APPENDIX B

SPECIFICATION FOR UNDERPINNING WORKS

AT

115 LANSDOWNE ROAD, LONDON, W11 2LF

14165/UNDERPINNING SPEC

5th October 2015

REVISION -

Registered Office: Studios 62-64, The Market Building, 191-195 High Street, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 8LB
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michael baigent orla kelly trading as michael baigent orla kelly ltd, Registered in England & Wales under 4628050
Directors: Michael Baigent MA(Cantab) CEng MICE MIStructE, Orla Kelly BE(Civ) CEng MIStructE
Senior Associate: Steve Trend IEng AMIStructE TechWeldI
CONTENTS

1.0 GENERAL

2.0 TEMPORARY WORKS AND DEMOLITION

3.0 TOLERANCES, MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP

4.0 EXCAVATIONS

5.0 IN SITU CONCRETE

6.0 UNDERPINNING

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1.0 GENERAL

1.1 Do not scale drawings. The contractor shall check or agree existing dimensions shown on the drawings
and must give written notice to the Architect if he is not satisfied with their accuracy.

1.2 The Engineer’s drawings are to be read in conjunction with the Architect’s drawings, which should be
used to verify layout, setting out, finishes, etc. Any discrepancies should be brought to the attention of
the Architect prior to construction.

1.3 The Contractor is to inform the Architect and the Structural Engineer if the existing fabric, including
foundations, is opened up and found to be inadequate, unsuitable to support the proposed works, or at
variance with the details shown on the drawings.

1.4 Items which are noted on the drawings “to be verified on site”, are to be exposed by the Contractor for
inspection by the Structural Engineer at the earliest opportunity.

1.5 Do not cut any holes or chases through any structural members without first obtaining the written consent
of the Structural Engineer.

1.6 The Contractor must ensure that the Architect has agreed all necessary party wall notices prior to carrying
out works under, on or adjacent to a party wall.

1.7 The Contractor is to ensure that the Building Control Officer is notified to carry out his inspections prior to
concreting new foundations, slabs, etc and other structural items prior to them being covered up.

1.8 Nothing included or omitted from this outline specification will relieve the Contractor of his duty to carry
out the works in accordance with current standards of safety and good building practice.

2.0 TEMPORARY WORKS

2.1 The Contractor will be held responsible for the stability and protection of existing walls floors, ceilings,
roofs and any other parts of the existing and adjacent properties which are not specified to be removed,
from the date for possession of the site until practical completion of the works. He will be liable for their
replacement or repair, if damaged, to an equal standard, to the satisfaction of the Architect. He shall also
prevent overloading of any completed or partially completed elements.

2.2 The contractor shall design, install and maintain all necessary temporary works and shall advise the
Architect, before commencement of the works, of his proposals for temporary supports and sequence of
construction for the works. These proposals may need to be supported by design calculations, as
requested by the Structural Engineer.

Under no circumstances will any structural alterations be carried out prior to the Structural
Engineer commenting on the Contractors temporary works proposals.

2.3 The design of temporary works shall include an assessment of the loads to be resisted and is to be
undertaken by a competent person. Due regard shall be given to lateral stability as well as to the support
of vertical loads.

2.4 The Contractor is to familiarise himself with the building and its structure so that he is aware of the nature
and magnitude of the loads to be supported.

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2.5 Particular care is to be taken to ensure that temporary props remain adequately seated and tightened so
that support to the structure above is not allowed to yield during building operations.

2.6 The Contractor is to ensure that a temporarily propped structure is adequately wedged, pinned or packed
off the permanent works prior to removal of any temporary supports.

2.7 The Contractor shall ensure that any completed or partially completed structural element is not
overloaded. Details of design loads may be obtained from the Structural Engineer.

2.8 All temporary works to support the sides of excavations for new foundations shall be designed in
accordance with BS 8000 and any other approved documents.

2.9 The underpinning of internal / external corners will require adequate temporary propping from below, cast
into the body of the underpinning. Isolated piers will require support from twin needle beams prior to any
excavation work proceeding (all subject to SE approval).

3.0 TOLERANCES, MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP

3.1 All tolerances are to be agreed with the Architect, and the Contractor will be responsible for ensuring that
sufficient tolerances are provided and integrated throughout all elements of the works.

3.2 All articles, materials and goods shall be new and of good quality, suitable for the required purpose and
shall conform to the appropriate British Standard, where such exists. Where reference is made to a
British Standard, it shall be inferred that the latest edition applies, together with subsequent amendments,
unless otherwise specified.

4.0 EXCAVATIONS, FILLING AND FOUNDATIONS

4.1 Trial pits already carried out indicate that the underlying soil is London Clay.

4.2 Ground water was not encountered during the site investigation works.

4.3 Inspect all available drawings and make enquiries about existing services on site. Verify positions and
depth of all services before commencement of work on site. Services that are being retained during any
phase of the works are to be protected.

4.4 Before starting work verify with the Architect which existing fences, gates, walls, paved areas, trees,
shrubs, hedges, bushes and any other site features are to be removed. Materials arising are to be
removed from site.

4.5 Workmanship for excavating to comply with BS 8000: Part 1, sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.

5.0 IN-SITU CONCRETE

5.1 Materials and workmanship are to comply generally with BS 8000.

5.2 Concrete for underpinning to be designated mix FND 2 to BS 8500-1 and ‘suitable for Class 2 Sulphate
conditions’.

5.3 Concrete for reinforced concrete structures including ground bearing slabs, is to be minimum designated
mix RC35 to BS 8500-1.

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5.4 Ready mixed concrete must be obtained from a plant, which holds a current Certificate of Accreditation
under the Quality Scheme for ready mixed concrete. Details of cement type, aggregate grading and
sources, with sulphate and chloride content of mixes to be submitted to the structural Engineer

5.5 Do not place concrete when the ambient air temperature is less than 5 degrees centigrade.

5.6 All holes shall be formed and all inserts cast in at the time of pouring concrete. No part of the concrete
works shall be drilled or cut away without the approval of the Structural Engineer.

5.7 Reinforcement shall be clean and free from oil, loose scale or other deleterious material at the time of
pouring.

5.8 Reinforcement shall be:

• Deformed bars to BS 4449, B500B, prefix H on drawings and schedules.

• Mesh to BS 4483.

6.0 UNDERPINNING

6.1 Before starting the work the contractor is to check for any services that could be damaged by the
underpinning work.

6.2 The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that his operations do not in any way impair the safety
or condition of the building both before and during the execution of the work and should immediately
inform the Engineer if he considers that more stringent procedures than those specified are necessary.

6.3 Underpinning is to be carried out in small sections of 1.2m (max) in length. The bottoms of the foundation
shall be inspected and approved by the Engineer and the Building Inspector before concrete is poured.
The underpinning is to be carried out to the satisfaction of the Engineer and the Building Inspector.

6.4 Projecting portions of existing footings are to be carefully cut off where directed and the underside of the
footings are to be cleaned and hacked free of all dirt, soil or loose materials before underpinning.

6.5 The body of the underpinning is to be constructed in designated mix FND 2 concrete and in to be cast to
the widths shown unless otherwise directed by the Engineer. Excavation and concreting of any section of
underpinning shall be carried out on the same day.

6.6 The mass concrete is to be stopped off 75mm below the underside of the existing footing and the final
pinning up over the whole width of the footing is to be carried out with 1:3 mix cement to sharp sand dry
pack mortar well rammed in 24 hours after the concrete has been poured.

6.7 Excavation to any section of underpinning shall not be started until at least 48 hours after completion of
any adjacent sections of the work.

6.8 The sides of the previous underpinning bays are to be roughened or keyed to the satisfaction of the
Engineer and the Building Inspector. The underside of the existing footings is to be cleaned of all loose
materials or soil prior to underpinning.

6.9 Sequence of underpinning to be as shown (1,4,2,5,3,6). All sections marked 1 to be excavated, cast and
dry-packed before starting excavation of sections marked 2; and all sections marked 2 to be excavated,
cast and dry-packed before starting excavation of sections marked 3 etc.

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6.10 The contractor is to keep a record of the sequence and dimensions of the underpinning actually carried
out, including details of excavation, casting concrete and pinning up for each section.

6.11 Excavated material intended for backfilling is to be kept protected from drying out or wetting and is to be
placed in maximum 150mm layers, carefully compacted with a pneumatic or percussion tool with a
compacting plate.

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