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How To Backfill: Foundations

Backfilling is the process of replacing soil in a trench or foundation after excavation. It requires knowledge of specifications, soil conditions, and techniques to ensure proper compaction. Backfilling can be done through compacting soil in layers, using water jetting to move soil into place without compaction for some soils, or placing flowable fill concrete directly from a truck. Care must be taken during placement to avoid impacting pipes and structures and to contain water runoff.

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530 views2 pages

How To Backfill: Foundations

Backfilling is the process of replacing soil in a trench or foundation after excavation. It requires knowledge of specifications, soil conditions, and techniques to ensure proper compaction. Backfilling can be done through compacting soil in layers, using water jetting to move soil into place without compaction for some soils, or placing flowable fill concrete directly from a truck. Care must be taken during placement to avoid impacting pipes and structures and to contain water runoff.

Uploaded by

krishna
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

How to Backfill

Backfilling is the process of putting soil back inside a trench or in a foundation


when the excavation has been completed. The backfill process requires skills
and knowledge on the specifications, contract requirements and understanding
soil conditions. Backfilling is used in tasks such as protecting foundations,
landscaping, or filling in voids in underground structures. Every soil has unique
characteristics requiring different construction techniques to ensure optimum
performance.

Impact loading of the pipeline, shafts, structures, and appurtenances must be


avoided during the placement of backfill. Backfilling can be done using the
following techniques.

How to Compact Backfill in Trenches

This material is then compacted using some mechanical means such as a


compactor on an excavator or a "jumping jack"-type compactor. Compact soils to
not less than the percentages of maximum dry density as determined in
accordance with ASTM D698, Method A (Standard Proctor). The soil lift will
depend upon the nature of the backfill, and the compaction equipment to be
used. Water may be added during the compaction process, to assist with
compaction. The following steps are recommended:

1. Backfill in layers of 4"-6" (non-organic fill and clean of debris)


2. Compact with a 1,000 lb. compactor
3. Water thoroughly
4. Repeat first three steps

How to Backfill Using Water Jetting

Water jetting is a technique that relies on specific material but no compaction.

Backfilling with jet allows the contractor to leave the trench and come back later
forcing pressurized water into the trench using a long metal device. Water jetting
should be avoided on plastic soils or heavy clay soils, however, it is
recommended in sand or in highly fissured bedrock. In jetting, you pump the
water under pressure and use the force of the jetted water to move the bedding
or backfill material around.

As with any backfilling, material should be placed slowly and in lifts. Flooding or
'jetting' backfill generally produces poor to very poor compaction. It is necessary
to take preventive measures to contain water containing sediment, and in
particular, prevent it entering drains and water courses, all in accordance with
EPA Guidelines. If the water cannot drain from the backfill soils, the material will
be setup for future collapse.

Flowable Fill Used to Backfill

Backfill can also be done using flowable fill, a cementitious material with a
low water/cement ratio, delivered to the job site by a ready mix truck. The
material is then placed as backfill directly from the truck, just like regular
concrete. Backfilling with flowable fill should be done carefully, making sure
that the utility pipe is covered first with an aggregate material. Allowing flowable
fill to engulf the pipe can create problems for those needing to hand dig around
the pipe in the future. The other challenge when using flowable fill is that the
material does flow so the contractor must block or prevent the backfill material to
flow continuously to other trench areas.

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