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Reference Issue Publication date Compliance date

NR/L3/CIV/140/51C 2 th 4 September 2010 th 4 December 2010

SECTION 51 Contents 51.001 51.002 51.003 51.004 51.005 51.006 51.007 51.008 51.009 51.010 51.011 51.012 51.013 51.014 51.015 51.016 51.017 51.018 References

EXCAVATIONS Page 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 9 9 9 9 9 9

Method of excavation Excavations for cuttings Restrictions on excavating in chalk Excavations for foundations Excavations for underpinning Excavations for services Rock occurring in trenches for services Excavations in combinations of Acceptable and Unacceptable materials Excavations to be kept free from water Excavations in streams, watercourses and ditches Excavation in the vicinity of trees Excavations adjacent to or under railway tracks Excavations in or near track ballast Headings Material arising from excavations Inspections of finished excavations Backfilling Backfilling of working space

British Standards Railway Group Standards Network Rail standards Model Clauses Other publications

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Reference Issue Publication date Compliance date

NR/L3/CIV/140/51C 2 th 4 September 2010 th 4 December 2010

SECTION 51 Method of excavation 51.001

EXCAVATIONS Excavations shall be carried out to a method accepted by the Employers Representative. Methods of excavation shall not reduce the stability of any adjacent earthworks, railway track or structures nor permit the accumulation of water. Excavations for cuttings shall be to the profile shown on the Contract Drawings to a tolerance of 20 mm for the subgrade, and 50 mm for the side slopes. Pockets of soft material and loose rock shall be removed and replaced with Acceptable material compacted in accordance with Section 52 (Earthworks). Excavations shall not be taken down below a level of 300 mm above the finished subgrade or surface of a cutting slope, until such time as the finished surface can, in the opinion of the Employers Representative, be exposed without risk of scour or erosion from any cause, and all permanent formation drainage has been completed and is in working order. Where the excavation reveals a combination of Acceptable and Unacceptable materials, the excavation shall be carried out in such a manner that the Acceptable materials can be separated for use in the Works. The Contractor shall make his own arrangements for stockpiling both Acceptable and Unacceptable materials and shall check that the stockpiling of such materials does not adversely affect the stability of excavations, areas of fill, or existing structures. Soils containing clay and chalk, and soft chalk together with any other materials or soils of a like nature, shall not be finally trimmed and exposed in wet weather. After completion of such trimming, any blanketing, ballasting, drainage, waterproofing or soiling, shall be carried out within 12 hours. The finished surface of cutting excavations shall comply with the requirements for the finished subgrade specified in Section 52 (Earthworks). On completion of the excavations for the cuttings, the side slopes shall be covered with topsoil in accordance with Section 52 (Earthworks).

Excavations for cuttings

51.002

Restrictions on excavating in chalk

51.003

Restrictions that apply to the excavation of chalk are detailed in Appendix 51/1.

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Reference Issue Publication date Compliance date

NR/L3/CIV/140/51C 2 th 4 September 2010 th 4 December 2010

Where temporary instability occurs in chalk due to excess working by plant or to inclement weather, the Contractor shall delay further deposition of material until the chalk has recovered sufficient strength for work to proceed. The Contractor shall allow for waiting periods that may be necessary during earthworks on chalk. The Contractor shall take all necessary measures to limit the creation of dust during earthworks operations in chalk. This shall include covering of transported chalk, watering of earthworks and the use of haul roads constructed from alternative materials. Care shall be taken that excavated chalk to be re-used on the Site is shall not be contaminated with clay, silt or other cohesive materials. Where chalk becomes mixed with other materials, the mixed material shall only be permitted for use as fill to landscape areas. Excavations for foundations 51.004 Pits or trenches for foundations shall be taken out in lengths and widths agreed by the Employers Representative. Any voids remaining between the sides of concrete bases and solid ground shall either be carefully filled in with adequately compacted acceptable granular fill or, if the filling is to transmit passive resistance or other lateral forces, with concrete. The sides of all excavations for foundations etc. shall be upheld and all Temporary Works necessary to maintain the stability of the sides of the excavations shall be provided. Bases of excavations shall be carefully levelled and, if necessary, stepped and benched horizontally. Bases of excavations shall not be finally trimmed in wet weather. Pockets of soft material shall be carefully removed and the cavities, including any fissures, filled with concrete or grout, as appropriate and agreed by the Employers Representative. Excavations for underpinning 51.005 Underpinning of existing structures shall be carried out in short intermittent sections, each of which shall be capable of bearing the designed loading before any adjacent work is commenced. Details of the methods proposed to be adopted for the underpinning shall be submitted for the consent of the Employers Representative and no underpinning works shall be commenced until such consent has been obtained. The route of all trenches for services, where not specified on the Contract Drawings, shall be agreed by the Employers Representative prior to any excavation commencing.

Excavations for services

51.006

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Reference Issue Publication date Compliance date

NR/L3/CIV/140/51C 2 th 4 September 2010 th 4 December 2010

Trenches for services shall be taken out in a sufficient width to enable the services to be properly laid, jointed and inspected. Special care shall be taken to provide a solid, even and properly graded slope to the bed of the trench. Where a concrete bed or a bed of granular fill is not specified, the base of the trench shall be shaped to receive any sockets and shall be compacted, where necessary, to obtain a firm and continuous bed. Trenches shall be excavated to provide a minimum cover of 750 mm above a cable duct. Trenches for services through station platforms shall be excavated to a minimum depth of 500 mm below the platform surface, and shall be located at the maximum practicable distance, but not less than 3 metres, from the platform edge. Soft spots existing below the bottom of the excavation or occurring due to the Contractor allowing the bottom of the excavation to become soft, shall be removed as required by the Employers Representative and the resulting void filled with Acceptable material (in accordance with Clause 52.002) appropriate to the location and type of service. Where the method of working requires the excavated trench to be left open at the end of a shift, the excavation shall be covered or adequately fenced, so that there is no danger to the public, Network Rails staff or other persons. All Temporary Works to cover service excavations shall be designed to carry the surface load specified in Appendix 51/2 and shall be subject to Technical Approval in accordance with RT/CE/S/003. Rock occurring in trenches for services Excavations in combinations of Acceptable and Unacceptable materials 51.007 Rock occurring in the bases of trenches for services shall be removed to permit a 150mm thick (minimum) granular bed to be placed under the services and to permit the making and inspection of joints. For excavation through a combination of Acceptable and Unacceptable materials where part of the Acceptable material is required for filling, the excavation of the Acceptable materials shall be carried out separately and these materials shall be kept free from contamination from Unacceptable materials.

51.008

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Reference Issue Publication date Compliance date

NR/L3/CIV/140/51C 2 th 4 September 2010 th 4 December 2010

Excavations to 51.009 be kept free from water

Excavations shall be kept free from surface and spring water. Where water removal by mechanical means is necessary, pumping equipment shall be provided, fixed, maintained and removed as required and suitable sumps and shallow grips shall be provided and maintained. Pipes shall be installed as necessary to convey the water clear of the Works. Filters shall be provided to pumping equipment to inhibit the removal of fines (during pumping) from the surrounding soils. Any damage arising out of the pumping and conveying of the water (including the filling in and restoration at the sumps, grips etc.) shall be made good. Measures necessary to lower the level of an established water table shall be agreed by the Employers Representative, and shall be acceptable to the local Water Supply Company, and where appropriate the Environment Agency or Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Excavations in streams, watercourses and ditches

51.010

Excavations carried out for the diversion, enlargement or deepening of streams, watercourses, or ditches, shall be performed without causing pollution. Such excavations shall allow for the necessary trimming of slopes, contouring of beds, disposal of excavated materials, backfilling, pumping, timbering, steel sheet trenching or any other works necessary for dealing with the flow of the water. Where watercourses have to be diverted from the future sites of embankments or other similar works, the original channels shall be cleared of all vegetation and soft unconsolidated deposits. An open jointed drain of the diameter specified in Appendix 51/3 shall be laid along the line of the original watercourse to the specified line and level, in accordance with BS EN 752. Any land or other drains disturbed, severed, or removed, shall be made good.

Excavation in the vicinity of trees

51.011

When excavating in the vicinity of trees that are to remain in place, provision shall be made for protecting their roots during the Works. Particular requirements for trees with a preservation order or other restrictions are given in Appendix 51/4. Where trees are to be removed, the tree shall be felled in accordance with Section 257 (Tree felling and scrub clearance), and stumps grubbed up in their entirety.

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Reference Issue Publication date Compliance date

NR/L3/CIV/140/51C 2 th 4 September 2010 th 4 December 2010

Excavations adjacent to or under railway tracks

51.012

When excavating in a position adjacent to and/or under existing railway tracks, all necessary timbering, sheet piling and other supports shall be provided and maintained to uphold the sides of excavations. Excavations shall be carried out in such a manner and at such times as to avoid damage to existing works or interruption to rail traffic. Liaison shall be carried out by the Contractor with the Employers Representative, and a method of working agreed for excavations adjacent to or under railway tracks that will maintain the position of the installed track within the tolerances appropriate to the applicable line speed. Details of the track tolerances for the excavation shall be agreed with the Employers Representative. A system of monitoring the position of the tracks shall be instigated at frequencies and locations agreed with the Employers Representative. The maximum depth of a supported excavation by cut for an undertrack crossing shall be 1800 mm. Particular requirements for pipe thrusting, micro-tunnelling or backfilling with concrete to avoid the potential for excessive deflection of track due to settlement of the backfill material are given in Appendix 51/5.

Excavations in or near track ballast

51.013

Where excavations are carried out in or adjacent to track ballast, the adjacent track ballast shall be kept free of excavated spoil. All excavated track ballast shall be stockpiled for re-use in the final reinstatement of the excavation. Any track ballast, walkways, or other surface (including the cesses of the same) which become fouled by materials arising from the excavations, or by other materials, or due to the method of working shall be removed and renewed. Open jointed track drains or other drains which become fouled shall be cleaned.

Headings

51.014

Headings driven by hand shall be executed by competent Contractors personnel having experience of the work. Competent experienced tunnellers shall be employed upon headings driven by small shields. Headings shall be kept free of noxious air, gases and water. Exposed faces shall be close boarded or sealed and the floor protected when tunnelling work is interrupted.

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Reference Issue Publication date Compliance date

NR/L3/CIV/140/51C 2 th 4 September 2010 th 4 December 2010

Where trenchless methods of excavation (such as directional drilling, pipe jacking, auger boring, impact moling, pipe ramming, micro tunnelling) are adopted, specialised Contractors with experienced and competent staff shall be employed. The Contractor shall provide full details of the technique to be adopted, together with supporting calculations in the methodology to be submitted as part of the Tender for the Works. Calculations shall be subject to Technical Approval in accordance with RT/CE/S/003. The risk of damage to existing buried services and adjacent structures shall be assessed and appropriate measures taken to minimise or avoid such damage. A formal risk assessment shall be provided as part of the Contractors methodology. Appropriate safety measures shall be taken to protect workers and the general public at all times. Noise and ground vibrations shall be controlled as specified in the Contract. Material arising from excavations 51.015 All material arising from excavations shall be classified as Unacceptable material unless the written agreement of the Employers Representative is obtained as to the classification of a material as Acceptable for use as a fill material. Material shall not be stockpiled closer than 2 metres to the crest of any slope or temporary cutting. Inspections of finished excavations 51.016 All finished excavations shall be inspected by the Employers Representative before being covered. The period of notice required in writing by the Employers Representative prior to the completion of an excavation is detailed in Appendix 51/6. No excavation shall be covered (save only by protective sheeting etc. to prevent weathering or covers for protecting of the public in accordance with Clause 51.006) without the written authority of the Employers Representative. Trenches, pits, shafts, temporary and other headings etc. shall be backfilled with Acceptable materials. Trenches for services through station platforms or concourses shall be backfilled at the earliest opportunity. Trenches for piped or ducted services not surrounded in concrete or granular fill shall have the bedding and surround to the service carefully placed and packed under and around the services. The material forming the bedding and surround to the service shall be in accordance with Section 180 to 182 (Building and structure drainage) or Section 190 (Ducts), as applicable. The backfilling material shall exclude all material retained on a 40 mm sieve, timber, and Unacceptable materials.

Backfilling

51.017

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Reference Issue Publication date Compliance date

NR/L3/CIV/140/51C 2 th 4 September 2010 th 4 December 2010

Backfilling to track drainage pipes shall comply with, and shall be deposited and compacted in accordance with Section 185 (Track drainage). Backfilling to cable trenches shall be deposited in layers not exceeding 100 mm when compacted. Backfill to service trenches shall be deposited in even layers, and shall not be heaped in the trench prior to spreading. Backfill shall be spread and compacted without damaging the service pipes or affecting their alignment. Where shown on the Contract Drawings, backfill to cable trenches in station platforms shall be of concrete of minimum grade ST4 to BS 8500-2 in accordance with Section 85 (Concrete for ancillary purposes) to the underside of platform surfacing. The routes of buried services shall be marked and protected in accordance with GI/RT7008. Acceptable backfill shall be deposited and compacted in layers of a thickness compatible with the compaction plant adopted. Each layer shall be completed over the whole area to be filled before the succeeding layer is deposited. Each layer of fill shall be placed 300 mm outside the final profile and shall receive full compaction to within 100 mm of its edge of before trimming to the final profile. Timbering, framing, or other supports, shall be withdrawn ahead of the layer to be compacted whilst maintaining the sides of the excavation. All voids left by the removal of timbering shall be filled. Backfilling of working space 51.018 Additional excavation necessary to provide working space or other Temporary Works shall be backfilled and compacted with Acceptable material in accordance with Section 52 (Earthworks).

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Reference Issue Publication date Compliance date

NR/L3/CIV/140/51C 2 th 4 September 2010 th 4 December 2010

REFERENCES This is a list of publications referred to within this Section of the Model Clauses.

British Standards 8500-2

EN 752

Title Concrete, Complementary British Standard to BS EN 206-1. Specification for constituent materials and concrete. Drain and sewer systems outside buildings.

Issue date 2006

2008 Issue date 06/02

Railway Group Standards Title GI/RT7008 Pipelines, buried services and undertrack crossings. Network Rail standards RT/CE/S/003 Title Technical Approval of design, construction and maintenance of Civil Engineering infrastructure. Title Earthworks Concrete for ancillary purposes General requirements for drainage Materials Installation Track drainage Ducts Tree felling and scrub clearance Title Highways Agency Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. HA 44/91: Design and preparation of contract documents.

Issue date 04/04

Model Clauses 52 85 180 181 182 185 190 257 Other publications HMSO

Issue date 09/10 03/96 03/96 03/96 03/96 01/97 03/96 03/96 Issue date 1991

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