Engineering Standard Engineering Standard

Engineering Standard
SAES-A-114
SAES-A-114 30 September 2014
Excavation and Backfill
Document Responsibility:
Responsibility: Geotechnical Standards
Standards Committee
Committee
Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents
1 Scope............................................................ . 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations.........................

Deviations................................
....... . 2
3 References.................................................... . 2
4 Definitions..................................................... . 4
5 General......................................................... . 6
6 Fill and Backfill.........................

Backfill.......................................
...................
..... . 12
7 Excavation.................................................. . 21
APPENDIX - Summary of Fill Placement

and Compaction Requirements……… 24
Previous Issue: 23 February 2010 Next Planned Update: 30 September 2019

Page 1 of 25
Primary contact: Grosch, Jonathan Joseph on +966-13-8809690
Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2014. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Geotechnical Standards Committee SAES-A-114
Issue Date: 30 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 30 September 2019 Excavation and Backfill
1 Scope
This Engineering Standard defines the requirements for excavation, plac ement,
compaction, inspection, and management of earth and rock materials during
construction and/or maintenance.
2 Conflicts and Deviations
2.1 Any conflicts between this Specification and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs), Engineering Standards (SAESs),
Standard Drawings (SASDs) or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by Saudi Aramco through the Manager, Consulting Services
Department.
2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this Specification in writing to the Company
Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
procedure SAEP-302 and
forward such requests to the Manager, Consulting Services Department of Saudi
Aramco, Dhahran.
3 References
The selection of material and equipment, and the design, construction, maintenance, and
repair of equipment and facilities covered by this Stand ard shall comply with the latest
edition of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.
3.1 Saudi Aramco References
Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement
Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-A-100 Survey Coordinates, Datum's and Data Formats
SAES-A-113 Geotechnical Engineering Requirements
SAES-L-450 Construction of on-Land and Near-Shore Pipelines
SAES-L-460 Pipeline Crossings under Roads and Railroads
SAES-Q-001 Criteria for Design and Construction of Concrete
Structures
SAES-Q-006 Asphalt
Asphalt and Sulfu
Sulfurr Extende
Extended
d Asphal
Asphaltt Concre
Concrete
te Paving
Paving
Page 2 of 25
SAES-Q-007 Foundations and Supporting Structures for Heavy

Machinery
SAES-P-104 Wiring Methods and Materials
SAES-S-070 Installation of Utility Piping Systems
Saudi Aramco General Instructions

GI-1021.000 Street and Road Closure: Excavation, Reinstatement
and Traffic Controls
Saudi Aramco Manuals

Construction Safety Manual
Blasting Manual
Saudi Aramco Safety Management Guide

Guide No. 06-002-2008 Excavations and Shoring
3.2 Industry Codes and Standards
American Concrete Institute (ACI)

ACI 229R Controlled Low-Strength Materials
American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM C136 Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine
and Coarse Aggregates
ASTM D422 Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of
Soils
ASTM D1140 Standard Test Method for Amount of Material in
Soils Finer than the No. 200 (75-um) Sieve
ASTM D1556 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight
of Soil in Place by the Sand-Cone Method
ASTM D1557 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Compaction
Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort
56,000 ft-lbf/ft³ (2,700 KN- M/M³)
ASTM D2167 Standard Test Method for Density and Unit Weight
of Soil in Place by the Rubber Balloon Method
ASTM D2487 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for
Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil
Classification System)
Page 3 of 25
ASTM D2937 Standard Test Method for Density of Soil in Place

by the Drive-Cylinder Method
ASTM D4253 Standard Test Method for Maximum Index Density
and Unit Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table
ASTM D4254 Standard Test Method for Minimum Index Density
and Unit Weight of Soils and Calculation of
Relative Density
ASTM D4318 Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic
Limit and Plasticity Index of Soils
ASTM D5777 Standard Guide for Using the Seismic Refraction
Method for Subsurface Investigation
ASTM D6938 Standard Test Methods for In-Place Density and
Water Content of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by
Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)
ASTM D7380 Standard Test Method for Soil Compaction
Determination at Shallow Depths Using 5-lb
(2.3 kg) Dynamic Cone Penetrometer
ASTM D7830/ Standard Test Method for In-Place Density
D7830M (Unit Weight) and Water Content of Soil Using an
Electromagnetic Soil Density Gauge
4 Definitions
Brackish Water: Water with Total Dissolved Solids of 10,000 ppm or more.
Clean Sand: Soil meeting the following gradation containing less than 3% weight of
organic material or clay:
Sieve Size Percent Passing

¼ in (6.25 mm) 100
No. 10 (2.00 mm) 90 - 100
No. 200 (0.075 mm) 10 or less
Company Representative: Saudi Aramco's authorized representative with overall

authority and responsibility for the project.
Contract or Contract Documents: Any and all documents, including design

drawings, which Saudi Aramco has transmitted or otherwise communicated, either by
incorporation or by reference, and made part of the legal contract or purchase order
agreement between Saudi Aramco and the Contractor.
Page 4 of 25
Contractor: The party responsible for performing excavation and backfill, including
work executed through the use of sub-contractors
Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM): A flowable, self-compacting,

cementitious material used primarily as a backfill in place of compacted fill.
Dune Sand: Wind-deposited sand consisting of relatively single-sized particles

generally passing the No. 16 sieve (1.18 mm) and usually containing less than 10% soil
particles passing the No. 200 sieve (0.074 mm).
Fill Material: See General Fill Material.
General Fill Material: Inorganic soil or rock meeting the requirements in Section 6.1.1.
Hard Rock: Rock that cannot be excavated using typical excavation equipment.
See Rock Excavation, Section 7.5.
Marl: is a wide variety of calcareous soil materials found in Saudi Arabia which may
vary from clay to gravel sizes and often include cobble and boulder sized pieces.
Rock: “Rock ” may refer to anything from boulder-size individual pieces to hard, intact
bedrock. See section 7.5 for classification of rock by excavation methods.
Sabkha: is a saline (generally coastal) deposit generally consisting of saturated, loose

silty sand and possibly clay.
Select Fill Material: Gravel, sand, clay, or silt, or a mixture of these constituents
meeting the requirements in Section 6.1.2.
Soft Rock: Weak and fractured rock formations that can be excavated using typical
excavation equipment. See Normal Excavation, Section 7.5.
Stable Rock: Natural solid mineral matter that can be excavated with vertical sides and
remain intact while exposed. It is usually identified by a rock name such as limestone
or sandstone.
Structural Fill: Select Fill Material as per Section 6.1.2.
Vibrating or Heavy Machinery: Centrifugal rotating machinery greater than

500 horsepower, reciprocating machinery greater than 200 horsepower, and all table-top
special purpose equipment.
Page 5 of 25
5 General
5.1 Quality Control
The Contractor shall institute a quality control program that will verify or ens ure
that the work performed under the Contract me ets the requirements of this
Standard and the Contract Documents. Saudi Aramco shall have access to all
facilities and records of the Contractor for the purpose of conducting
performance inspection/audits. During the audit, any inspection, test reports,
and/or engineering analyses and calculations associated with the scope of work
shall be furnished upon request.
Inspection & Testing Agency
5.1.1 The Contractor's quality control testing requirements shall be performed

by either a Saudi Aramco-approved independent testing agency or by the
Contractor's own laboratory, approved by the Saudi Aramco Inspection
Department.
5.1.2 All required laboratory and field acceptance tests required in Section 6.4
and all seismic refraction testing required in Section 7.5 shall be
performed by a Saudi Aramco-approved independent testing agency.
5.1.3 If testing and/or inspection is done by Saudi Aramco, this does not
relieve the Contractor of the responsibility to meet all requirements of
this Standard. Should it be later found that some work has been
completed not in compliance with this Standard, it shall remain the
Contractor's responsibility to repair or reconstruct deficient work until
specifications are met at no cost to Saudi Aramco.
5.2 Submittals
The Contractor shall be responsible for transmitting the following submittals to

the Saudi Aramco Company Representative:
5.2.1 Compaction Test Reports, including all laboratory and field test logs and
comments. Field test reports shall include density and moisture content
test logs indicating location by coordinates and elevation as per
SAES-A-100. Reports shall be submitted as follows:
5.2.1.1 Daily “ pass” or “fail” reports.
5.2.1.2 A summary report with test logs shall be submitted weekly or

as required by Saudi Aramco.
Page 6 of 25
5.2.1.3 A complete record of all test logs and comments for

permanent project records shall be submitted at earthwork
completion.
5.2.2 Fill Materials and Water Test Reports. Sources and test results of all fill
materials and compaction water shall be submitted for approv al prior to
beginning fill operations. Compaction water shall be tested for Total
-
Dissolved Solids, Chloride (Cl ) and Sulfate (SO4) contents according to
SAES-Q-001.
5.2.3 Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) mix design and 28-day
compressive strength shall be submitted for approval prior to use o n the
site.
5.2.4 Excavation Plan, including a Pre-Excavation checklist, as per the Saudi

Aramco Construction Safety Manual and Safety Management Guide 06-
002-2008 shall be submitted prior to beginning excavation. Consulting
Services Department review of the Excavation Plan is required if
excavation depth is greater than 6 m or if the Plan includes support or
protection for existing structures, foundations or underground utilities.
Commentary Note:
A geotechnical investigation as per SAES-A-113 is required for

excavation depths greater than 6m.
All excavations, including shoring and sheeting materials and systems,

shall meet the minimum requirements established by the Construction
Safety Manual and Saudi Aramco Safety Management Guide 06-002-
2008. If an Excavation Plan is required and shoring is used, the
Contractor’s Excavation Plan shall:
a) Describe the materials and shoring system to be used.

b) Indicate whether or not any components will remain after filling or
backfilling.
c) Provide plans, sketches and/or detail along with calculations.
d) Indicate the sequence and method of shoring installation and
removal.
5.2.5 Dewatering Plan. If dewatering of an excavation is required, the

Contractor shall submit proposed methods and details to the Saudi
Aramco Company Representative for review and approval, before
beginning dewatering and excavation.
Page 7 of 25
5.3 Environmental
5.3.1 Contaminated Soils
Known contaminated soils within the construction limits shall be managed

in accordance with a contaminated soil management plan provided by
Saudi Aramco prior to the start of excavation. If unexpected soil
contamination is encountered during the work, the Contractor shall stop
work and notify the Saudi Aramco Company Representative immediately.
5.3.2 Erosion/Sediment Control
The Contractor shall ensure that all slopes and o ther areas subject to
erosion shall be maintained using temporary erosion and sediment
control measures during construction or until relieved by the S audi
Aramco Company Representative or until permanent measures are
completed and functioning in a satisfactory manner.
5.3.3 Dust Control
The Contractor shall employ dust control measures during construction.

The adequacy of the dust control shall be determined by the Saudi
Aramco Company Representative.
5.4 Drainage and Dewatering
A Dewatering Plan shall be submitted to the Saudi Aramco Company

Representative as per Section 5.2.5.
5.4.1 All temporary drainage and dewatering methods and disposal of water
are subject to approval by Saudi Aramco.
5.4.2 The Contractor shall employ temporary drainage measures during

construction. Ponding of water on placed fill or within excavations shall
not be allowed.
5.4.3 Surface water shall be prevented from flowing into excavations by

ditching, trenching, forming protective swales, pumping, or other
approved measures.
5.4.4 If required in the contract documents, prior to excavation, an approved

dewatering system shall be installed and operated when necessary to
lower the groundwater. The dewatering system shall be engineered
based on a soil and groundwater properties from a geotechnical
investigation conducted as per SAES-A-113.
Page 8 of 25
5.4.5 All diverted and pumped water shall flow to specified collection areas
and shall be disposed of as directed by the Saudi Aramco Company
Representative. Excavations for foundations and other underground
installations shall not be used as temporary drainage ditches.
5.4.6 Disposal of drainage water and groundwater contaminated with oil,

gasoline, diesel, solvents and/or other chemicals shall be approved by the
Environmental Protection Department.
5.5 Safety and Protection
The Contractor shall place and maintain in good condition temporary fences,
guardrails, barricades, lights, shoring, bracing, and other protective measures
required for the safety of personnel and the premises as described in the Saudi
Aramco Construction Safety Manual.
5.5.1 Required Permits and Procedures
5.5.1.1 All necessary permits must be obtained from Saudi Aramco

prior to performing any earthwork.
5.5.1.2 All rock blasting shall follow the procedures in the Saudi
Aramco Blasting Manual.
5.5.2 Excavation Safety
An Excavation Plan shall be submitted to the Saudi Aramco Company

Representative as per Section 5.2.4.
All excavation and trenching shall be done in accordance with Saudi

Aramco safety requirements including, but not limited to, the S audi
Aramco Construction Safety Manual and Safety Management Guide 06-
002-2008, including:
 Provision of safe entry and exit.

 Precautions for Hazardous Atmospheres and Confined Spaces.
 Provision and maintenance of edge protection, clearances, barricades,
and fixed lighting.
 Protection of underground utilities and installations.
 Protection against sidewall cave-in. Shoring shall be installed or the
sides shall be sloped or benched when any excavation or trench
reaches a depth of 1.2 m or when soil banks are greater than 1.5 m.
Page 9 of 25
Commentary Note:
Specific requirements are given in Saudi Aramco Safety Management

Guide 06-002-2008.
 Provision of proper inspection frequency.

 Proper backfilling and removal of shoring. Shoring ma y be left
in-place if so indicated in the approved Excavation Plan.
5.5.3 Hazard Mitigation
5.5.3.1 Whenever Saudi Aramco determines that any excavation or

embankment or fill which was created by a Contractor and
which is a hazard to life and limb, or endangers property, or
adversely affects the safety, use or stability of a roadwa y or
drainage channel, the responsible Contractor shall
immediately repair or eliminate such excavation or
embankment so as to eliminate the hazard.
5.5.3.2 Any construction or maintenance work which restricts the full

use of a pedestrian or vehicular roadway shall comply with
GI-1021.000, Street and Road Closure: Excavation,
Reinstatement and Traffic Controls.
5.5.4 Protection of Existing Facilities
5.5.4.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for avoiding damage to

all existing facilities. Unless otherwise specified, any damage
by the Contractor during performance of the work shall be
repaired or replaced by the Contractor to the satisfaction of
the Saudi Aramco Company Representative at no cost to
Saudi Aramco.
5.5.4.2 No excavation is permitted under existing foundations.

Excavations are not allowed to intersect a 45 degree plane
extending downward from the bottom edge of existing
foundations unless an engineered support system, app roved as
part of the Excavation Plan, is in place prior to the start of
work or the excavation is in stable rock.
5.5.4.3 Excavations adjacent to existing underground installations

(e.g., piping, manholes, electrical and duct banks) or
sidewalks shall use bracing and shoring to protect those
installations during construction. In general, protection is
required if the excavation will intersect a 45 degree plane
Page 10 of 25
extending downward from the bottom of the structure or

utility to be protected.
5.5.4.4 Structures that require passive soil pressure for stability

(e.g., light poles or tower foundations) shall be prop erly
braced whenever an excavation is within the passive pressure
zone (generally a distance of 1.5 times the embedment depth
of the foundation). Fill or backfill of the excavation must
meet the compaction requirements in sections 6.3.6.1 or
6.3.6.2 as applicable.
5.5.4.5 All reference points, property markers, bench marks,

monuments, etc., shall be carefully maintained d uring
excavation, backfilling, compaction and earthwork.
Unless otherwise specified, damage to a reference po int by
the Contractor during performance of the work shall be
reported to Saudi Aramco and repaired or replaced by the
Contractor to the satisfaction of the Saudi Aramco Company
Representative at no cost to Saudi Aramco.
5.5.4.6 The Contractor shall be responsible for preserving and

avoiding damage to trees, shrubs, and all other vegetation in
the areas beyond the designated excavation area.
5.5.5 Trenching through Roads and Pavements
Reinstatement of roads and pavements after trenching shall compl y with

SAES-Q-006 and GI-1021.000, Street and Road Closure: Excavation,
Reinstatement and Traffic Controls.
5.5.6 Clean Up
5.5.6.1 Soil that is spilled or washed onto paved areas or streets shall
be removed daily or as directed by the Saudi Aramco
Company Representative.
5.5.6.2 Soil that is spilled or washed into drains, pipes, gutters, or

ditches or onto adjacent sites shall be removed daily.
The Contractor shall provide measures to prevent recurrence.
Page 11 of 25
6 Fill and Backfill Requirements
6.1 Fill and Backfill Materials
Fill and backfill materials shall conform to the criteria in sections 6.1.1, 6.1.2,
6.1.3 and 6.1.4 below or as recommended by a geotechnical report as per
SAES-A-113.
All sources of supply shall be approved by Saudi Aramco.
Stockpiles shall be placed, graded, and shaped for proper drainage. Storage or
stockpiling of material shall not be permitted on a completed subgrade.
Stockpiles of cohesive soil shall be protected from freezing.
Soils shall be classified per ASTM D2487.
6.1.1 General Fill Material
6.1.1.1 General Fill Material shall consist of gravel, sand and/or

marl. The maximum size of the fill material shall be one-half
the lift thickness or 75 mm (3 inches), whichever is less.
6.1.1.2 Fill material shall be free of frozen lumps, organic matter,

trash, chunks of highly plastic clay (classified as CH as
determined by ASTM D2487) or other unsatisfactory
material.
6.1.2 Select Fill Material
6.1.2.1 Select Fill or ‘Structural Fill’ shall be composed only of

inorganic material and shall have 100% passing the 5 cm
(2 in) sieve and from 0 to 20% passing the No. 200 sieve.
6.1.2.2 The portion of Select Fill material passing the No. 40 sieve
shall have a maximum liquid limit of 35 and a maximum
plasticity index of 12 per ASTM D4318. Liquid limit and
plastic limit tests are not required for select fill material with
less than 15% passing the No. 200 sieve.
Commentary Notes:
Clean sand and dune sand may be used as Fill or Select Fill Material.
If sand is used as fill material, see Paragraphs 6.3.3.5 and 6.3.8.
Cohesionless materials (sand or gravel) are recommended for Fill or

Select Fill Material below the highest natural groundwater level.
Page 12 of 25
6.1.3 Controlled Low-Strength Material (CLSM)
6.1.3.1 CLSM or “flowable fill” may be substituted for either Select

Fill Material or general Fill Material, where approved b y the
Company Representative. CLSM is recommended where
traditional compaction is difficult (i.e., narrow or congested
excavation backfill).
6.1.3.2 Unless otherwise specified, CLSM shall be in accordance

with ACI 229R.
6.1.3.3 The mix design shall be proportioned to produce a 28-day

compressive strength between 0.7 and 1.4 MPa (100 and
200 psi), pretested using the actual raw materials and
approved by the Company Representative before use on the
project. Compressive strengths above or below this range
may be approved by the Company Representative based on
future excavation requirements.
Commentary Note:
Per ACI 229R: The ability to excavate CLSM is an important

consideration on many projects. In general, CLSM with a
compressive strength of 0.3 MPa (50 psi) or less can be
excavated manually. Mechanical equipment, such as
backhoes, are used for compressive strengths of 0.7 to
1.4 MPa (100 to 200 psi). Mixtures using high quantities of
coarse aggregate can be difficult to remove by hand, even at
low strengths. Mixtures using fine sand or only fly ash as the
aggregate filler have been excavated with a backhoe up to
strengths of 2.1 MPa (300 psi).
6.1.3.4 Unless otherwise specified, simple visual inspection only

shall be required for field testing of CLSM.
6.1.3.5 CLSM shall be allowed to harden a minimum of 6 hours prior

to proceeding with construction over the CSLM.
6.1.4 Other fill materials (e.g., rock fill, lean concrete, etc.) may be used with
the approval of the Chairman, Geotechnical Standards Committee.
6.1.5 Compaction Water
6.1.5.1 Water used for compaction of fill material shall be reasonably

free of salts, oil, acid, alkalis, organic matter, or o ther
deleterious substances.
Page 13 of 25
6.1.5.2 Use of water with Total Dissolved Solids of 10,000 ppm or

more (i.e., brackish water, seawater or water obtained from
ground pits such as subkha water) is not allowed.
Exceptions to Paragraph 6.1.5.2:
A. There is no source of acceptable water available w ithin 20 km.*
B. The estimated volume of available acceptable water within 20

km could not sustain the requirement of the project or
Program.*
C. The fill or backfill will be below the surrounding area natural

water table as determined by a geotechnical investigaton or
monitoring wells.
* Verified by the Company Representative.
Commentary Note:
Major projects and Programs which anticipate the use of

brackish water or seawater shall include a holistic approach to
concrete mix design requirements aligned with SAES-Q-001
Table 1 in the design planning stage. The Chloride (Cl-) and
Sulfate (SO4 ) contents in the compaction water defines
Exposure Type as detailed in SAES-Q-001 Table 1.
6.2 Preparation of Areas to Receive Fill, Pavement or Loads
6.2.1 Areas to receive fill, foundations, or pavement shall be free of organic

material, trash, or other unsuitable material.
6.2.2 Proper drainage shall be maintained at all time so that the site is free of
standing water. Any soil that becomes saturated shall be removed
completely or as specified by the Company Representative.
6.2.3 Areas, in horizontal plane or side slope, shall be prepared for fill or
loading as follows:
6.2.3.1 The site shall be proof-rolled and inspected for soft spots or
loose zones. Proof roll may be defined as crossing the area
with a heavy (minimum 10-ton weight) rubber-tire or steel-
wheel roller.
6.2.3.2 All observed soft spots or loose zones shall be compacted in-
place or excavated to firm soil and replaced with fill material
compacted to the specifications in Section 6.2.3.2.
6.2.3.3 Top 150 mm scarified and recompacted. The density of the

top 150 mm in these areas shall not be less than 90% of the
Page 14 of 25
maximum Modified Proctor density (ASTM D1557) or 70%

relative density (ASTM D4253 and ASTM D425 4) for
cohesionless freely draining soil.
6.3 Fill Placement and Compaction

Commentary Note:
A summary of fill placement and compact ion requirements is included as an

Appendix to this Standard.
6.3.1 Select Fill Material shall be specified:
6.3.1.1 Within 0.6 m of the bottom elevation of foundations, spread

footings, slabs-on-grade and pavements when fill is required
to achieve final grade.
In general, Select Fill Material shall be specified for entire

lifts and not interspersed with General Fill Material within the
same lift.
Commentary Note:
Foundations may be constructed directly on undisturbed soil.

Excavation of undisturbed soil and replacement with Select
Fill Material shall not be performed except as noted in 6.2.3.2
or 7.2.2 or as recommended in a geotechnical report as per
SAES-A-113.
6.3.1.2 For backfill which will be in contact with concrete or steel

structures.
6.3.1.3 All other areas not designated above or otherwise specified in

as Select Fill Material in the design drawings ma y be filled or
backfilled using General Fill Material.
6.3.2 Before placement of fill, the area to receive the fill shall be prepared in
accordance with Section 6.2. In addition:
6.3.2.1 In no case shall compaction be allowed on slopes greater than

1 (V) to 5 (H). A series of horizontal benches, steps, or
terraces, at least 1 compactor width, should be cut into
existing and natural slopes prior to adding new fill to key the
new fill into the underlying soil.
6.3.2.2 Construction of new slopes shall be accomplished by

compacting horizontal fill layers at least 1 compac tor width
Page 15 of 25
beyond the design edge of the slope and then trimming back
to achieve the final slope dimensions.
6.3.3 Fill material shall be placed in uniform loose lifts not exceeding the
following criteria, provided that the specified compaction is a chieved for
the full depth.
6.3.3.1 Select Fill Material shall be placed in lifts of 200 mm

maximum in loose depth.
6.3.3.2 General Fill Material shall be placed in lifts of 300 mm

maximum in loose depth.
6.3.3.3 General Fill Material and Select Fill Material shall be placed
in lifts of 100 mm maximum in loose depth for hand-operated
compaction equipment.
6.3.3.4 Other lift thicknesses may be approved by the appropriate

Saudi Aramco Inspection Representative based on a field test
section using the intended compaction equipment and
verification that compaction was achieved for the full depth.
Commentary Notes:
Impact rollers can compact soils in lifts exceeding 1 m.
See Section 6.4.2.6 for use of a method statement for

compaction procedure with reduced testing requirements.
6.3.3.5 If clean sand or dune sand is used for fill, the compacted sand
shall be kept wet until the next layer is placed.
Commentary Note:
Sand that has been allowed to dry out will uncompact under
vehicle or pedestrian traffic. Continuous watering is required
to maintain compaction until the next lift is in-place.
6.3.4 Compacting shall begin only after the fill or backfill has been properly
placed and the material to be compacted is at the proper moisture content.
6.3.4.1 The moisture content of the material being compacted shall

be within 3%, plus or minus, of the optimum moisture content
as determined by ASTM D1557.
6.3.4.2 For cohesionless freely draining soils when ASTM D4253/

ASTM D4254 are the appropriate test procedures, there is no
applicable optimum moisture content.
Page 16 of 25
6.3.5 Compaction shall be performed with equipment compatible with soil

type.
6.3.5.1 Fill and backfill adjacent to structures such as retaining walls,

pits, and basements shall not be compacted with heavy
equipment, but shall be compacted with hand-operated
equipment to a distance of 1.2 meters or greater beyond the
sides of the structures. Every effort shall be made to place
backfill materials symmetrically and in uniform layers to
prevent unnecessary eccentric loading on a structure or
foundation.
6.3.5.2 Compaction by water jetting or flooding is not permitted for

most fill material. However, flooding with positive drainage
may be used if the fill material is cohesionless freely draining
sand.
Commentary Note:
Water flooding with positive drainage may be the most

effective compaction technique for poorly graded and single-
size sands, as these sands are difficult to compact with
mechanical compactors.
6.3.6 Fill and backfill layers shall be uniformly compacted in accordance with
the following density requirements:
6.3.6.1 All Select Fill Material and any fill beneath and/or adjacent to
foundations, grade beams, mats, buildings, lined slopes o r
drainage channels, and process areas:
 At least 90% of the maximum Modified Proctor density

as determined by ASTM D1557, or
 At least 70% Relative Density as determined by

ASTM D4253 and ASTM D4254 for cohesionless
granular soils that do not exhibit well-defined moisture
density relationship.
6.3.6.2 Select Fill Material beneath and/or adjacent to foundations

with static loads over 320 kPa and foundations for vibrating
or heavy machinery:

Page 17 of 25

6.3.6.3 Asphalt and concrete pavement subgrades:


6.3.6.4 General Fill Material for areas not designated as open or

landscaped:


6.3.6.5 General Fill Material for areas designated as open or

landscaped:


6.3.6.6 Working platforms for compaction on subkha deposits

shall be compacted as necessary to achieve a stable base.
Subkha working platforms must be indicated as such and
accounted for in the design. Compaction testing of working
platforms is not required.
Commentary Notes:
Compaction to the required densities indicated in Section 6.3

are virtually impossible to achieve in the first layer placed
directly on subkha and similar very weak soils. A working
platform to provide a stable base is often required.
Page 18 of 25
A 500 mm thick layer of f ill material placed directly on t he

subkha compacted as well as possible is usually sufficient.
“ ”
Stripping of the subkha crust prior to fill placement is not
recommended. A geotextile layer between the subkha and
the working platform provides a capillary break and improves
both short-term (construction) and long-term performance of
the engineered fill.
6.3.6.7 Topsoil identified as “for planting purposes” is exempted

from compaction requirements.
6.3.7 Compacted surfaces of fill and backfill shall be finish graded to the cross
sections, lines, grades, and elevations as indicated on the drawings.
6.3.8 Surficial erosion protection, as approved by the Company Representative,

shall be provided when:
6.3.8.1 Clean sand or dune sand is used for fill, or
6.3.8.2 Final slopes are steeper than 1 (V) to 5 (H).
Commentary Note:
Typical surficial erosion protection includes grass/vegetation,

select fill material (where required as per Section 6.3.1),
cohesive marl (minimum 150mm thick, classified as SC, ML
or CL as determined by ASTM D2487, compacted as per
Section 6.3.6), soil-cement (minimum 5% cement by weight),
chemical or polymer spray, asphalt/concrete surfacing,
riprap, or geomaterials such as geocells.
6.4 Testing and Inspection Requirements
6.4.1 Laboratory Control Tests
6.4.1.1 Tests of gradation, plasticity, density, and moisture content

shall be performed for each type of fill material. These tests
shall include the following:
Required tests for cohesive soils:
1 Sieve analysis (ASTM C136, ASTM D422 or

ASTM D1140)
1 Plasticity Index determination (ASTM D4318)
1 Modified Proctor Test (ASTM D1557) with

corresponding Proctor curve.
Page 19 of 25
Required tests for cohesionless soils:
1 Sieve analysis (ASTM C136, ASTM D422 or

ASTM D1140)
1 Relative Density determination (ASTM D4253

and ASTM D4254).
When the backfill material cannot clearly be classified as

cohesive or cohesionless both Relative Density an d Proctor
density tests must be performed per the above paragraph.
The backfill shall then be compacted to the greater density.
6.4.1.2 Laboratory Control Test Frequency
 The control tests specified in section 6.4.1.1 shall be

3
conducted at a minimum for every 10,000 m where the
fill material is uniform or for every change of source or
material type.
 Every effort should be made to ensure that the fill

material is uniform. However, in situations when the fill
is (1) from a single borrow area but non-uniform in
composition, or (2) a stockpile from multiple sources, the
tests in section 6.4.1.1 shall be conducted at a minimum
3
for every 5,000 m using a combined sample of four
random samples of the fill material.
6.4.2 Field Control Tests
6.4.2.1 In-place density and moisture content of soils shall be

determined by the following methods:
 Sand-cone method in accordance with ASTM D1556

 Nuclear method in accordance with ASTM D2922
 Rubber balloon method in accordance with ASTM D2167
 Drive-cylinder method in accordance with ASTM D2937.
The drive-cylinder method per ASTM D2937 may only
be used if the compacted layer is only 15 cm or less.
6.4.2.2 Other methods for in-place density of compacted fills, such as

Electromagnetic Soil Density Gauge (ASTM D7830/
D7830M) or Dynamic Cone Penetration (ASTM D7380),
may be approved by the Saudi Aramco Inspection
Representative based on a field test which proves the
Page 20 of 25
accuracy of the method for the given fill material and

compaction method.
6.4.2.3 Testing shall be performed at the following frequencies:
1. Select Fill Material under all foundations, buildings and

process areas - one test every 100 m² of each lift.
2. Select Fill Material under roadways, railroads, area
pavement and parking areas, and lined slopes or
drainage channels - one test every 200 m² of each lift.
3. General Fill Material - one test every 500 m² of each
lift.
4. Backfill of trenches - one test for every 15 linear meter
of each lift.
6.4.2.4 As a minimum, at least one in-place density test must be

performed on every lift of fill and further placement shall not
be allowed until the required density has been achieved.
6.4.2.5 The number of tests shall be increased if a visual inspection

determines that the moisture content is not uniform or if the
compacting effort is variable and not considered sufficient to
attain the specified density.
6.4.2.6 The Project Inspection Representative may approve a decrease

in the number of tests once a compaction procedure has proven
to meet compaction requirements. In such cases, a method
statement for the compaction procedure and testing frequency
shall be submitted to the Saudi Aramco representative and
approved by Project Inspection. The method statement must
include the equipment type, serial numbers, lift thicknesses,
and the number of passes required to achieve the required
density.
7 Excavation
7.1 General Excavation
General excavation shall be performed after clearing and stripped of organic

material, trash, or other unsuitable material.
7.2 Structural Excavation
Structural excavation shall include excavations for footings, grade beams, pits,
Page 21 of 25
basements, retaining walls, man holes, catch basins, pipeline thrust anchors, etc.
7.2.1 Excavation shall be performed as required by the design drawings to the

dimensions, grades, and elevations as noted and as required for
formwork and allowance for compaction equipment.
7.2.2 When soft or compressible soil is encountered at footing grades as

shown on the drawings, such soil shall be removed and replaced with
compacted Select Fill as specified in Sections 6.2 and 6.3, CLSM, or
lean (1000 psi minimum 28-day compressive strength) concrete.
7.2.3 Over-excavation at footings shall be backfilled with compacted Select

Fill as specified in Sections 6.2 and 6.3, CLSM, or lean (1000 psi
minimum 28-day compressive strength) concrete.
7.3 Earthen Structures
Earthen structures include permanent work items such as ponds, canals, ditches,
etc. Excavation for such work shall be made to the lines, grades, and cross
sections as shown on the drawings.
7.3.1 Side slopes of excavations shall be cut true and straight and shall be
graded to the design cross section. Unstable soil in the slopes shall be
removed and the slopes properly prepared as described in Section 6.3.2.
The bottoms of excavations shall be graded to the elevations and
configurations as shown on the drawings.
7.3.2 Over excavation shall be backfilled with suitable material compacted in

accordance with Section 6.3, CLSM, or lean (1000 psi minimum 28-day
compressive strength) concrete.
7.4 Trenching
Trenching for pipelines and underground utilities shall conform to SAES-L-450,

SAES-L-460, or SAES-S-070 as appropriate.
Reinstatement of roads and pavements after trenching shall comply with shall
comply with SAES-Q-006 and GI-1021.000, Street and Road Closure:
Excavation, Reinstatement and Traffic Controls.
7.5 Rock Excavation
Seismic velocities will be the sole factor in determining the app ropriate category
for the excavation of rock. Excavation of rock will fall into the following
categories, based on the excavation type and the seismic compression (P) wave
Page 22 of 25
velocities measured in the field prior to excavation by refraction seismic testing

as per ASTM D5777.
Table 1 – Excavation Categories
Seismic Velocity from Shallow Refraction Tests (m/s)

Excavation Type
Vp < 1530 1530 < Vp < 2300 Vp >2300
Small/linear Normal Excavation Rock Excavation Rock Excavation
Mass grading Normal Excavation Normal Excavation Rock Excavation
Where:
Normal Excavation Excavation that can be accomplished using rippers (mass

grading) and/or excavators/backhoes (linear and isolated
small excavations,) operated in accordance with good
construction practice. Normal excavation includes all soils
and also includes soft, weathered and/or fractured rock.
Rock Excavation Excavation that cannot be accomplished using rippers

and/or excavators/backhoes and which requires blasting
or pneumatic rock breakers to facilitate excavation.
Small/linear Isolated small excavations and linear excavations (trenches,

road cuts) where limitations to ripping are present, verified
by the Company Representative. Such limitations may
include ripping direction and/or travel distance.
Mass grading Large, open area excavation where no limitations to

ripping are present.
Vp Seismic compression (P) wave velocity.
7.6 Disposal of Materials
All excavated materials that are unsatisfactory for use as fill or backfill or that
are surplus to that needed for backfilling shall immediately be disposed of at a
location designated by the Saudi Aramco Company Representative.
Revision Summary
30 September 2014 Major revision to revise compaction water requirements, add CSLM as a fill material,
revise requirements for fill placement and compaction, and revise testing requirements.
Added a summary table of fill placement and compaction requirements as an Appendix.
Reorganized entire document for clarity.
Page 23 of 25
APPENDIX
Summary of Fill Placement and Compaction Requirements
Area/Region Compaction Requirement Comments
Site preparation of areas to The density of the top 150 mm in these areas Site preparation
receive fill, pavement or loads. shall not be less than:  Areas shall be free of organic material, trash
or other unsu itable material.
90% of the maximum Modified Proctor density
(ASTM D1557)  Proper drainage so that the site is free of
or standing water all the time.
70% relative density (ASTM D4253 and  In-situ soil proof rolled and inspected for soft
ASTM D4254) for cohesionless free draining spots or loose zones. Proof roll may be
soil defined as crossing the area with a heavy
(minimum 10-ton weight) rubber-tire or
steel-wheel roller.
 All observed soft spots or loose zones shall
be compacted in-place or excavated to firm
soil and replaced with p roperly compacted
fill.
 Top 6 inches (150 mm) scarified and
recompacted.
All Select Fill Material or any Compacted to at least: Fill material shall be placed in uniform loose
fill beneath and/or adjacent to lifts not exceeding the following criteria,
grade beams, mats, buildings, 90% of the maximum Modified Proctor density provided that the specified compaction is
lined slopes or drainage (ASTM D1557) achieved for the full depth.
channels, and process areas. or  Select Fill Material shall be placed in lifts of
70% Relative Density (ASTM D4253 and 200 mm maximum in loose depth.
ASTM D4254) for cohesionless granular soils
that do not exhibit well-defined moisture  General Fill Material shall be placed in lifts
density relationship. of 300 mm maximum in loose depth.
 General Fill Material and Select Fill Material
shall be placed in lifts of 100 mm maximum
Select Fill Material beneath Compacted to at least: in loose depth for hand -operated compaction
and/or adjacent to foundations equipment.
with static loads over 320 kPa 95% of the maximum Modified Proctor density  Other lift thicknesses may be approved by the
and foundations for vibrating or (ASTM D1557). appropriate Saudi Aramco Inspection
heavy machinery. or Representative based on a field test section
85% relative density (ASTM D4253 and using the intended compaction equipment.
Asphalt and concrete pavement ASTM D4254) for cohesionless granular soils (Impact rollers can compact soils in lifts
subgrades (roads & parking that do not exhibit well-defined moisture exceeding 1 m).
areas). density relationship.
General Fill Material not Compacted to at least:

designated as open or
landscaped. 90% of the maximum Modified Proctor density
(ASTM D1557)
or
70% Relative Density (ASTM D4253 and
that do not exhibit well-defined moisture
Page 24 of 25
Area/Region Compaction Requirement Comments
General Fill Material for areas Compacted to at least:

designated as open or
landscaped. 85% of the maximum Modified Proctor density
(ASTM D1557)
or
65% Relative Density (ASTM D4253 and
that do not exhibit well-defined moisture
Topsoil identified as “for Exempted from compaction requirements.

planting purposes.”
Working platforms for A 500 mm thick layer of fill material placed Working platforms for compaction on subkha
compaction on subkha deposits. directly on the subkha compacted as well as deposits shall be compacted as necessary to
possible is usually sufficient. Stripping of the achieve a stable base. Subkha working
subkha “crust” prior to fill placement is not platforms must be indicated as such and
recommended. A geotextile layer between the accounted for in the design.
subkha and the working platform provides a
capillary break and improves both short-term Compaction to the required densities indicated
(construction) and long-term performance of in Section 6.3 are virtually impossible to
the engineered fill. achieve in the first layer p laced directly on
subkha and similar very weak soils. A working
Compaction testing of working platforms is not platform to provide a stable base is often
required. required.
Pavement Reconstruction after Reinstatement of roads and pavements after Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM), a
Trenching trenching shall comply with shall comply with flowable, self-compacting fill, is recommended
SAES-Q-006 and GI-1021.000. for backfill of trenches crossing roads and
pavements.
Page 25 of 25

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Engineering Standard

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

2 Conflicts and Deviations.........................

6 Fill and Backfill.........................

APPENDIX - Summary of Fill Placement

Previous Issue: 23 February 2010 Next Planned Update: 30 September 2019

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2014. All rights reserved.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-Q-007 Foundations and Supporting Structures for Heavy

Saudi Aramco General Instructions

Saudi Aramco Manuals

Saudi Aramco Safety Management Guide

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Concrete Institute (ACI)

American Society for Testing and Materials

ASTM D2937 Standard Test Method for Density of Soil in Place

Sieve Size Percent Passing

Company Representative: Saudi Aramco's authorized representative with overall

Contract or Contract Documents: Any and all documents, including design

Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM): A flowable, self-compacting,

Dune Sand: Wind-deposited sand consisting of relatively single-sized particles

Fill Material: See General Fill Material.

Sabkha: is a saline (generally coastal) deposit generally consisting of saturated, loose

Structural Fill: Select Fill Material as per Section 6.1.2.

Vibrating or Heavy Machinery: Centrifugal rotating machinery greater than

5.1 Quality Control

Inspection & Testing Agency

5.1.1 The Contractor's quality control testing requirements shall be performed

The Contractor shall be responsible for transmitting the following submittals to

5.2.1.1 Daily “ pass” or “fail” reports.

5.2.1.2 A summary report with test logs shall be submitted weekly or

5.2.1.3 A complete record of all test logs and comments for

5.2.4 Excavation Plan, including a Pre-Excavation checklist, as per the Saudi

A geotechnical investigation as per SAES-A-113 is required for

All excavations, including shoring and sheeting materials and systems,

a) Describe the materials and shoring system to be used.

5.2.5 Dewatering Plan. If dewatering of an excavation is required, the

5.3.1 Contaminated Soils

Known contaminated soils within the construction limits shall be managed

5.3.2 Erosion/Sediment Control

5.3.3 Dust Control

The Contractor shall employ dust control measures during construction.

5.4 Drainage and Dewatering

A Dewatering Plan shall be submitted to the Saudi Aramco Company

5.4.2 The Contractor shall employ temporary drainage measures during

5.4.3 Surface water shall be prevented from flowing into excavations by

5.4.4 If required in the contract documents, prior to excavation, an approved

5.4.6 Disposal of drainage water and groundwater contaminated with oil,

5.5 Safety and Protection

5.5.1 Required Permits and Procedures

5.5.1.1 All necessary permits must be obtained from Saudi Aramco

5.5.2 Excavation Safety

An Excavation Plan shall be submitted to the Saudi Aramco Company

All excavation and trenching shall be done in accordance with Saudi

 Provision of safe entry and exit.

Specific requirements are given in Saudi Aramco Safety Management

 Provision of proper inspection frequency.

5.5.3 Hazard Mitigation

5.5.3.1 Whenever Saudi Aramco determines that any excavation or

5.5.3.2 Any construction or maintenance work which restricts the full