Standard Operating (Work) Procedure Document No.

KEC-Q-SOP-0013
Revision No. 00
BACKFILLING
Sheet No 1 of 10

PROCEDURE FOR BACKFILLING WITH GUIDELINES

 Standard Operating (Work) Procedure Document No. KEC-Q-SOP-0013
Revision No. 00
BACKFILLING
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CONTENTS

SL NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.

I COVER SHEET 1

II CONTENTS 2

III ABBREVIATIONS 3

1 PURPOSE 4

2 SCOPE 4

3 EXCLUSION 4

5 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS 4

6 RESPONSIBILITY 4

7 PREREQUISITE 4

8 EQUIPMENTS 4

9 PROCEDURE FOR BACKFILLING 4&6

10 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA 6

11 SAFETY MEASURES/PRECAUTIONS 6 to 7

12 RECORDS 7

13 ANNEXURE I (CHECKLIST) 8

14 ANNEXURE II (DOs & DON’Ts) 9 & 10

 Standard Operating (Work) Procedure Document No. KEC-Q-SOP-0013
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ABBREVIATIONS
FQP - Field Quality Plan
PM - Project Manager
QA - Quality Assurance
QC - Quality Control
QCE - Quality Control Engineer
 Standard Operating (Work) Procedure Document No. KEC-Q-SOP-0013
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BACKFILLING
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1 PURPOSE :
This document describes the step wise work procedure to carry out the backfilling work of foundations for 11-
132 / 220 / 400 / 765 KV , 800 kV HVDC or other kind of Transmission Line work in planned and controlled
manner with reference to the drawings, technical specification and standards.

2 SCOPE :
It includes backfilling in all types of soil. The work shall be carried out in accordance with the specification
and corresponding approved drawings.

3 EXCLUSION :

In case of very specific & mandatory customer’s need their processes & formats can be followed as a part or in
full. However in case of any conflict most stringent norms must be followed.

4 APPLICABILITY:

This procedure is primarily developed for Railways & Transmission & Distribution works however it is also
applicable Waters, sites across all locations as per specification.

5 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS :
Following Documents / Drawings / Codes have been referred for the preparation of this procedure:-
1. IS : 5613 (Part 3 / Section 2)-1989, IS : 5613 (Part2 / Section2) / 1985 (Line Installation procedure)
2. IS: 3385 (Code of practice for measurement of Civil Engineering works)
3. A few international standards and recommendation from (Saudi, Africa etc) were also referred

6 RESPONSIBILITY:
Responsibility of implementation of this methodology rest with below mentioned officials
1. PRIMARY: Site Supervisor, Field Engineer, Quality Control Engineer (QCE)
2. SECONDARY: Section-In-Charge, Project Manager (PM)

7 PREREQUISITE:

1. Generic Contract Documents (as applicable)

2. Field Quality Plan (FQP)
3. Stub setting Template and Excavation drawing
4. Availability of tested handling equipments, tools, tackles.
5. Availability of skilled manpower.

8 EQUIPMENTS :
1. Total Station
2. Measurement Tape
3. Water Level Gauge
4. Compactor
5. Tamper Plate

9 PROCEDURE FOR BACKFILLING:

 Back filling will be carried out in a phased manner.
 Backfilling shall be started after repairs. If any to the foundation concrete. (IS5613-11.4)
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 Backfill materials will be free from clod, salts and sulphates, organic or other foreign material and all
decomposable or perishable material shall be removed from the excavations. Organic matter, silt and
oversize rocks shall not be employed to backfill. (Usable soil removed during the Earthwork from area and
stacked shall be used).
 To the extent available, selected surplus soil from excavated material shall be used as backfill.
 All earth clods shall be broken or removed size not more than 80mm before backfilling. (IS5613-11.4)
 Where excavated material is mostly rocks, the boulders shall be broken to maximum size of 80 mm, mixed
with properly graded fine material consisting of earth to fill up the voids and the mixture used for filling. If
any selected fill material is required to be borrowed.
 Before the commencement of backfilling post concrete check shall be done.
 Surface to receive backfill will be removed of any vegetarian, debris, unsatisfactory soil materials, Water
logging (Water Quantity which may cause localized slush or bumping while compacting), any other
obstructions or harmful materials.
 Backfilling will be carried out in layers of 200mm (compacted layer). Before compaction, each layer will be
moistened or aerated as necessary to provide the optimum moisture content of the soil material. (IS5613-
11.4)

 Each layer being leveled, wetted and tamped properly before the succeeding layer is laid.
 Each layer of earth shall be consolidated by ramming with approved mechanical compaction machines.
Special care shall be taken to prevent any wedging action against the footing.
 Compaction of the back fill shall be conducted evenly throughout the excavation area. Compaction from one
corner or one side of an excavation hole shall not be allowed.
 The backfill shall be compacted to the maximum while filling the layers one over other.
 Manual compaction by tampers shall be allowed in some cases.
 Mechanized rollers / plate compactors shall be used for compaction to achieve the required compaction. At
site moisture content shall be checked with the help of rapid moisture meter or by drying in oven in lab (as
required by client).
 Material will be placed uniformly around the structure to approximately the same elevation in each lift.
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 The excavation and placing operations shall be such that, the material when compacted will be blended
sufficiently to secure best practicable degree of compaction, impermeability and stability.

 The backfilling and grading shall be carried up to an elevation of about 75mm above the finishing ground
level to drain out water.
 After backfilling, 50mm high earthen embankment will be made along the sides of excavation pits and
sufficient water will be poured in the back-filled earth for at least 24 hours. (IS5613-11.4)
 Final surface shall be trimmed & leveled to proper profile as per approved drawing and specification.
 When the back filling for all legs is completed the stub setting dimensions and levels will be rechecked.
 Excess soil after back filling is completed, shall be disposed of either
 By evenly spreading the excess around the work site. Care shall be taken not to obstruct the natural
drainage of the site.
 Remove and dispose off the excess soils within the Right of Way after obtaining agreement from the
rightful landowner.
 SITE CLEAN UP AND EROSION CONTROL
 After completion of all foundation activities the site shall be cleared of all surplus excavated material
and construction materials.
 The work site shall be reinstated, wherever possible, to the original ground contours.
 The site shall be checked to ensure the foundations are not exposed to possible erosion problems
from either natural surface water drainage and or that resulting from the construction activities.

10 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA:
 Conformity for Compaction of backfilled soil.
 Conformity for Stub Dimensions.

11 SAFETY MEASURES / PRECAUTIONS:

 Use of safety PPEs like (Safety Helmet, Safety Shoe/Safety Gum boots, Hand gloves, Dust mask, and Safety
goggles) is must. Site engineer and supervisor should be ensuring that all workmen should wear the said
PPE’s before starting work.
 Before starting backfilling ensure that area is clear from construction utility material.
 Before starting the back filling ground condition and stability shall be checked.
 All equipments used should be sound in construction and safe to use.
 Availability of banks man shall be ensured with tipper.
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 Don’t stand near to the earth moving equipment in operation.

 Use stoppers for not letting filler machine to go near the edge of the pit.
 No one other than operator shall be allowed to sit in operator’s cabin.
 Backfilling shall be done layer by layer after confirming proper compaction in each layer.
 Proper access to the area to be backfilled shall be ensured.
 Ramps should not have more than 15‐degree angle.
 Ramps should be free from obstruction.
 Display caution signs in vicinity.
 Precautions as mentioned in pre inspection checklist KEC/Corp EHS/FT-003/Rev-00.

12 RECORDS :
 Checklist of Backfilling (KEC-Q-CL-0014) Annexure I.
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ANNEXURE I
Checklists:

Document
KEC-Q-CL-0014
No.
CHECKLIST
Rev. No 00
KEC / Client Name / Project /
BACKFILLING Report No.
Location No. / 001

PROJECT :
CLIENT NAME :
Date:
1 LOCATION NO.
2 TYPE OF TOWER/STRUCTURE
3 TYPE OF FOUNDATION
4 Approved Foundation Drawing Nos.
5 Filling material is approved YES / NO
5.a Excavated material used YES / NO
5.b Material bought from outside is used YES / NO
Backfilling is done in specified layers & each layer is thoroughly watered and
6 consolidated by approved method YES / NO
7 Backfilled layer is not above chimney YES / NO
Tests on filling material such as maximum dry density & PD are done as per
8 tender requirement. YES / NO / NA
9 Anti-termite treatment is completed as per specification drawings YES / NO
10 Filling is fully completed and area is uniformly dressed and leveled YES / NO
14 Remarks (if Any)

(Site Supervisor / Engineer) (QA / Q C Engineer) (Site Supervisor / Engineer) (QA / QC Engineer)
for KECIL for KECIL for CLIENT for CLIENT

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ANNEXURE II
Dos & Don’ts:
Right Wrong

Proper compaction done No compaction done

Proper level of backfill soil Chimney covered in backfill soil

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ANNEXURE II
Dos & Don’ts:
Right Wrong

Uniform level of backfill

Uneven level of backfill

DOs
Use of safety PPEs (Safety Helmet, Goggles, Hand
Gloves, Safety Shoes/Safety Gum boots)
Backfilling done with excavated material
Backfilling above ground level as per drawing
Backfilling in layer with proper compaction
Backfilling soil containing clods broken to required
size
Pit is freed from any foreign material & rocks and
steel pieces before backfilling
DON’Ts
Partial use or no use of safety PPEs
Backfilling done with nearby lying material
Backfilling covering the chimney
Backfilling by dumping heap of soil and with no or very
less compaction
Backfilling soil contains big rocks & clods
Directly backfilling material is poured in pit without
cleaning it