LECTURE 2

EXCAVATION WORKS
Works associated with excavation works:
a) Excavation
b) Disposal of excavated material
c) Filling
Factors affecting cost of
excavation :

1. Type of soil
• Ordinary Soil
• Loose Sand
• Soft Rock
• Rock
Factors affecting cost of
excavation :

2. Method of excavation
• By hand
• By Machine
Factors affecting cost of
excavation :

3. Type of excavation
• Excavate top soil
• Excavate to reduce level
• Excavate for column
base
• Excavate trench
Earthwork Supports
• This is to protect sides of
excavations
• The cost is dependent on type of
soil, type and size of excavation,
designs and number of uses
• It may not be necessary for hard
ground or shallow excavations
• Can be used more than once
• For estimating purposes – allow
RM 3.00/m3 of excavation for
planking and strutting
HAND EXCAVATION
• Suitable for small excavation works or where plant is not accessible to
excavation areas
• Labour output for hand excavation in ordinary soil :

Description Unit Unskilled Worker

(hour)
Excavate top soil (not exceeding 250mm M2 0.35
average depth)
Excavate to reduce level max. depth not M3 1.75
exceeding 0.25m
Excavate for column base max. depth not M3 3.50
exceeding 1.00
Ditto 2.00m M3 4.50
Excavate trench maximum depth not M3 2.75
exceeding 1.00m
Ditto 2.00m M3 4.00
Labour output for hand excavation in other types of soil
- Output of hand excavation are dependent on soil condition

Types of soil Multiplier (Hours/m3)

Loose sand X 0.75

Heavy clay X 1.50

Soft rock X 3.00

Rock X 6.00
EXAMPLE 1
Excavate trench to receive foundation starting from reduced level
not exceeding 2.00m maximum depth. – m3
Excavation by hand – ordinary soil
Labour cost
1 unskilled worker = 4.00hours x RM 40.00 = RM 20.00
8 hours
Planking and strutting, say = RM 3.00
RM 23.00
15% for profit and overhead = RM 3.45
Price/m3 RM 26.45
EXAMPLE 2
Excavate pit to receive column bases starting from reduced level not
exceeding 2.00m maximum depth. – m3
Excavation by hand – ordinary soil
Labour cost
1 unskilled worker = 4.50hours x RM 40.00 = RM 22.50
8 hours
Planking and strutting, say = RM 3.00
RM 25.50
15% for profit and overhead = RM 3.83
Price/m3 RM 29.33
EXAMPLE 3
Excavate pit to receive column bases starting from reduced level not
exceeding 2.00m in rock. – m3
Excavation by hand – in rock
Labour cost
1 unskilled worker = (4.50hours x 6) x RM 40.00 = RM 135.00
8 hours
15% for profit and overhead = RM 20.25
Price/m3 RM 155.25
EXAMPLE 4
Extra over pit excavation for excavating in rock (Provisional). – m3

Excavation by hand – in rock (Extra over)

Labour cost
Excavation in rock = RM 155.25
Excavation in ordinary earth = RM 29.33
Price/m3 RM 125.92
EXTRA-OVER ITEMS
Excavation in rock and/or hard material shall respectively be measured and paid for as
extra over to excavation and earthworks in accordance with the Provisional Bills of
Quantities. The Contractor shall give reasonable notice to the S.O to examine, classify
the excavation and to take measurement prior to breaking up.
(JKR Standard Specification)

Assumptions:
10m3 of excavation which consist of 8m3 of ordinary earth and 2 m3 of rock.

Prices of excavation in ordinary earth = RM 29.33 (Example 1) x 8 m3 = RM 234.64

Prices of excavation in rock = RM 155.50 (Example 3) x 2 m3 = RM 310.50
TOTAL PRICE = RM 545.14
If rock is measured as an extra over item, the quantity of ordinary earth is 10 m3. i.e no
deduction for volume of rock.
Therefore, the rate for rock should be adjusted since the volume occupied by the rock is
measured twice.
This is done by deducting the rate of excavation in ordinary from the rate of rock as follows:
Rate for excavation in rock = RM 155.25
Less
Rate for excavation in ordinary earth = RM 29.33
Rate for extra over excavation for excavating in rock = RM 125.92

Therefore, the total price is:

Price of excavation in ordinary earth = 10 m3 x RM 29.33 (Example 1) = RM 293.30
Price of excavation in rock = 2 m3 x RM 125.92 (Example 4) = RM 251.84
TOTAL PRICE = RM 545.14
 MACHINE EXCAVATION
a) Hired Plant b) Owned Plant
• Cost of plant
• Is much dependent on the plant procurement methods
• Capacity of plant
• Important for the estimator to determine the type or size of plant
to be employed for the work
• Output of excavator
• Amount of work that can be completed by using the plant within a
certain amount of time
• Economic life of plant
• A duration where the benefit of using the plant exceeded its
maintenance cost
• Economic life for excavator = 5 years
 MACHINE EXCAVATION
a) Hired Plant b) Owned Plant
• Cost of plant
• Hired plant (rental cost)
• Owned plant
• Initial cost (purchase price)
• Interest on capital
• Economics life of the plant
• Maintenance cost throughout the economic life of plant
• Cost of transporting plant to site
 MACHINE EXCAVATION
a) Hired Plant b) Owned Plant
• Operating cost
• Cost of running the plant on site
• Factors to be considered:
• Cost of fuel
• Cost of plant and other workers handling the plant
• Capacity and output of plant
• Number of hours the plant is utilized in a year
FUEL REQUIRED FOR EXCAVATORS

TYPES (CAPACITY) (M3) DIESEL/HOUR (LITER) LUBRICANT/WEEK (LITER)

¼ 4 9
3/8 5 12
½ 6 14
¾ 7 16
1 9 18
 Output of excavator for
excavating and loading ordinary Output of excavator for
earth excavating and loading other
types of soils
Type/Capacity Average Types of Soils Multipliers
(m3) Output/Hour (Hours/m3)
(m3)
¼ 8 Sand X 1.00
3/8 9 Heavy Clay X 1.25
½ 12
Soft Rock X 1.50
¾ 18
1 25 Rock X 4.50
EXAMPLE 5
Excavate to reduce level not exceeding 1.00m maximum depth. – m3
Data: Excavation works to be executed by using excavator type ½ m3

Excavation by machine
Capital Cost
1. Initial cost RM 150,000.00
2. Interest on capital for 5 years @ 10% p.a = 1/10 x 5 years x RM RM 75,000.00
150,000
3. Maintenance cost for 5 years = 1/10 x RM 150,000 RM 15,000.00
4. Transportation cost for 5 years = 1/20 x RM 150,000 RM 7,500.00
RM 247,500.00
5. Less resale value RM (8,000.00)
RM 239,500.00
6. Cost for 1 year = RM 239,500 RM 47,900.00
5years
7. Assumption : average no of working days for excavator per year =
200 days.
Total no of hours per year = 200 days x 8 hours = 1,600 hours RM 29.94
Capital cost / hour = RM 47,900
1,600 hours
EXAMPLE 5
Excavate to reduce level not exceeding 1.00m maximum depth. – m3
Data: Excavation works to be executed by using excavator type ½ m3

Excavation by machine
Operating cost
1. Operator RM 50.00
2. Diesel = 6 liters x 8 hours x RM 1.70 / liter RM 81.60
3. Lubricant = 14 liter x RM 20.00 / liter RM 40.00
7 days
Total operating cost per day RM 171.60
Operating cost/hour = RM 171.60 RM 21.45
8 hours

Total cost (Capital + Operating ) RM 51.39

Output of excavator = 12 m3
Cost of excavating and unloading /m3 = RM 51.39
12 m3 RM 4.28
15% for profit and overhead RM 0.64
Price/m3 RM 4.92
TUTORIAL 1
1. Excavate for column base max depth not exceeding 2.00m (by hand). – m3

2. Extra over column base excavation for excavating in rock. (Prov.) (By hand).
– m3

3. Excavate trench to receive foundation starting from reduced level not

exceeding 2.00m depth in soft rock. – m3
Assumption: Using contractor’s own excavator type 1m3
Data:
a. Initial cost = RM 230,000
b. Life of excavator = 5 years
c. Resale value = RM 13,500
d. Interest rate = 20% p.a
4. Excavate to reduce level not exceeding 1.00m max depth. – m3
Assumption: Using hired excavator type 1/2m3.
Rental cost = RM 7,250/month (not including operator, diesel and lubricant)

5. Excavate for column base max depth not exceeding 2.00m in rock. – m3
Assumption: Using contractor’s own excavator type 3/4m3
Data:
a. Initial cost = RM 550,000
b. Life of excavator = 4 years
c. Resale value = RM 22,700
d. Interest rate = 10% p.a

DATA
1. Unskilled worker = RM 40/day
2. Operator = RM 50/day
3. Diesel = RM 1.70/liter
4. Lubricant = RM20.00/liter