LECTURE 2

EXCAVATION WORKS
1.0 Introduction

Works associated with excavation works:

a) Excavation
b) Disposal of excavated material
c) Filling

2.0 Factors affecting cost of excavation

1. Type of soil
• Ordinary Soil
• Loose Sand
• Heavy Clay
• Soft Rock
• Rock

2. Method of excavation
• By hand
• By Machine

3. Type of excavation
• Excavate topsoil
• Excavate to reduce level
• Excavate for column base
• Excavate trench

3.0 Earthwork Supports

• This is to protect sides of excavations.

• The cost is dependent on type of soil, type and size of excavation, designs and
number of uses
• It may not be necessary for hard ground or shallow excavations. Estimating rules,
only applicable for Ordinary soil, loose sand and soft rock and excavation
exceeding than 1.00m depth.
• Can be used more than once
• For estimating purposes – allow/assume RM 3.00/m3 of excavation for planking
and strutting.

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4.0 Hand Excavation

• Suitable for small excavation works or where plant is not accessible to excavation
areas.

Table 2.1 Labour output for hand excavation in ordinary soil

Unskilled
Description Unit Worker
(hour)
Excavate topsoil (not exceeding 250mm average depth) M2 0.35
Excavate to reduce level max. depth not exceeding 0.25m M3 1.75
Excavate for column base max. depth not exceeding 1.00 M3 3.50
Ditto 2.00m M3 4.50
Excavate trench maximum depth not exceeding 1.00m M3 2.75
Ditto 2.00m M3 4.00

• Labour output for hand excavation in other types of soil

Table 2.2 Output of hand excavation are dependent on soil condition

Types of soil Multiplier (Hours/m3)
Loose sand X 0.75
Heavy clay X 1.50
Soft rock X 3.00
Rock X 6.00

EXAMPLE 1
Excavate trench to receive foundation starting from reduced level not exceeding
2.00m maximum depth. – m3

Excavation by hand – ordinary soil

Labour cost
1 unskilled worker = 4.00hours x RM 40.00 = RM 20.00
8 hours
Planking and strutting, say = RM 3.00
RM 23.00
15% for profit and overhead = RM 3.45
Price/m3 RM 26.45

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EXAMPLE 2
Excavate pit to receive column bases starting from reduced level not exceeding
2.00m maximum depth. – m3

Excavation by hand – ordinary soil

Labour cost
1 unskilled worker = 4.50hours x RM 40.00 = RM 22.50
8 hours
Planking and strutting, say = RM 3.00
RM 25.50
15% for profit and overhead = RM 3.83
Price/m3 RM 29.33

EXAMPLE 3
Excavate pit to receive column bases starting from reduced level not exceeding
2.00m in rock. – m3

Excavation by hand – in rock

Labour cost
1 unskilled worker = (4.50hours x 6) x RM 40.00 = RM 135.00
8 hours
15% for profit and overhead = RM 20.25
Price/m3 RM 155.25

EXAMPLE 4
Extra over pit excavation for excavating in rock (Provisional). – m3

Excavation by hand – in rock (Extra over)

Labour cost
Excavation in rock = RM 155.25
Excavation in ordinary earth = RM 29.33
Price/m3 RM 125.92

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4.1 EXTRA-OVER ITEMS

Excavation in rock and/or hard material shall respectively be measured and paid for
as extra over to excavation and earthworks in accordance with the Provisional Bills
of Quantities. The Contractor shall give reasonable notice to the S.O to examine,
classify the excavation and to take measurement prior to breaking up.
(JKR Standard Specification)

Assumptions:
a) 10m3 of excavation which consist of 8m3 of ordinary earth and 2 m3 of rock.
Prices of excavation RM 29.33 (Example 1) x 8 m3 = RM 234.64
in ordinary earth
Prices of excavation RM 155.50 (Example 3) x 2 m3 = RM 310.50
in rock
TOTAL PRICE = RM 545.14

b) If rock is measured as an extra over item, the quantity of ordinary earth is 10

m3. i.e. no deduction for volume of rock. Therefore, the rate for rock should be
adjusted since the volume occupied by the rock is measured twice. This is done
by deducting the rate of excavation in ordinary from the rate of rock as follows:
Rate for excavation in rock = RM 155.25
Less
Rate for excavation in ordinary earth = RM 29.33
Rate for extra over excavation for excavating in rock = RM 125.92

Therefore, the total price is:

Prices of excavation in 10 m3 x RM 29.33 = RM 293.30
ordinary earth (Example 1)
Prices of excavation in rock 2 m3 x RM 125.92 = RM 251.84
(Example 4)
TOTAL PRICE = RM 545.14

c) It shows that, price will be accurate either the quantity of rock is known or not.

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5.0 MACHINE EXCAVATION

Can be divided into 2:

a) Hired Plant
b) Owned Plant

Factors to be considered for selection either hired of owned plant:

• Cost of plant
Is much dependent on the plant procurement methods
- Hired plant (rental cost: either cost per hour, cost per day, cost per week or
cost per month)
- Owned plant need to consider the following factors:
 Initial cost (purchase price)
 Interest on capital (based on financial institution percentage)
 Economics life of the plant
 Maintenance cost throughout the economic life of plant
 Cost of transporting plant to site

• Capacity of plant
Important for the estimator to determine the type or size of plant to be employed
for the work. (as per table

• Output of excavator
Amount of work that can be completed by using the plant within a certain amount
of time

• Economic life of plant

A duration where the benefit of using the plant exceeded its maintenance cost.
Economic life for excavator = 5 years

• Operating cost
Cost of running the plant on site. Factors to be considered:
 Cost of fuel
 Cost of plant and other workers handling the plant
 Capacity and output of plant
 Number of hours the plant is utilized in a year

Table 2.3 Fuel Required for Excavators

TYPES (CAPACITY) DIESEL/HOUR LUBRICANT/WEEK
(M3) (LITER) (LITER)
¼ 4 9
3/8 5 12
½ 6 14
¾ 7 16
1 9 18

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 Table 2.4 Output of excavator for excavating and loading ordinary earth
Type/Capacity Average
(m3) Output/Hour (m3)
¼ 8
3/8 9
½ 12
¾ 18
1 25

Table 2.5 Output of excavator for excavating and loading other types of soils
Types of Soils Multipliers (Hours/m3)
Sand X 1.00
Heavy Clay X 1.25
Soft Rock X 1.50
Rock X 4.50

EXAMPLE 5
Excavate to reduce level not exceeding 1.00m maximum depth. – m3
Data: Excavation works to be executed by using excavator type ½ m3.

Given:
Cost of owned excavator RM 150,000
Interest is 10% p.a
Economic life of excavator is 5 years

Excavation by machine
Capital Cost
1. Initial cost RM 150,000.00
2. Interest on capital for 5 years @ 10% per year / per annum RM 75,000.00
= 10% x 5 years x RM 150,000
3. Maintenance cost for 5 years = 10% x RM 150,000 RM 15,000.00
4. Transportation cost for 5 years = 5% x RM 150,000 RM 7,500.00
RM 247,500.00
5. Less resale value RM (8,000.00)
RM 239,500.00
6. Cost for 1 year = RM 239,500 RM 47,900.00
5years
7. Assumption: average no of working days for excavator per year RM 29.94
= 200 days.
Total no of hours per year = 200 days x 8 hours = 1,600 hours
Capital cost / hour = RM 47,900
1,600 hours

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Operating cost
1. Operator RM 50.00
2. Diesel = 6 liters x 8 hours x RM 1.70 / liter RM 81.60
3. Lubricant = 14 liter x RM 20.00 / liter RM 40.00
7 days
Total operating cost per day RM 171.60
Operating cost/hour = RM 171.60 RM 21.45
8 hours

Total cost (Capital + Operating) RM 51.39

Output of excavator = 12 m3
Cost of excavating and unloading /m3 = RM 51.39 RM 4.28
12 m3
15% for profit and overhead RM 0.64
Price/m3 RM 4.92