Representative, the nature of the
fill material demonstrates the effective angle of friction to be
greater than the minimum specified.
Acceptable Class 3 material shall be excavated according to the

working restrictions for Classes A or B defined in figure 5/1 of
the Highways Agency Departmental Advice Note HA 44/91 (HA
44/91).
Acceptable fill to structures shall comply with the requirements

of Class 6N of table 6/1 of the SHW.
Materials proposed for general fill shall not include plant toxins
or have a pH greater than 9 or less than 5.
PFA shall be in accordance with BS 3892-2. The PFA shall be

conditioned or stockpile conditioned PFA and in a state suitable
for compaction. No furnace bottom ash shall be used. The
maximum particle size shall be 3 mm.
The grading and the name of the power station supplying the
PFA shall be submitted to the Employer’s Representative for
acceptance. A certificate of test results shall be provided to the
Employer’s Representative showing that the material complies
with the requirements of BS 3892-2.
The use of well-burnt or un-burnt colliery shale, slag or any

other industrial waste containing more than 0.2 per cent
sulphate ion as determined by BS 1377-3 shall be subject to the
following conditions:
(a) The amount of organic matter in the material (which shall

be determined by loss on ignition at 1000°C) shall not
exceed 4 per cent.
(b) Slag shall not be placed within 1 metre of the proposed

finished level.
(c) The aggregate crushing value of the material shall not

exceed 30 when tested in accordance with Section 7 of BS
812-110.
Material used to form embankments, etc. and located under any

paving or track blanketing and lying within 450 mm of the
formation shall not contain more than 10 per cent of material
finer than 0.06 mm.
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Trial pitting may be instructed by the Employer’s

Representative. Trial holes in any material other than hard
material shall include the separation of excavated materials; the
disposal of Unacceptable excavated materials; backfilling and
compaction of Acceptable material; and finishing with 150 mm
of topsoil as the adjacent area dictates. Trial holes in hard
material shall include reinstatement of the hole with materials
and thicknesses compatible with adjacent construction
materials.
Where required, full-scale field tests shall be carried out in

accordance with Appendix 52/1.
Placing, 52.003 No compaction of any material shall commence without prior

compacting and permission of the Employer’s Representative. Where
in situ testing of compaction trials are required, no compaction shall commence
fill material until the compaction trials have been completed and
satisfactory results obtained.
At least seven days prior to commencement of Works subject to

end-product testing, the Contractor shall make the following
information available to the Employer’s Representative:
(a) values of the maximum dry density and the optimum

moisture content obtained in accordance with BS 1377-4
using the compaction method appropriate for the fills
intended for use which meet the requirements of the
permitted Class or Classes. The Class shall be sub-
divided where the fill within a Class contains materials
having different maximum dry densities and optimum
moisture contents.
(b) a graph of density against moisture content from which the

values in (a) above where derived, and for each Class 7A
material a plot of the 5 per cent air voids curve.
A nuclear surface density/moisture gauge may be used for

measuring the field dry density provided the Contractor can
demonstrate to the Employer’s Representative that the results
are repeatable and comparable with laboratory tests on the
same material.
No filling shall be carried out when snow is lying on the ground

or when the ground is frozen.
Fill affected by frost shall be excavated and replaced with

acceptable fill or, if granular, recompacted as necessary to
achieve a minimum of 95 per cent of the maximum dry density
of the fill.
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Notwithstanding the other requirements of this Clause, the

Employer’s Representative may require the rate of filling to be
varied to control the build up of pore water pressures, etc.
At no stage shall the side slopes be steeper than those shown

on the Contract Drawings.
At the end of each working day or when construction is to be

halted for 12 hours or more the surface shall be fully
compacted.
Where the crossfall exceeds an inclination of 1 in 15,

longitudinal benching shall be provided, stepped transversely,
to the dimensions shown on the Contract Drawings.
Granular fill and For those Classes of fill subject to end-product compaction
PFA testing, sand replacement tests shall be carried out in
accordance with BS 1377-9. The results of these tests shall
confirm that a field dry density equal to or greater than the
percentage given in table 6/1 of the SHW of the maximum dry
density for the relevant Class of fill (previously made available
to the Employer’s Representative) has been achieved. Moisture
content tests in accordance with BS 1377-2 shall be carried out
immediately following compaction. The moisture content of fill
shall be within the range specified for that relevant Class of fill.
Sand replacement tests shall be taken at the following minimum

frequencies:
• Granular fill: one per 50m³
• PFA: one per 20m³
Cohesive Class Cohesive fill is generally compacted to a method specification.

2 fill Where required Moisture Condition Value tests shall be carried
out and/or undisturbed samples of the compacted fill shall be
taken to demonstrate that the properties of the compacted fill lie
within the specified limits for the relevant Class of material.
Chalk fill Chalk shall be placed according to the restrictions for Classes A
or B defined in figure 5/1 of the HA 44/91. Filling using chalk
and trafficking over chalk shall not be carried out during wet
weather. Wet weather shall be taken as during rain or snow,
within 2 hours of cessation of rain or snow, when snow is lying
on the ground surface or when the ground is frozen.
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Chalk to be used as fill material shall be placed and compacted

within 72 hours of excavation.
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Unless specified otherwise in Appendix 52/2, embankments

constructed of Class 3 materials shall be left for a period of 3
months (or as otherwise directed by the Employer’s
Representative) either 600 mm below formation level or above
formation level where a protective layer has been placed.
Layering of Class 3 material with other material shall not be

permitted.
Where local instability results on compaction of Class 3 material

used to form embankments, a minimum rest period of 1 day
shall be allowed between successive fill layers to allow for
drying.
A copy of all test results for the placed and compacted fill
material shall be provided to the Employer’s Representative.
All embankments shall be constructed so that at the date for

completion a minimum of 90 per cent of subgrade consolidation
shall be achieved.
Embankments shall be finished to the profiles shown on the

Contract Drawings to a tolerance of ±20 mm for the upper
surface of the fill material and ±50 mm for the side slopes, or
other tolerance that shall accommodate any future shrinkage,
settlement, or other movement, attributable to the embankment
formed in accordance with the Specification.
The upper surface of embankment fill shall be in accordance

with Clause 52.005.
Particular 52.004 Where a PFA embankment is constructed, a granular filter

requirements for complying with the requirements of Class 6D in table 6/1 of the
PFA SHW shall be provided.
embankments
PFA shall not be spread in conditions of high wind. In drying
conditions the surface shall be sprayed with water: adequate
water storage, fed from a mains supply, shall be provided and
maintained for this purpose.
PFA shall not be used within 450 mm of the formation.
The finished surface of the embankment shall be protected

from scour or erosion from any cause. All traffic shall be kept
off finished surfaces.
Requirements 52.005 California bearing ratio (CBR) tests, in accordance with BS

for finished 1377-9, shall be carried out on the finished subgrade once
subgrade and every 250 m2. The finished subgrade shall have a minimum
capping CBR value of 15 per cent.
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The location, extent and thickness of capping shall be as stated

on the Contract Drawings.
The capping shall be constructed with the appropriate class of

materials and compacted as detailed in tables 6/1 and 6/4 of
the SHW.
Preparation and surface treatment of the sub-formation,

including tolerances, shall be as shown on the Contract
Drawings.
Exposed areas of formation or sub-formation shall be kept to a

minimum and shall be covered to avoid deterioration during
adverse weather.
The Contractor shall provide demonstration areas at locations

agreed by the Employer’s Representative to demonstrate the
methods, equipment and materials proposed for use in the
laying and compacting of the capping layer. The demonstration
area, once proved by the Contractor to be acceptable by
testing, may be included in the Permanent Works.
Materials used within 450 mm of the final finished surface shall

not be frost susceptible.
In cuttings where the subgrade comprises cohesive material or

loose granular material, the sub-formation shall be compacted
with a smooth wheeled vibrating roller.
Preparation and surface treatment of the formation and sub-

formation shall be carried out immediately prior to laying the
capping or sub-base. If at any time the subgrade becomes
softened due to precipitation, the subgrade shall be stripped by
at least 40 mm to expose a competent sub-formation and this
shall be recompacted.
Preparation of the sub-formation shall be carried out only after

installation of adequate and fully operational subgrade/sub-
formation drainage. In cuttings, adequate drainage shall be the
installation of permanent filter drains that shall be operational
for a period of at least two weeks prior to excavation to sub-
formation level. At embankments, temporary measures to allow
drainage of the sub-formation and placed capping will be
sufficient. Fin drains and narrow filter drains shall not be used
for the removal of surface water during the Works.
The sub-formation Works shall not be undertaken in poor

construction conditions.
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Where required by Appendix 52/3, incremental loading plate

bearing tests, in accordance with BS 1377-9, shall be carried
out on the finished subgrade. Areas of low subgrade strength
shall be dealt with as detailed in Appendix 52/3.
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Where rock with an undrained modulus of greater than 130
MN/m² occurs naturally at or near the subgrade level,
blanketing in accordance with Clause 52.014 shall be placed
and compacted to provide a formation with an undrained
modulus of less than 130 MN/m².
A copy of all test results for the subgrade shall be provided to

the Employer’s Representative.
Protection 52.006 Fill with a water soluble sulphate content exceeding 1500 mg/l
against attack by (Design Sulfate Class DS-2 of BRE Special Digest No. 1, 2005)
sulphates shall not be placed within 500 mm of concrete/cementitious
structures unless these structures are designed for that Class
of sulphate concentration.
Filling to 52.007 Backfilling to the front of bases of retaining walls, gravity and
mobilise passive strutted abutments etc. shall be completed before the filling to
resistance to the back of the structure commences.
structures
Where required by Appendix 52/4, alternative fill materials may
be placed in front of foundations, retaining walls, etc. to
mobilise passive resistance to the structure.
Carrying of 52.008 Earthworks shall be carried up to, over or adjacent to bridges,

earthworks over culverts, or walls and raised concurrently and uniformly on
and adjacent to either side and placed in previously agreed layer thicknesses
bridges, over the top of bridges and culverts.
culverts, walls,
etc. To avoid interfering with the erection of new bridge abutments,
wing walls, or other structures, work shall be suspended at
places determined by the Employer’s Representative until such
time as, in the opinion of the Employer’s Representative, the
erection of such structures is sufficiently advanced and has
acquired sufficient strength to permit the completion of the
earthworks.
Where a deck forms a strut between the abutments of portal

frame type bridges, and other similar types, no fill shall be
deposited behind the abutment, or other adjacent walls until the
deck has been constructed and is, in the opinion of the
Employer’s Representative, capable of taking load. This
requirement is waived where the abutment and/or walls have
been strutted apart beforehand with temporary struts, but only
provided that the struts are not removed until the bridge deck
has been completed and has acquired sufficient strength.
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Fill placed against structures shall consist of a wedge of Class

6N or 6P granular fill and shall be deposited and compacted in
accordance with tables 6/1 and 6/4 of the SHW. Filling to
spandrels and other voids, located within single and multi-span
arch bridges, shall be deposited such that there is symmetrical
loading of the structure during filling operations and, if so
directed, temporary loading shall be applied to the crown of any
arch while filling is being deposited over the haunches.
In depositing and compacting the filling, care shall be taken to

avoid damage to any waterproofing course applied to the arch
and the haunching. A 150 mm layer of sand to BS EN 13139,
or other accepted material devoid of stones, shall be deposited
and rolled on the exposed waterproofing before any other fill is
placed.
Drainage 52.009 The Contractor shall construct slope drains neatly and as
square as possible with the minimum of overbreak. The
excavated trenches shall be backfilled within 48 hours of
completion of excavation. Backfill shall be Type A drainage
material in accordance with SHW clause 505, placed in layers
not exceeding 225 mm thick with each layer being nominally
tamped.
Fin drains The materials used in fin drains shall have a minimum design
life of 60 years.
The fin drain shall comprise a geocomposite core with a positive

connection into a 100 mm diameter carrier pipe surrounded with
geotextile. The geocomposite shall be capable of sustaining a
minimum flow of 80 l/m2/s normal to its principal plane under a
constant head of 100 mm. The fin drain shall have a minimum
in-plane flow of 1 l/m/s at a confining stress of 100 kN/m2 at a
unit hydraulic gradient. The geocomposite shall have a
puncture resistance of 1.5 kN and a tensile strength of 10 kN/m.
The carrier pipe shall have a maintained gradient to outfalls.

The pipe shall be perforated throughout its top half and have an
unperforated lower half. The pipe shall be manufactured to
allow for a positive connection to the geocomposite.
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The geotextile wrapping to the pipe shall have a pore size

distribution such that the mean D90 is between 100 and 300
microns. The geotextile shall allow water to flow through in its
principal plane, in either direction, at a rate of not less than 0.7
l/m/s at a confining stress of 100 kN/m2 and a hydraulic gradient
of 1 when tested in accordance with BS EN ISO 12958.
The geotextile shall have a minimum CBR Puncture Value of

1200 kN when determined in accordance with BS EN ISO
12236.
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The geotextile shall have a Trapezoidal Tear Resistance of at

least 200 N when tested in accordance with ASTM Standard
D4533-04.
The geotextile shall have a minimum short-term tensile strength

of 5 kN/m and a minimum failure strain of 10 per cent
determined in accordance with BS EN ISO 10319 in a “wide
strip” tensile test.
The geotextile shall have 300 mm wide minimum laps between

adjacent sheets.
Outlet pipes shall be 150 mm in diameter and shall be located

at 100 metre intervals or at specific low points as detailed on
the Contract Drawings.
The geotextile and geocomposite materials shall be inert to all

chemicals naturally found in soils. They shall not be susceptible
to hydrolysis, shall be resistant to aqueous solutions of salts,
acids and alkalis, and shall be non-biodegradable.
Permeable 52.010 Permeable backing to earth retaining structures shall comply

backing to earth with SHW clause 513 and the requirements of Appendix 52/5.
retaining
structures
Soil nails 52.011 The soil nailing locations, setting out and other details are
shown on the drawings.
The following Clauses assume that the proposed works have

been designed pre-tender. The design for the soil nails is
detailed in Appendices 52/6 to 52/8 and the following Clauses,
which have been based on TRL Research Report 380 and
standards such as HA 68/94, BS 8006 and BS 8081.
Work Package The work shall be carried out in accordance with a Work
Plan Package Plan approved by the Employer’s Representative.
Approval shall be sought at least three weeks prior to installing
the first soil nails or carrying out associated earthworks.
The Work Package Plan shall include, as appropriate, details of

plant, materials, drilling and grouting systems, temporary
support, the sequence of Works etc. The Work Package Plan
shall also include the following details:
(i) methods of drilling and soil nail installation, including

measures to minimise ground movements above the
nailed slope,
(ii) grouting procedures, methods of testing and quality

control,
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(iii) the method of forming the facing and connecting the soil
nails to the facing,
(iv) the method of assessing damage to protective coatings

(where appropriate),
(v) the minimum time between the completion of one soil nail
and the start of the next,
(vi) the time after installation before a nail is considered to be

fully operational,
(vii) the method of installing surface geogrid,
(viii) drainage methods (if appropriate),
(ix) earthworks, if appropriate, including maximum

unsupported excavation width and depth,
(x) methods of performing field tests,
(xi) the form of the test records,
(xii) a Health and Safety plan.
Once the Work Package Plan has been approved, details shall
not be amended without the prior approval of the Employer’s
Representative.
Standards and Materials and workmanship shall conform to the appropriate

code of International, European and British Standards current at the
practices time of tender, unless they conflict with this Model Clause, in
which case the latter shall take precedence.
Contractor’s If the Contractor proposes an alternative design for

alternative consideration by the Employer’s Representative, full details of
design the ground model and method of analysis shall be provided for
comment prior to undertaking the design.
Alternative designs shall be carried out following the methods

set out in HA 68/94 and BS 8006. The pullout resistance of the
nails shall be taken as the lower value of the resistance based
on the strength of the nail and the interface friction developed
with the soil. The design shall be based on the available
ground investigation information.
The alternative design shall be subject to Technical Approval in

accordance with the requirements of RT/CE/S/003.
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The Contractor shall submit Working Drawings of the

alternative design, for the approval of the Employer’s
Representative at least three weeks prior to the installation of
any soil nails or carrying out any associated excavations. The
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Working Drawings shall include the location of soil nails,
connections and splices or couplers, drainage, test nails, facing
details, etc.
Design life Corrosion allowances, creep behaviour and other time

dependent aspects of the soil nails shall be designed for the
design life detailed in Appendix 52/6.
Protective coatings to the soil nails, including the steel head

plates, connections and exposed bar, shall satisfy the design
life of the Works.
Sources of The Employer’s Representative shall approve sources of supply

material supply of soil nails and other materials and such sources shall not be
changed without the prior approval of the Employer’s
Representative.
Soil nails and other materials covered by this Model Clause

shall be supplied to the Site at such times as not to hinder or
delay the execution of the Works. Materials shall be delivered
to the Site in an undamaged condition and shall be handled,
stored and protected in such a manner as to avoid corrosion
and physical damage. Soil nails or other such materials
covered by this Model Clause not conforming to these
requirements shall be notified to the Employer’s Representative
for acceptance or rejection. Rejected materials shall be
removed promptly from the Site.
Fabrication Soil nails shall be fabricated and delivered to the Site ready for
installation in the Works. Soil nails shall be installed by suitably
trained personnel to the approved Work Package Plan and to
the pattern and dimensions shown on the Contract Drawings.
Where the diameter of the reinforcing bar is specified on the

Contract Drawings, it includes an allowance for the required
design life and specified protective coatings.
Soil nails formed from high yield deformed steel bars, and their
connections, shall comply with BS 4449 or an equivalent
European national standard. The fabricated nail and
connections to the facing shall have long-term corrosion
protection in the form of hot dip galvanising in accordance with
BS EN ISO 1461.
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Splices or couplers shall be in accordance with the Contract

Requirements and shall not involve any method which requires
the removal of or damage to the protective coating. The tensile,
bearing and shear strength of a splicer or coupler shall be not
less than 90 per cent of the soil nail.
Centralisers shall be provided at suitable intervals over the full

length of the nail. The centralisers shall be spaced at centres
not exceeding 2 metres with the last centraliser installed 0.3
metres from the end of the nail.
The centralisers shall be fabricated from materials that have no

deleterious effects on the soil nailing system. The centralisers
shall not be damaged during the installation of the nail.
To permit free flow of grout, the centralisers shall have a

minimum diameter of 10 mm less than the nominal diameter of
the drill hole. Alternatively they may be manufactured with cut
outs that permit the free flow of grout but retain the correct
centralising function. Examples of suitable types of centralisers
are described in section 7 of BS 8081.
Unless otherwise approved by the Employer’s Representative,

grout for soil nails shall comprise a cement grout consisting of a
pumpable mixture of Portland cement and water that can reach
a compressive strength of 30 N/mm2 in 28 days. Four grout
cubes per day shall be made and tested according to BS EN
12390 parts 1 to 3. The water-cement ratio shall not exceed
0.45. The grout shall not be subject to bleeding in excess of 2
per cent after 3 hours. Admixtures that can control bleed or
retard grout set shall be used only when approved in writing by
the Employer’s Representative. Their use shall be in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Corrugated plastic sheathing shall be used to protect the soil

nails. The grout cover between the sheath and the nail shall be
20 mm, and there shall be a a minimum grout cover of 20 mm
between the sheath and the soil.
Facing Details of the soil nail facing are shown on the Contract
Drawings and are detailed in Appendix 52/7.
Connections to Connections to the facing shall transfer the axial tensile forces
facing without forming a point of weakness: their strength shall be not
less than 90 per cent of the parent material. No bolt, screw,
dowel or rod shall be less than 12 mm nominal diameter.
Metallic components of the connections to the facing shall be
mild steel conforming to BS 4449, or other equivalent national
European standard, and shall be hot dip galvanised to BS EN
ISO 1461. Connections between the facing and the soil nails
shall be in accordance with the Contract Drawings and the
manufacturer’s recommendations.
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Bearing plates Unless otherwise approved by the Employer’s Representative,

and locking nuts the bearing plates and locking nuts shall be of carbon steel
conforming to BS 4449, or other equivalent European national
standard, and shall have long-term corrosion protection in the
form of hot dip galvanising in accordance with BS EN ISO 1461.
The bearing plate shall be placed over the protruding soil nail
and tensioned to achieve a load of 5 kN.
Bearing plates and locking nuts shall be to the dimensions

shown on the Contract Drawings.
Limitations on All vehicles and construction plant having a mass of more than
construction 1000 kg shall be kept at least 2 metres away from the facing or
plant external boundaries of the nailed slope. Where appropriate, fill
within 2 metres of the facing shall be compacted with plant
suitable for the Class of fill and having a mass of not more than
1000 kg.
Installation of Holes for soil nails shall be drilled by rotary auger drilling to the
drilled and depth, diameter, alignment and position shown on the Contract
grouted soil Drawings. Holes shall have a maximum deviation from the
nails position shown on the drawings of ±100 mm. The maximum
deviation of the drill holes from the specified alignment shall be
±5 degrees.
The temporary stability of the drill holes shall be maintained

during drilling and placement of the nail. Water flushing shall
not be used during drilling.
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The Contractor’s method of maintaining hole stability shall be
detailed in the Work Package Plan.
Soil nails shall be installed in each drilled hole prior to grouting.

Soil nails shall not extend beyond the limits shown on the
Contract Drawings. The full length of the drilled holes shall be
grouted.
Grout mixing equipment shall produce a grout of homogenous

consistency and shall be capable of providing a continuous
supply to the injection equipment. The injection equipment
shall be capable of continuous operation at a constant delivery
pressure. The injection equipment shall include a system for
re-circulating the grout during pauses in the grouting operation.
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So far as is reasonably practicable the grout shall fill the

drillhole flush with the slope face. Grouting shall be
discontinued if the ambient temperature falls below 5°C or if the
grout temperature falls below 5°C.
Only when the grout has developed a strength of not less that
80 per cent of that specified for the 28 day strength, shall the
nail bearing plate be installed. The bearing plate shall be
bedded down and the nail tensioned by applying the specified
torque.
Where an obstruction or drilling difficulties prevent installation of

a soil nail to the required depth, the Contractor shall inform the
Employer’s Representative without delay. Where practicable,
an alternative nail shall be installed within about 500 mm from
the aborted position. If approved by the Employer’s
Representative, the obstruction may be avoided by realigning
the nail direction by not more than 5 degrees.
Damage to If a soil nail is damaged during installation or attachment to the

installed soil facing or by subsequent operations then, unless otherwise
nails agreed by the Employer’s Representative, it shall be replaced at
the Contractor’s expense.
Care shall be taken not to damage existing geotechnical

instruments. If any of the existing geotechnical instruments are
damaged by the Contractor during drilling, soil nailing or
subsequent operations, they shall be replaced at the
Contractor’s expense.
Equipment Grout pumping and delivery equipment shall be capable of

providing a continuous uniform supply at a constant delivery
pressure. When in use the equipment shall be inspected and
cleaned daily.
Soil nailing The Contractor shall keep daily records of the soil nails
records installed. Copies of these shall be submitted to the Employer’s
Representative within three days following the installation. The
records shall show the following:
(a) date of installation,
(b) grid and area reference of each soil nail,
(c) position, length and inclination of each soil nail,

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(d) length of nail installed into competent strata (based on

driller’s logs/observations),
(e) obstructions and delays,
(f) grout loss,
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(g) torque force applied to soil nail,
(h) number and type of tests carried out,
(i) readings from relevant instrumentation,
(j) relevant calibration certificates.
Any unforeseen conditions encountered shall also be noted in

the records.
Testing of soil Load and deflection measuring devices shall be calibrated

nails before and after each series of tests, whenever adjustments or
replacements are made to the devices, and when
recommended by the manufacturer of the equipment.
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Preliminary pullout tests shall be carried out in advance of the
main soil nailing operation at locations to be agreed with the
Employer’s Representative and as detailed in Appendix 52/8.
The soil nails to be tested shall not be loaded within three days
after grouting.
Contract working nails are not to be constructed until the

preliminary soil nail pullout tests have been accepted. Soil nails
subjected to preliminary pullout tests shall not form part of the
Permanent Works.
The pullout tests shall be carried out by incrementally loading

and unloading the test nail over a minimum of two cycles.
During the first loading cycle the maximum load shall
correspond to 75 per cent of the working load for the particular
nail. The second load cycle shall attain a maximum load of 150
per cent of the working load or until pullout failure is attained.
The loading stage for both cycles shall comprise a minimum of
five load increments: each increment of load shall not be
greater than 20 per cent of the planned maximum load to be
applied. For both cycles the unloading stage, to the fully
unloaded state, shall comprise a minimum of three decrements.
During and after the application of each increment or decrement
of load, the nail movement shall be measured and recorded to
the nearest 0.1 mm with respect to an independent fixed
reference point. The load applied through the hydraulic
equipment shall be monitored with a pressure gauge or other
approved measuring device.
The sustained load period shall start as soon as the load

increment has been attained. Movement shall be recorded at 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 minutes. If the movement recorded after
the first 10 minutes exceeds 70 per cent of the movement
deemed to represent a pullout failure, the period of sustained
loading shall be extended and nail movements shall be
recorded at 15, 20, 25, 30, 45 and 60 minutes.
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Movement shall be measured by displacement measuring

gauges that can measure to 0.1 mm or better and are mounted
on an independent reference frame. The frame shall be
securely installed so that readings are not affected by vibration,
temperature changes or soil movements. Drilling next to test
nails shall be stopped during soil nail testing. The load frame
shall be such that the load is applied in the same direction as
the nail. Hydraulic equipment that is capable of inducing pullout
failure of any selected nail shall be used to apply the test load.
The load measuring system shall be capable of measuring the
applied load to an accuracy of 1 per cent (or better) of the
design load. Unless otherwise agreed with the Employer’s
Representative, reaction frames shall not be permitted to bear
within a 1 metre radius of the centre of the drilled hole.
Each test nail shall be grouted in place as part of a regular

production grouting process.
Test acceptance The nail performance shall be deemed acceptable if the stress
criteria mobilised at failure per unit area of the nail perimeter, equals or
exceeds the design ultimate value. Unacceptable test results
shall result in modifications to the construction procedures.
Such modifications shall be approved by the Employer’s
Representative and the verification tests shall be repeated.
Nails not meeting the acceptance criteria, or nails identified by

the Contractor or the Employer’s Representative as being
potentially defective shall be recorded by the Contractor along
with the Contractor’s proposals for treatment. These records
shall be forwarded to the Employer’s Representative for
comment within 24 hours of completion of testing. Unless
otherwise agreed by the Employer’s Representative, nails
installed subsequent to the last successful test shall be proof
tested. Nails not meeting the acceptance criteria shall require
remedial action as directed by the Employer’s Representative.
The Contractor shall, within 24 hours of the completion of each

test, submit to the Employer’s Representative a complete
record of the pullout test including a graph of loads and
deflection plotted against time. The records shall include the
following:
(i) date of test,
(ii) location of test,
(iii) number of tests carried out,
(iv) any variations from the specified procedures,
(v) details of the test results,
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(vi) any unforeseen conditions encountered.
The form of the test results shall be agreed with the Employer’s
Representative and be included in the Work Package Plan.
Crib walling 52.012 The Contractor shall design the crib walling detailed in
Appendix 52/9 in accordance with the design specification and
procedures in Appendix 52/9 and BD 68/97.
Gabions and 52.013 Gabion cages shall comprise either of the following:
protective
mattresses (a) galvanised, hexagonal woven steel wire mesh in
accordance with BS 8002 with a minimum wire gauge of
2 mm and with minimum double twist weaved joints, or
(b) galvanised, welded mesh in accordance with BS 8002 with

a minimum wire gauge of 4 mm.
The cage sizes, wire gauge and mesh dimensions shall be

accepted by the Employer’s Representative.
Gabions shall be designed and constructed for the design life

detailed in Appendix 52/10.
The wire shall be UPVC coated. The consent of the Employer’s

Representative shall be obtained for any alternative corrosion
protection methods for the wire proposed by the Contractor.
Gabions shall be constructed in accordance with BS 8002.
Cages shall be laid bonded, wired together along all adjacent

edges and stretched tight to present faces that are free from
bulges or depressions.
Prior to inclusion in the Works, the consent of the Employer’s

Representative shall be obtained with respect to the source,
type and properties of the stone filling.
Stone filling for gabions and mattresses shall be hard, durable

quarried or rounded material such as granite, basalt, dolomitic
limestone, flint rejects, cobbles, etc. The stone shall be clean
and free from contamination with properties that meet the
requirements of Class 6G of table 6/1 of SHW. The material
shall be well graded and the maximum size shall not exceed
two thirds of the minimum dimension of the gabion/mattress
compartment or 200 mm, whichever is the smaller, and the
minimum size of the fill shall not be less than the size of the
mesh opening. The fill material shall be placed to produce a
neat face and line to the gabion wall. Bulges or depressions
greater than 50 mm per square metre of face are unacceptable.
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Gabion walls shall be founded on a minimum 500 mm thick

starter layer of Class 6C material.
Where ground water seepage may occur from the soil retained
behind the gabions, a geomembrane shall be placed and
secured to the rear of the gabion baskets and lapped 150 mm
under the bottom gabion. Positive drainage to the rear of the
gabion wall shall be provided where detailed on the Contract
Drawings. Typical drainage would comprise 150 mm diameter
perforated plastic pipe laid to a suitable fall (1 in 20) encased on
Grade C20 concrete with the top half of no-fines concrete.
Plastic carrier pipes of 150 mm diameter shall intercept the wall
drains at 5 metre intervals and carry the water to the track
drainage.
Metallic mattress cages and the filling shall be as specified for

gabions. Suitable staking and, in situations subject to wave
action or fast flowing currents, restraining cables shall be used
to retain mattresses in position, all to the manufacturer’s
instructions.
Blanketing 52.014 Where specified in Appendix 52/11, blanketing shall be laid and
compacted in accordance with Section 212 (Installation of new
and renewal of existing Permanent Way).
Geotextiles 52.015 Geotextiles shall comply with the requirements of RT/CE/S/010.
Details of geotextiles proposed for use shall be submitted to the

Employer’s Representative for acceptance.
Geotextiles shall be protected at all times against mechanical

damage or chemical degradation. Geotextiles shall not be
exposed to sunlight for a period longer than 6 hours between
manufacture and placement in the Works, or the period
recommended by their manufacturer, whichever is the less.
Geosynthetic 52.016 Geosynthetic materials used for soil reinforcement shall have
soil British Board of Agrément (BBA) accreditation. Where a
reinforcement current BBA Certificate is not available, samples of the material
materials shall be taken for control testing at a laboratory to the approval
of the Employer’s Representative.
The design tensile strength of geosynthetic materials for soil

reinforcement shall take into consideration the creep properties
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of the material, temperature, soil environment, mechanical

damage and any other situation that could lead to deterioration
of the material during the design life of the earthwork or
structure.
Geosynthetic materials used for soil reinforcement in

earthworks shall:
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(i) have the design life detailed in Appendix 52/12,
(ii) possess adequate frictional properties to prevent sliding

between the material and the surrounding soil,
(iii) possess adequate chemical and biological resistance for

the soil environment,
(iv) be protected from ultra violet radiation until placement,
(v) be lapped and laid in accordance with the manufacturer’s

instructions.
Overlying material and the surface on which geosynthetic

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materials are laid shall be free from sharp objects.
When used for reinforcing embankments, Acceptable fill shall

be placed immediately on the geosynthetic starting from the
centre of the embankment and working outwards so that the
reinforcement is in tension at all times. The programme of
filling shall be arranged so that no machines or vehicles run on
the reinforcement without a minimum cover of 150 mm of fill.
Following construction of a granular starter layer beneath an

embankment, a geotextile separator shall be laid over the top of
the starter layer. General fill complying with the relevant Class
in table 6/1 of the SHW shall then be placed and compacted.
Geosynthetic reinforcements placed on benches cut into

existing earthworks shall be laid at the gradient of the bench.
Geogrids used within a strengthened earthwork shall meet the

requirements of Appendix 52/13. Such geogrids shall be laid in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and to the
dimensions shown on the Contract Drawings. All joints shall
run at right angles to the rail tracks.
Refacing of 52.017 Material used to reface slopes shall be Acceptable granular fill
slopes in accordance with Clause 52.002.
Topsoiling 52.018 Except for topsoil classified as suitable material and stockpiled
for re-use in accordance with Section 50 (General requirements
for earthworks and excavations), topsoil shall be of the grade
specified in Appendix 52/14, in accordance with table 1 of BS
3882, and shall be free of all foreign matter and soil
contaminants.
Contaminated topsoil shall be removed from the Site and

replaced.
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Topsoil shall be stored in stockpiles that do not exceed

2 metres in height and with side slopes not steeper than 1
vertical in 1.5 horizontal. The stockpiles shall be profiled to
shed rainwater.
Temporary stockpiles shall be treated with a suitable herbicide

at appropriate times to prevent weeding. The Contractor shall
undertake weedkilling in accordance with Appendix 52/15.
Before delivery of imported topsoil to the Site, the Contractor

shall notify the Employer’s Representative of the source of
supply and, where required in Appendix 52/15, shall supply a
5m3 sample to the Site together with an analysis of the material
for approval. The sample of the proposed imported topsoil shall
be delivered for approval by the Employer’s Representative at
least 14 days prior to its proposed incorporation into the Works.
Imported topsoil shall be free from all annual, perennial,

pernicious and notifiable weeds. The pH shall be between 6.0
and 7.5. Its composition shall be friable with a good crumb
structure.
Topsoiling shall be carried out only when the subsoil and topsoil
are workable, not saturated, and free of frost or snow. Handling
and movement of topsoil shall be minimised, and care taken to
avoid its over compaction during and after spreading.
Areas of topsoiling shall receive the treatment specified in

Appendix 52/15.
Landscaping 52.019 Surfaces to be topsoiled shall be graded to the required falls

and loosened by ripping to a minimum depth of 200 mm.
Subsoil shall be cleared of all artificially hard material, rubble,
debris, contaminants, and other foreign matter.
Topsoil shall be spread to the following minimum finished

depths measured perpendicular to the surface after light
compaction:
(i) areas to be grassed: 100 mm
(ii) areas to be planted: 300 mm

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Finished topsoil levels shall be flush with adjacent ground

levels, covers, kerbs or other surface after light compaction.
Areas which become over compacted by trafficking shall be
loosened by re-cultivating or forking over without disturbance of
the subsoil.
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As soon as is practicable after completion of the earthworks,

the side slopes shall be covered with topsoil to a depth
perpendicular to the slope of 150 mm and cultivated to produce
an acceptable tilth prior to seeding as specified in Section 251
(Ground preparation and grassing). Erosion shall be prevented
by installing granular fill grips 300 mm wide by 300 mm deep,
10 metres apart and at 45 degrees to the new line of the
earthworks.
Instrumentation 52.020 The Contractor shall provide, install, obtain readings and
and monitoring maintain for the duration of the Contract the instrumentation
shown on the Contract Drawings and detailed in Appendix
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52/16.
Where detailed in Appendix 52/16, the monitoring equipment

shall become the property of the Employer.
General The instruments shall be provided and installed by a specialist

requirements Contractor, in accordance with the Contract Drawings,
specifications and manufacturer’s instructions. In the event of a
conflict between the Contract Drawings, specifications and
manufacturer’s instructions, the manufacturer’s instructions
shall prevail.
The instrumentation shall be installed by suitably experienced

labour working under constant supervision by an experienced
instrumentation engineer, or technician, accepted by the
Employer’s Representative.
Where instruments are to be extended through fill as it is being

placed, the access tubes and any outer sleeve shall be
extended as filling progresses.
The Contractor shall adopt measures to prevent damage to the

instrumentation during the Contract period. Unless confirmed
otherwise in writing with the Employer’s Representative, when
instrumentation is damaged construction work shall cease
within the area monitored by the instrumentation (as shown on
the Contract Drawings) and shall not be resumed in such areas
until the instrumentation has been repaired or replaced.
Replacement and commissioning shall be carried out by the
specialist Contractor who installed the instrumentation, and be
to the satisfaction of the Employer’s Representative.
Datum points used for surveying shall be sufficiently remote

from the proposed works such that they are not affected by
construction activities. Datum points shall be regularly checked
against Ordnance Survey benchmarks.
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The Contractor shall provide in the Work Package Plan,

proposals for the type of instruments, the method of installation,
details of calibration procedures, and the method of reading and
presenting the output data.
The Contractor shall arrange for the maintenance and servicing

of the ancillary equipment and readout units, at periods
recommended by the manufacturer.
Prior to the commissioning of each instrument, the specialist

Contractor shall test the operation of the instrumentation and
take three sets of base readings. Where requested by the
Employer’s Representative, these readings shall be witnessed
by a member of the Employer’s Representative’s staff. The
Contractor shall provide the Employer’s Representative with two
copies of the results together with information on the calibration
of the instruments. The results shall be provided in a
processed form with, in the case of inclinometer instruments,
the inclinometer keyway directions and readings referenced to
Grid North. In the event of component failure, repair or
replacement equipment shall be provided within 48 hours. The
base readings shall include the reduced level of (a) the top of
the instrument tube and (b) the adjacent ground.
The Contractor shall reinstate land affected by the installation of

any instruments and associated equipment to the satisfaction of
Unless confirmed otherwise in writing with the Employer’s

Representative, earthworks within the section monitored by
each item of instrumentation shall not commence until the
instrumentation is installed and the Employer’s Representative
has given written confirmation of acceptance of the
commissioning (or re-commissioning) of each item of
instrumentation.
After acceptance of the instruments, monitoring shall be carried

out during the Works as detailed in Appendix 52/17.
Where the readings from an instrument would be affected,

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construction plant shall not work within 15 metres of an

instrument during the time that it is being read.
Within 24 hours of each set of readings being taken the results

shall be reported to the Employer’s Representative in a format
previously agreed. The data sheet shall contain the following
information:
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• Scheme name,
• Contractor’s name,
• Name of operator,
• Borehole/location No.
• Instrument type,
• Depth of instrument,
• Location of instrument,
• Date and time of reading,
• Instrument readings,
• Remarks referring to the response time, fluctuations or

difficulties in obtaining readings, etc.
The Contractor shall maintain the instrument in working order

throughout the Contract or until informed by the Employer’s
Representative that the readings are complete.
Instrumentation Borings for instrumentation shall be carried out using plant and
boreholes techniques to the approval of the Employer’s Representative.
Unless otherwise agreed, the minimum diameter of boring or
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internal diameter of casing shall be 150 mm and it shall be

within 1:100 vertical tolerance.
The Contractor shall not advance borings by adding water,

except when boring through dry granular soils, or stiff clays
whose immediate undrained shear strength is 140 kPa. Where
the addition of water is permitted the Contractor shall use the
minimum amount of water necessary for advancing the bore.
Boreholes shall be drilled at the locations indicated on the

Contract Drawings.
The Contractor shall prepare a daily boring record, which shall

be submitted to the Employer’s Representative within 24 hours
of the completion of each day’s work.
The Contractor shall backfill and compact all abandoned

borings with suitable material or grout to a method approved by
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Unless specified otherwise in Appendix 52/18, grout for filling

boreholes shall consist of cement and bentonite and shall have
similar strength to the surrounding ground. The grout shall be
mixed thoroughly in an approved mixer with just sufficient clean
and potable water to form a pumpable mix. Alternatively,
cement/bentonite tablets may be used with the approval of the
Where possible, grout shall be placed in the borehole using a

tremie pipe.
During the boring, installation and grouting of instruments, the

Contractor shall take measures to avoid contamination of, or
damage to, adjacent watercourses, earthworks, services and
buildings
Installation and The Contractor shall prevent damage to the instruments and
protection associated cables at all times.
The setting out of the instrument positions and the lines of

cables shall be carried out by the Contractor. Unless otherwise
directed by the Employer’s Representative, the positions of the
instruments, and where appropriate the lines of the cables, shall
be clearly marked by marker posts. The Contractor shall
prepare drawings showing the locations of all instruments,
including (where appropriate) cable trenches, and supply copies
of these to the Employer’s Representative.
Cables shall be clearly marked at intervals not greater than 3

metres along their length to identify the instrument to which they
are connected. Cables shall be protected from frost, traffic and
construction processes.
The Contractor shall provide details of the vandal proof

protective measures proposed for ‘above ground’ access
tubing.
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The Contractor shall provide daily installation records that detail

the work carried out on each instrument: The form of the
record shall be approved by the Employer’s Representative.
Two copies of each record shall be submitted to the Employer’s
Representative within 24 hours of the date to which it refers. It
shall contain the following information (where relevant):
• Date, contract title, location and chainage,
• Contractor’s name,
• Instrument reference No.,
• the depth of each boring or excavation at the end of each

working day or shift,
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• plant in use,
• diameters and depths of all casings and temporary

supports used,
• depth to each change of stratum,
• details of backfilling of borehole annulus around

instrument cable or access tube,
• groundwater records,
• brief description of each stratum in accordance with

BS 5930,
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• details of any fill placed.
Specific Standpipes shall be installed as indicated in the Contract

requirements - Drawings or detailed in Appendix 52/16. During the contract
standpipes period, the Contractor shall take readings from each instrument
as detailed in Appendix 52/17. The readings shall be taken with
an approved sounding instrument or read-out unit supplied by
the Contractor.
(a) Standpipe
Standpipes shall be of uPVC or HDPE tubing not less than

19 mm bore with a wall thickness not less than 3 mm.
They shall be supplied and installed in not less than
3 metre lengths except for one shorter length as required
to provide the total standpipe length. The tubes shall be
joined together with approved screwed or glued couplings
in such a manner that the joints remain leakproof under
the anticipated head of water.
The base of the tubing shall be plugged and the lower

1 metre of tubing perforated by holes not greater than
5 mm in diameter at intervals of approximately 75 mm or
an equivalent area of slots not greater than 5 mm width.
The filter shall be pea gravel of 6 mm to 10 mm diameter,

or similar material approved by the Employer’s
Representative.
The installation of standpipes shall be as detailed in the

Site Investigation in Construction Series, Part 3,
Specification for Ground Investigation.
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Arrangements to prevent the ingress of surface water and

to protect the top of the tubing shall comprise a steel
barrel of 75 mm diameter and a 150 mm stopcock cover,
or an alternative arrangement as agreed with the
Employer’s Representative. The protective cover shall be
set in concrete and, where detailed on the Contract
Drawings, a protective fence shall be erected around the
cover.
(b) Standpipe piezometer
The details of the installation of standpipe piezometers

shall be agreed by the Employer’s Representative.
The piezometer tip shall consist of a porous ceramic

element not less than 150 mm long with a diameter not
less than 35 mm, and shall be protected at each end by
uPVC fittings.
The uPVC connection tubing of 19 mm nominal diameter

shall be installed in not less than 3 metre lengths, except
one shorter length as required to provide the total
standpipe length. The tubes shall be jointed together and
to the porous element with approved screwed or glued
couplings so that the joints remain leakproof under the
anticipated head of water.
Installation of the standpipe piezometers shall be as

detailed in the Site Investigation in Construction Series,
Part 3, Specification for Ground Investigation.
(c) Gas monitoring standpipe
Standpipes shall be of uPVC or HDPE tubing not less than

50 mm diameter.
The base of the tubing shall be plugged and the tubing

perforated by holes not greater than 5 mm in diameter at
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intervals of approximately 75 mm or an equivalent area of

slots not greater than 5 mm width.
The filter shall be clean single sized gravel, 10 mm to

20 mm diameter, or similar material approved by the
Installation of the standpipes shall be as detailed in the

Site Investigation in Construction Series, Part 3,
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Arrangements to prevent the ingress of surface water and

to protect the top of the tubing shall comprise a steel
barrel of 75 mm diameter and a 150 mm stopcock cover,
or an alternative arrangement as agreed with the
Employer’s Representative. The protective cover shall be
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set in concrete and, where detailed on the Contract
Drawings, a protective fence shall be erected around the
cover.
Piezometers - Non-standpipe piezometers (for example, those equipped with a

non-standpipe vibrating wire device) shall be suitable for the anticipated
pressure range and be able to record pressures to the required
accuracy. A high air entry pressure ceramic tip is normally used
for clay soils, but a low air entry pressure tip may be used in
other soils where agreed with the Employer’s Representative.
Unless otherwise agreed with the Employer’s Representative,
the piezometers shall be provided with a means of de-airing the
tip. The piezometer tip shall be immersed in de-aired water for
a period of at least 24 hours prior to installation.
Piezometers shall be installed as follows:
• The tips shall be installed in boreholes of 150 mm

minimum diameter at the positions indicated on the
Contract Drawings. The sides of the boreholes in the
vicinity of the tips shall be free from mud cake and debris.
Where casing is used to maintain the hole it shall be
withdrawn to keep pace with the installation operation.
• Clean filter sand (of a grading between 210 and 1200

microns) shall be washed down a tremie pipe to form a
500 mm long cell in which the tip is to be centrally located.
A 1.0 metre long plug shall then be formed above the
sand cell using bentonite pellets. Backfilling of the
borehole shall be completed using bentonite/cement
pellets or grout.
Cables to the piezometers shall be laid in trenches at least 600

mm deep, and shall be protected above and below by a 150
mm thick layer of sand (of a grading to be agreed with the
Employer’s Representative). Excavated material shall be
recompacted over the sand. The recompacted material shall
not contain stone greater than 50 mm in size, and it shall be
placed in layers, not exceeding 300 mm in thickness, and
compacted in accordance with a method approved by the
Joints in cables shall be made with an approved joint sealing kit.

No joints shall be permitted within boreholes and only one joint
shall be permitted in each cable between the connection to the
instrument and the connection to the readout instrument.
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Cable loops shall be provided where cables emerge from

boreholes and enter trenches. Sufficient slack cable shall be
provided in trenches to allow for the effects of settlement and
lateral movements. Trenches shall not be backfilled until after
inspection by the Employer’s Representative.
All piezometer cables shall be taken to a junction box located as

shown on the Contract Drawings. The junction box may house
or be connected to a data logger. The logger shall be capable
of continuously recording the piezometric data so that it can be
remotely or manually downloaded into a proprietary
spreadsheet. The Contractor shall supply details of the
proposed system for acceptance.
Inclinometers Inclinometer access tubing (normally available in 3 metre

lengths) shall be connected using telescoping tube couplings.
Where required, spider and plate mounted magnets shall be
installed around the access tube.
The keyways of the access tubing shall be oriented as shown

on the Contract Drawings or as instructed by the Employer’s
Representative. The coupling between sections of the access
tube shall permit the torpedo to pass freely along the length of
the access tubing and shall be installed to such that that the
correct alignment of keyways is maintained through the joints.
Jointing rivets to connect the tube sections shall be located
midway between keyways. Sealing mastic shall be applied to
each rivet head and to the points where the tubing enters a
coupling. Joints shall be sealed by liberally wrapping with a
fabric tape impregnated with a waterproofing compound. This
procedure shall also be carried out for the end-cap at the
bottom of the access tube. The design of the access tube shall
be such that in operation the wheels of the inclinometer probe
do not coincide with the coupling location.
Where detailed in the Contract Drawings, the upper 1.0 metre

of the borehole shall be backfilled with concrete. The top of the
inclinometer access tube shall be placed not less than 50 mm
above the top of the concrete and capped to prevent the
ingress of water. Arrangements to secure the top of the tubing
shall comprise a steel tube and a stopcock cover, or an
alternative as agreed with the Employer’s Representative. The
protective cover shall be set in concrete and, where detailed on
the Contract Drawings, a protective fence erected around the
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cover.
A uniaxial or biaxial inclinometer probe shall be used in

conjunction with a portable inclinometer read-out unit or logger
approved by the Employer’s Representative. Data
management software shall also be provided by the Contractor.
Page 29 of 39

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Readings shall be taken at 0.5 metre intervals over the full

length of each keyway of the inclinometer access tube. If a full
set of readings cannot be obtained due to the accumulation of
debris in the access tubes, the Contractor shall flush the tubes
with water to remove the debris so that readings can be taken.
The initial datum readings shall comprise two sets of base

readings taken within 24 hours of the completion of the
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installation. Readings shall be taken whilst the probe is
travelling in both an upward and downward direction. Both
readings shall be recorded separately and reported to the
The readings shall be taken in increments from the base of the

access tube. All readings shall be recorded and reported to the
nearest 0.1 mm. The readings are considered to be sufficiently
accurate if they are repeatable and only if the 'face errors' in the
two keyway planes are less than 1.5 mm.
The data from the inclinometer shall be processed assuming

fixity at the base of the access tube. The surveyed cumulative
horizontal movement of the top of the access tube shall be
reported to an accuracy of 0.1 mm. Where requested by the
Employer’s Representative, the data shall also be processed
assuming a specified offset at the top of the access tube. The
processed data for both keyways shall be tabulated to show:
(a) deviations and face errors,
(b) mean deviation,
(c) change in mean deviation,
(d) cumulative mean deviation,
(e) displacement profiles.
Items (c) and (e) shall also be presented graphically to show the
change in deviation and displacement depth.
Magnetic probe The access tubing for the magnetic probe extensometers shall
extensometers be either the access tubing used for inclinometers or dedicated
tubing. Where scheduled to be installed in boreholes, access
tubing, target and datum magnets shall be installed and grouted
in place in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and
as shown on the Contract Drawings.
Specialist 52.021 Topographic surveys of above and below ground features shall
surveys be carried out where specified in Appendix 52/19.
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Ground 52.022 The ground improvement Works shall be carried out in

improvement accordance with the Specification for Ground Treatment.
The areas of treatment shall be as shown on Contract

Drawings.
Vibrated stone Ground improvement by vibroflotation in existing natural soils or

columns - fill shall include treatment by vibro-replacement or vibro-
general displacement.
The Contractor shall design the required ground improvement

works such that the maximum settlement limits for each specific
area are not exceeded. The design shall be subject to
Technical Approval in accordance with the requirements of
RT/CE/S/003.
The Contractor shall submit details of the proposed method of

working to the Employer’s Representative for approval. These
details shall include:
• the construction process, details of proposed plant and

equipment, stone column diameter, and sequence of
operation,
• staffing levels,
• quality control measures,
• the sources of materials, the nature and grading of

materials to be used in the Works,
• calculation and evidence that the system will satisfy the

requirements of the Specification,
• working drawings - to include the layout, spacing and

depth of the stone columns,
• the type and frequency of proposed quality control testing.
No changes shall be made to the approved method and system

without the approval of the Employer’s Representative.
Vibrated stone All backfill material used in vibro-replacement Works shall be

columns - crushed stone gravel having a particle size within the range 20
materials mm to 75 mm.
The Aggregate Crushing Value shall not be greater than 30 per

cent.
The particles shall be rounded, angular or irregular. Flaky or

elongated aggregates shall not be used.
Page 31 of 39

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The backfill shall be free of organic material, wood, vegetation,

chemical waste, etc.
The total clay, silt and fine dust content shall not exceed 4 per
cent (by weight).
The Employer’s Representative shall approve all sources of

water for use in vibroflotation Works.
Vibrated stone The design, execution and performance of the Works shall be
columns - such that subsequent foundation settlements are limited to the
settlement criteria specified in Appendix 52/21.
behaviour of the
completed area
Vibrated stone Water jetting or flooding shall not be used as part of the
columns - vibroflotation Works if the bearing capacity of nearby structures
workmanship is likely to be reduced or nearby structures would be adversely
affected by settlement.
Vibroflotation work shall not be carried out if the ground is

frozen or if the backfill is frozen.
Vibrated stone The tolerances of the treatment points shall be as detailed in

columns - Appendix 52/20.
tolerances
Vibrated stone The Contractor shall keep daily records of the vibroflotation
columns - site Works carried out and shall submit signed copies of these to
records the Employer’s Representative by noon of the next working day.
The records shall show the following for each column:
• date,
• vibro point reference,
• ground level and depth of penetration,
• type of vibrator used,
• vibratory power consumed during penetration of the

ground and during compaction of the column,
• jetting pressure and flow rate (where applicable),

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• duration of penetration and compaction,
• obstructions and delays,
• pre-boring works (where applicable),
• type of backfill,
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• quantity of stone used in each column,
• type and numbers of tests carried out.
Within one week of the completion of the vibroflotation Works

the Contractor shall submit to the Employer’s Representative
two copies of the drawings giving a complete record of the
position, depth and type of treatment at all compaction points.
Vibrated stone Testing of treated ground shall be undertaken both during and
columns - on completion of the ground treatment works. In advance of
testing the main ground improvement Works the Contractor shall carry
requirements out zone tests, as advised by the Employer’s Representative, to
confirm that the design meets the acceptability criteria.
The Contractor shall carry out control plate load testing at the
frequency detailed in Appendix 52/22.
Testing shall be carried out in accordance with BS 1377-9 and

the Specification for Ground Treatment.
Vibrated stone The Contractor shall design the required ground improvement
columns - depth and spacing to comply with the settlement criteria for
acceptability each structure as shown on the Contract Drawings and
criteria approved by the Employer’s Representative.
Swallow holes, 52.023 Infilled swallow holes and other naturally occurring cavities shall
naturally be excavated, filled and capped as detailed in Appendix 52/23.
occurring
cavities and Open swallow holes and other shallow cavities shall be flushed,
disused mine cleared of rubbish where to do so would not endanger
workings operatives, and filled and capped as detailed in Appendix 52/23.
Disused mine workings shall be investigated, inspected,
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monitored, cleared, flushed, capped or have any other
treatment carried out as detailed in Appendix 52/23.
Earthworks for 52.024 Earthworks for reinforced soil structures, strengthened

reinforced soil earthworks and anchored earth structures shall be constructed
and anchored in the locations and to the details shown on the Contract
earth structures Drawings.
General The design, materials specification and construction methods

requirements adopted for earthworks for reinforced soil and anchored earth
structures shall be in accordance with BD 70/03.
Reinforced soil and anchored earth structures shall be designed

by the Contractor to BS 8006 and HA 68/94.
The requirements for erosion control mats, where applicable,

are detailed in Appendix 52/24.
Page 33 of 39

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The following details shall be provided:
(a) working drawings,
(b) design calculations,
(c) sequence of placing fill material,
(d) acceptable moisture content of fill material at the time of

its placement,
(e) estimated movement of facing units during filling and

compaction operations,
(f) tolerances on the position of the finished line of the wall.
These details shall be submitted as part of the Work Package

Plan for approval by the Employer’s Representative prior to
commencing of the Works.
Technical The system for reinforced soil and anchored earth structures
specification shall comprise the following:
a) High adherence steel strips:
The high adherence steel strips shall be manufactured

from galvanised hot rolled steel strips with transverse
ridges. The steel strips shall be S355/R quality with
minimum tensile strength of 510 N/mm2 and having a
silicon content of 0.25 per cent to 0.35 per cent complying
with BS EN 10025. After fabrication the strips shall be hot
dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 except that the
average zinc coating weight for any individual test area
shall not be less than 1000 g/m2.
Nominal dimensions and the design strength of the high

adherence strips are shown on the Contract Drawings.
The design life of strips shall be 120 years.
Page 34 of 39
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b) Galvanised panel lugs:
The panel lugs shall be manufactured from hot rolled steel

strip S355/R quality with minimum tensile, bearing and
shear strength of 510 N/mm2 and having a silicon content
of 0.25 per cent to 0.35 per cent complying with BS EN
10025. After fabrication the lugs shall be hot dip
galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461, except that the average
zinc coating weight for any individual test area shall not be
less than 1000 g/m2.
Nominal dimensions and the design strength of the panel

lugs are shown on the Contract Drawings.
The design life of lugs shall be 120 years.
c) Bolts and nuts for attaching strips to the lugs:
The bolts shall be steel alloy Grade 10.9 to BS 3692 or BS

EN ISO 4014 Style 1 Grade A and BS EN ISO 898-1, hot
dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461.
The nuts shall be steel alloy Grade 8 to BS 3692 or BS EN

ISO 4032 Grade A and BS EN ISO 898-2, hot dip
galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461.
d) Frictional fill material:
Fill to reinforced soil and anchored earth shall be Class 6I,

6J, 7C, or 7D in table 6/1 of the SHW. The material shall
comply with the grading limits in table 6/2 of the SHW.
The effective angle of shearing resistance (? ’) of the

frictional fill shall be at least 36°. The fill material shall
have a uniformity coefficient of not less than 2.
e) Precast concrete facing panels: --``,,````,,,`````,,,``,,,`,`,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
Only hard facings shall be used for permanent reinforced

soil retaining structures. The precast concrete facing
panels shall be designed to conform with BD 24 or a
current BBA or equivalent certificate. The concrete shall
be in accordance with Section 80 (Structural concrete).
Delivery storage Components or materials shall be stored and handled according

and site to the requirements of a current BBA or equivalent certificate.
handling
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Drainage A continuous system of perforated or porous drainpipes not less

than 150 mm diameter shall be provided adjacent to the facing
at the level of the mass concrete strip footing. This system
shall be designed to collect and dispose of water percolating
through the fill and prevent the development of hydrostatic
pressure behind the facing.
Installation The installation shall be carried out to the recommendations of

the manufacturers and to the approved Work Package Plan.
Page 36 of 39
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REFERENCES
This is a list of publications referred to within this Section of the Model Clauses.
British Standards Title Issue date

812-110 Testing aggregates. Methods for determination 1990
of aggregate crushing value (ACV).
1377-2 Methods of test for soils for civil engineering 1990
purposes. Classification tests.
purposes. Chemical and electro-chemical tests.
purposes. Compaction-related tests.
purposes. In-situ tests.
2782-4 Plastics (polyester resins) and paints and 2000
Method 432B varnishes (binders). Determination of partial
acid value and total acid value.
--``,,````,,,`````,,,``,,,`,`,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
3692 ISO metric precision hexagon bolts, screws and 2001

nuts. Specification.
3882 Specification for topsoil and requirements for 2007
use.
3892-2 Pulverised-fuel ash. Specification for 1996
pulverised-fuel ash to be used as a Type 1
addition.
4449+A2 Steel for the reinforcement of concrete. 2005/2009
Weldable reinforcing steel. Bar, coil and
decoiled product. Specification.
5930 Code of practice for site investigations 1999
8002 Code of practice for earth retaining structures. 1994
8006 Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced 1995
soils and other fills.
8081 Code of practice for ground anchorages. 1989
8500-2 Concrete. Complimentary British Standard to 2006
BS EN 206-1. Specification for constituent
materials and concrete.
EN 10025 Hot rolled products of structural steels. 2004
EN 12390-1 Testing hardened concrete. Shape, dimensions 2000
and other requirements for specimens and
moulds.
EN 12390-2 Testing hardened concrete. Making and curing 2009
specimens for strength tests.
EN 12390-3 Testing hardened concrete. Compressive 2009
strength of test specimens.
EN 13139 Aggregates for mortar. 2002
EN ISO 898-1 Mechanical properties of fasteners made of 2009
carbon steel and alloy steel. Bolts, screws and
studs with specified property classes. Coarse
thread and fine pitch thread.
EN ISO 898-2 Mechanical properties of fasteners. Nuts with 1992
specified proof load values. Coarse thread.
Page 37 of 39

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EN ISO 1461 Hot dip galvanised coatings on fabricated iron 2009

and steel articles. Specifications and test
methods.
EN ISO 4014 Hexagon head bolts. Product grades A and B. 2001
EN ISO 4032 Hexagon nuts, style 1. Product grades A and B. 2001
EN ISO 10319 Geosynthetics. Wide-width tensile test. 2008
EN ISO 12236 Geosynthetics. Static puncture test (CBR test). 2006
EN ISO 12958 Geotextiles and geotextile-related products. 2010
Determination of water flow capacity in their
plane.
Network Rail standards Title Issue date

NR/L3/CIV/071 Geotechnical design. 03/10
RT/CE/S/003 Technical approval of design, construction and 04/04
maintenance of civil engineering infrastructure.
RT/CE/S/010 Geotextiles. 10/96
Model Clauses Title Issue date

50 General requirements for earthworks and
excavations
80 Structural concrete
85 Concrete for ancillary purposes
212 Installation of new and renewal of existing
Permanent Way
250 Landscaping preliminaries
251 Ground preparation and grassing
Other publications Title Issue date

ASTM D4533-04. Standard test method for trapezoid 2009
tearing strength of geotextiles.
BRE Special Digest No. 1. 2005
HMSO Manual of Contract Documents for Highway -

Works, Volume 1, Specification for Highway
Works.
HMSO HA 44/91, Design and preparation of contract 1991

documents. Highways Agency Design Manual
for Roads and Bridges.
HMSO HA 68/94, Design methods for the 1994

reinforcement of highway slopes by reinforced
soil and soil nailing techniques. Highways
Agency Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.
HMSO BD 24/92, The design of concrete highway 1992

bridges and structures. Use of BS5400: Part
4:1990. Highways Agency Design Manual for
Roads and Bridges
Page 38 of 39
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HMSO BD 68/97, Crib retaining walls. Highways 1997

HMSO BD 70/03, Strengthened/reinforced soils and 2003

other fills for retaining walls and bridge
abutments. Use of BS 8006 (1995). Highways
Thomas Telford Site Investigation in Construction Series. Part 3 1993

Thomas Telford Specification for Ground Treatment. 1987
TRL Research Report 380, Development of 1993

specification for soil nailing.
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Page 39 of 39


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Reference NR/L3/CIV/140/52C

Copyright Network Rail

Where a chalk embankment is constructed, a basal granular

The Contractor shall undertake such tests as necessary to

The Employer’s Representative may carry out compliance

acceptable any material not complying with the Specification.

Acceptable material for use as general granular fill shall comply

Acceptable material for use as free draining, uniformly graded,

Copyright Network Rail

Acceptable Class 3 material shall be excavated according to the

Acceptable fill to structures shall comply with the requirements

PFA shall be in accordance with BS 3892-2. The PFA shall be

The use of well-burnt or un-burnt colliery shale, slag or any

(a) The amount of organic matter in the material (which shall

(b) Slag shall not be placed within 1 metre of the proposed

(c) The aggregate crushing value of the material shall not

Material used to form embankments, etc. and located under any

Copyright Network Rail

Trial pitting may be instructed by the Employer’s

Where required, full-scale field tests shall be carried out in

Placing, 52.003 No compaction of any material shall commence without prior

At least seven days prior to commencement of Works subject to

(a) values of the maximum dry density and the optimum

(b) a graph of density against moisture content from which the

A nuclear surface density/moisture gauge may be used for

No filling shall be carried out when snow is lying on the ground

Fill affected by frost shall be excavated and replaced with

Copyright Network Rail

Notwithstanding the other requirements of this Clause, the

At no stage shall the side slopes be steeper than those shown

At the end of each working day or when construction is to be

Where the crossfall exceeds an inclination of 1 in 15,

Sand replacement tests shall be taken at the following minimum

• Granular fill: one per 50m³

• PFA: one per 20m³

Cohesive Class Cohesive fill is generally compacted to a method specification.

Chalk to be used as fill material shall be placed and compacted

Copyright Network Rail

Unless specified otherwise in Appendix 52/2, embankments

Layering of Class 3 material with other material shall not be

Where local instability results on compaction of Class 3 material

All embankments shall be constructed so that at the date for

Embankments shall be finished to the profiles shown on the

The upper surface of embankment fill shall be in accordance

Particular 52.004 Where a PFA embankment is constructed, a granular filter

PFA shall not be used within 450 mm of the formation.

The finished surface of the embankment shall be protected

Requirements 52.005 California bearing ratio (CBR) tests, in accordance with BS

Copyright Network Rail

The location, extent and thickness of capping shall be as stated

The capping shall be constructed with the appropriate class of

Preparation and surface treatment of the sub-formation,

Exposed areas of formation or sub-formation shall be kept to a

The Contractor shall provide demonstration areas at locations

Materials used within 450 mm of the final finished surface shall

In cuttings where the subgrade comprises cohesive material or

Preparation and surface treatment of the formation and sub-

Preparation of the sub-formation shall be carried out only after

The sub-formation Works shall not be undertaken in poor

Copyright Network Rail

Where required by Appendix 52/3, incremental loading plate

A copy of all test results for the subgrade shall be provided to

Carrying of 52.008 Earthworks shall be carried up to, over or adjacent to bridges,