SITE ANALYSIS  Full data as to type, size, depth and location of all services such as gas, water,

drains and electricity

Prior to purchasing a building site it is essential to conduct a thorough survey to  Details of above ground obstructions such as transmission lines
ascertain whether the site characteristics suit the development concept. The  Contour lines
 Trees and buildings on adjacent site
following guidance forms a basic checklist:
 Planning or similar restrictions on proposed building or structure
 Refer to Ordnance Survey maps to determine adjacent features, location,
 Sub soil investigation data of soil types and properties together with ground
roads, facilities, footpaths and rights of way. water conditions
 Conduct a measurement survey to establish site dimensions and levels.  Existing sewers
 Observe surface characteristics, i.e. trees, steep slopes, existing buildings,  Benchmarks
rock outcrops, wells.  Existing transport network
 Inquire of local authority whether preservation orders affect the site and if it
forms part of a conservation area. CLEARING THE SITE
 Investigate subsoil. Use trial holes and borings to determine soil quality and
water table level. This may involve the:
 Consider flood potential, possibilities for drainage of water table, capping of  Demolition of existing buildings. Demolition is a skilled occupation and
springs, filling of ponds, diversion of streams and rivers. should be tackled only by an experienced demolition contractor.
 Consult local utilities providers for underground and overhead services,  Grubbing out of bushes and trees. The removal of trees can be carried out by
proximity to site and whether they cross the site. manual or mechanical means. The removal of large trees should be left to the
 Note suspicious factors such as filled ground, cracks in the ground, specialist contractors.
subsidence due to mining and any cracks in existing buildings.  Removal of soil to reduce levels. Removal of the topsoil. The ground to be
 Regard neighborhood scale and character of buildings with respect to covered by the building shall be reasonably free from vegetable matter. This
proposed new development. is in effect to sterilise the ground, because the top 300 mm or so will contain
 Decide on best location for building (if space permits) with regard to 'cut and plant life and decaying vegetation. This means that the topsoil is easily
fill', land slope, exposure to sun and prevailing conditions, practical use and compressed and would be unsuitable for foundations. Topsoil is valuable as a
access. dressing for gardens, and will be retained for reinstatement when the site is
landscaped.
SITE INVESTIGATION FOR NEW WORKS
Site clearing can be carried out by hand or machine. The method chosen for
conducting the site clearance work will be determined by:
The basic objective of this form of site investigation is to collect systematically
 The scale of development
and record all the necessary data which will be needed or will help in the design
 Consideration for any adjacent buildings
and construction processes of the proposed work. The collected data should be
 Scale of the project
presented in the form of fully annotated and dimensioned plans and sections.
 Volume of the soil involved
Anything on adjacent sites which may affect the proposed works or conversely
 Nature of the site
anything appertaining to the proposed works which may affect an adjacent site
 Time elements
should also be recorded.
 Economic considerations
Typical data required include:
 Boundary hedges and/or fencing
 Property boundary lines and location of site

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 Existing buildings

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 Existing trees – type, girth and height
 SLOPING SITES

Very few sites are level, and therefore before any building work can be
commenced the area covered by the building must be levelled. In building terms
this operation is called reducing levels. Three methods can be used, and it is the
most economical that is usually employed.

i. Cut and fill

The usual method because, if properly carried out, the amount of cut will equal
the amount of fill. EXCAVATION

Excavation: To hollow out - in building terms to remove earth to form a cavity in

the ground.
Excavations may be classified as shallow, medium or deep as follows:
 Shallow – up to 1.500 m deep;
 Medium – 1.500–3.000 m deep;
 Deep – over 3.000 m deep.

The method of excavation to be used in any particular case will depend upon a
number of factors:
 The nature of the subsoil can determine the type of plant or hand tools
ii. Cut required and the amount of timbering necessary.
This method has the advantage of giving undisturbed soil over the whole of the  The purpose of the excavation can determine minimum widths, minimum
site, but has the disadvantage of the cost of removing the spoil from the site. depths and the placing of support members to give a reasonable working
space within the excavation.
 The presence of groundwater may necessitate the need for interlocking
timbering, sump pits and pumps; large quantities of groundwater may prompt
the use of de-watering techniques.
 The position of the excavation may impose certain restrictions such as the
need for a license or way leave, highway authority or police requirements
when excavating in a public road.
 Non-availability of the right type of plant for bulk excavation may mean that
a different method must be used.
 The presence of a large number of services may restrict the use of machinery
iii. Fill to such an extent that it becomes uneconomic.
A method not to be recommended because, if the building is sited on the filled  The disposal of the excavated spoil may restrict the choice of plant because
area, either deep foundations would be needed or the risk of settlement at a later the load and unload cycle does not keep pace with the machine output.
stage would have to be accepted. The amount of fill should never exceed a depth
of 600 mm.

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Types of Excavation  Unworked excavations must have been inspected within the preceding
seven days before persons can recommence working within the
i. Oversite excavation.
The removal of top soil (Building Regulations Requirement). Depth varies  Inspection of excavations must be carried out if there has been
from site to site but is usually in a 150 to 300 mm range. substantial damage of supports or if there has been an unexpected fall
of earth or other material.
ii. Reduced Level
 A suitable barrier must be provided to sides of excavations or
Carried out below oversite level to form a level surface in which to build and
can consist of both cutting and filling operations. The level to which the alternatively they must be securely covered.
ground is reduced is called the formation level.  Materials must not be placed near the end of any excavation nor must
be plant be placed or moved near excavations so that persons working
in the excavations are endangered.

Barriers to Excavations

Water in excavations should be removed since it can:

 Undermine sides of excavation.
 Make it impossible to adequately compact bottom of excavation to receive
foundations.
 Cause puddling which can reduce the bearing capacity of the subsoil.

SAFETY
 An adequate supply of timber or other suitable materials must be
supplied and used to prevent danger of any person employed in an
excavation over 1.210m deep from fall or dislodgement of materials
forming the sides of the excavation.
 Timbering should be carried out as the work proceeds and must be
executed under the direction of a competent person who must ensure
that all the material used is of adequate strength and suitable for the
intended function.
 All excavations over 1.210m deep in which persons are employed
must be inspected by a competent person at least once a day and
excavations over 1.980m must be inspected before each shift

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commences.

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 TRENCH EXCAVATIONS

These are narrow excavations primarily for strip foundations and buried services.
Excavation can be carried out by hand or machine.
Typical examples:

i. Battered faces
Disadvantage – extra cost of over excavating and extra backfilling.
Advantage – no temporary support required to sides of excavation.

ii. Vertical or straight faces

Disadvantage – sides of the excavation may require some degree of temporary
support.
Advantage – minimum amount of soil removed and therefore minimum amount
of backfilling.

iii. Pier holes

Isolated pits primarily used for foundation pads for columns and piers or for
construction of soak ways. Sides of the excavation can be battered or straight.

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Deep pier holes may have to be over excavated in plan to provide good egress

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from the working area for both men and materials.
The General Procedure for the Excavation of Foundation Trenches

Boning rods are made of timber, and the critical dimension is the height. The
depth at which the concrete must be laid has already been determined. We know
the level of the top of the profile boards. The boning rod is used by placing it at
the bottom of the excavation and having the banksman sight across the profile
boards past the cross bar on the boning rod.

TIMBERING

All sub soils have different abilities in remaining stable during excavation works.
Most will assume a natural angle of repose or rest unless given temporary
support. The presence of ground water apart from creating difficult working
If the boning rod protrudes above the line of sight more digging is required. If the conditions can have an adverse effect on the subsoil's natural angle of repose.
boning rod is below the line of sight too much digging has been done. Timbering is a term used to cover temporary supports to the sides of excavations
On some sub soils, the bottom of the trench is disturbed during excavation. (irrespective of the material used) and is sometimes called planking and strutting.
Setting the boning rod to less than the full height for the first pass means that the The sides of some excavations will need support to:
disturbance does not penetrate below the required level. Setting the boning rod  Protect the operatives while working in the excavation;
now for the full height allows the disturbed layer to be removed either by hand or  Keep the excavation open by acting as a retaining wall to the sides of the
with a machine. This is called trimming. trench.

The type and amount of timbering required will depend upon

 The type of the subsoil
 Stability of the sub soil
 Nearness of surcharges such as buildings and vehicles
 Water table level
 Weather conditions
 Depth of the excavation
 Duration during which the excavation will remain open

Each excavation must be assessed separately.

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Typical Details of Timbering to Trenches iii. Typical timbering in loose dry soils

i. Typical timbering in hard soils

ii. Typical timbering in firm soils iv. Typical timbering in loose wet soils

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