1.

Excavation and Hardfilling

Note: Refer to the Preliminary & General section of this Specification which applies to
all work and read in conjunction with all other sections.

1.1

Scope
The work to be executed under this Specification consists of:
a) Clearing
b) Stripping stockpiling and respreading topsoil including grassing
c) All activities and quality requirements associated with the excavation of cuts,
the haulage of material and the construction of fills to the extent defined in the
Drawings and Specification.
d) Removal and replacement of any unsuitable material,
e) Any borrow activities associated with earthworks, and
f)

Any backfill of undercut areas with hardfill or granular material.

g) Excavation and later backfilling for foundations, footings, slabs and walls.
h) Allow for the placing of a layer of site concrete or sand blinding where shown
on the drawings.
1.2

Statutory Obligations
Comply with statutory obligations, New Zealand Building Code and the regulations to
any Local Authority or other Statutory Body having jurisdiction over the area in which
the works are situated.
On completion of the work covered by this section of the specification, the Contractor
shall, if requested, supply a "Producer Statement" which states that the work has been
carried out in accordance with this specification, and if not carried out in accordance,
where the work has varied from this specification.
The Contractor shall adhere to all requirements of the following standards except
where specified herein or instructed otherwise by the Engineer:

1.3

TNZ (NRB) Specifications

F/1 - Earthworks
NZ Standards
NZSS 4402 - Methods of Testing Soils for Civil Engineering Purposes
Part 2 - Soil Classification tests
Part 4 - Soil Compaction Tests
Part 5 - Soil Density Test
NZSS 4431:1989 Code of Practice for Earth Fills for Residential Development

Setting Out
Before earthworks operations commence, batter profiles shall be established by the
Contractor and profile boards erected at each cross section shown on the Drawings.
Transitions between cuts and fills shall be pegged. The chainage/station, offset from
control line and slope distance to finished surface level, shall be clearly marked on
each peg or profile board.

The batter profiles shall be repositioned by the Contractor at each change in the slope
of the batter and at intervals of not more than 5 m of vertical height.
All pegs and batter profiles shall be maintained in their correct positions and colour
coded. They shall be removed by the Contractor on completion of the contract.
1.4

Classification of Materials
The section of TNZ F/1 Section 8 Classification of Materials for Payment shall not apply
to this contract. The material to be excavated shall include all types of materials which
may be encountered in the cutting.
The Contractor shall be responsible for any assumptions made by him in relation to the
nature and types of the materials encountered in excavations and the bulking and
compaction characteristics of materials incorporated in fillings.
The Engineer will determine which materials are suitable for use in the construction of
embankments. Only approved materials shall be incorporated in the earthworks
construction.

1.5

General Excavation
Provide all labour, plant, materials, shoring, pumping, hoarding, lighting, etc. necessary
for the efficient execution of the work.
On completion strike, demolish and take away all such temporary works.
Allow for any work involved in receiving the site.
The Contractor shall at all times comply with the Health and Safety in Employment Act
1992 and the Construction Regulations with regard to excavations and ensure that a
certified Safety Supervisor is present on site at all times to ensure that these
requirements are met.

1.6

Erosion and Sediment Control

The contractor shall implement and maintain erosion and sediment control measures
so that at all times the requirements of the ARC Technical Publication No. 90 are met.
This shall be achieved by taking a staged approach to earthworks construction and
deploying combinations of silt fences, hay bale barriers and inlet protection works.
Silt ponds shall be cleaned out before they become half full. Silt arising from this
operation shall be spread in a thin layer and allowed to dry before being mixed in with
general fill.
When the silt pond is no longer required it shall be thoroughly cleaned out of all
material and backfilled in accordance with this specification. Silt arising shall be treated
in accordance with this specification.

1.7

Surface Drainage Control

The Contractor's responsibility for care of the Works shall include the protection of
earthworks.
The Contractor shall install effective erosion and sedimentation control measures in
accordance with the Specification for Erosion and Sediment Control, prior to
commencing earthworks, and shall maintain these control measures for the duration of
the contract.
Adequate drainage of all working areas shall be maintained throughout the period of
construction to ensure run-off of water without ponding, except where ponding forms
part of a planned erosion and sedimentation control system.

When rain is likely or when work is not proposed to continue in a working area on the
following day, precautions shall be taken to minimise ingress of any excess water into
earthworks material. Worked material remaining in cuttings and material placed on
embankments shall be sealed off with a smooth roller.
Should insitu or stockpiled material become over wet as a result of the Contractor not
providing adequate protection of earthworks, the Contractor shall be responsible for
replacing and/or drying out the material and for any consequent delays to his
operations.
1.8

Clearing
Clearing shall be carried out to remove all trees, cross fences and rubbish from the site
and disposal off site.

1.9

Removal of Topsoil
Stripping of topsoil shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of TNZ
Specification F/1 except that the topsoil definition shall apply regardless of depth.

1.10

Excavation
After removing the topsoil, the Contractor shall survey cross-sections at sufficient
locations to determine the volume of cut to fill. Copies of these cross-sections shall be
submitted to the Engineer for concurrence at least three working days before
commencement of any work which will alter the ground surface as surveyed. Such
work shall only commence after the approval of the Engineer to the survey.
Any dump areas required for Earthworks construction shall be provided off-site by the
Contractor.

1.11

Maintenance of Excavation
It shall be the Contractor's total responsibility to maintain any excavations, however
temporary, carried out during the contract.
The Contractor shall carry out any investigations necessary to determine the need for
shoring or other means of support for the sides of excavations and to then carry out the
construction of such temporary works if necessary.
In the event of the collapse or failure of the temporary works and the ground supported
by the temporary works, or by ground not supported by any temporary works, the
Contractor shall immediately reinstate the works and ground at this own expense.
Any indication of slopes or batters shown on the Contract drawings shall not be taken
to indicate that such slopes are stable.
Provide all pumping necessary to maintain the excavation dry during construction, and
until the work in the excavated area is completed.

1.12

Inspection and Testing

Arrange for the Engineer to inspect and approve the base of all excavations before
placing any concrete or hardfill.
All Engineered fill and hardfilling shall be tested and certified by an approved IANZ
registered laboratory with appropriate accreditation and suitably qualified personnel.

1.13

Over Excavation
Over depth excavation, unless carried out in accordance with the Engineer's
instruction, shall be good with 'site concrete' or compacted hardfill at the Contractor's
expense.

1.14

Excavated Material
Existing material excavated for foundations etc and firm and containing no silt or
organic material and approved as suitable for backfilling by the Engineer shall be
stockpiled and reused for backfilling.

1.15

Unsuitable Material
Excavated surplus material, or material determined as unsuitable by the Engineer, shall
be disposed of off the site.
Any weak or suspect areas found at the base of the excavations shall be reported to
the Engineer. Additional excavations to remove unsuitable material shall be carried out
on the Engineer's written instructions and shall be measured and paid for at agreed
rates. The extra excavations shall be made good with 'site concrete' or compacted
hardfill according to the Engineer's instructions.

1.16

Excavation adjacent to Existing Foundations

Excavations for new foundations adjacent to existing foundations must be carried out in
a manner to ensure that no damage is caused to the existing foundations. Care must
be taken to ensure that the existing foundation is not undermined. Any damage caused
to the existing foundations or the undermining of same shall be made good as directed
by the Engineers, at the Contractor's expense.

1.17

Excavation in Basecourse
Existing basecourse material excavated for foundations may be carefully stockpiled
and re-used for filling. Basecourse metal contaminated by subgrade material shall not
be re-used as hardfill but may, with the Engineer's approval, be used as backfill.

1.18

Excavation to Rock
Where foundations bear on rock, all exposed rock surfaces shall be clean and clear
from all clay debris, to the satisfaction of the Engineer, prior to placing concrete. Site
concrete may be used to assist in keeping these surfaces clean.

1.19

General Filing
General filling shall be used for site filling for areas to be grassed or landscaped which
are clear of buildings or pavement. Filling for building platforms and pavement shall be
to Engineered fill specification.
Filling material shall be spread in uniform layers having maximum loose depth of
200mm.
Each layer shall be fully compacted before placing and spreading next layer.
Material shall be compacted at optimum moisture content to 95% of maximum dry
density for clays or to less than 25% total voids for granular materials.
Compaction shall be a special operation requiring the use of machinery specifically
approved for the purpose. The complete area of every layer shall receive the
compactive effort necessary to achieve the specified maximum dry density. The
Contractor shall repair, at his own expense, any sections of the work in which specified
densities are not achieved.

1.20

Backfilling to Retaining Walls

Backfilling to retaining walls shall not commence until the concrete or blockwork grout
has gained the specified strength.
Backfill against all retaining walls with a minimum distance of 300mm from walls, with
free draining GAP metal or run-of-pit scoria. Notwithstanding the above, the subsoil

drainage pipes shall be surrounded by a thickness of at least 100 mm all round of freedraining metal or scoria, 20 mm to 6mm wrapped in filter fabric.
1.21

Backfilling
Backfill material shall be used for filling beneath all areas to be planted, backfilling to
foundations and walls. It shall be approved firm excavated material free from silt or
organic material or approved imported material, rammed and consolidated in 200 mm
loose layers to a consistency and density equal to adjacent undisturbed material.

1.22

Engineered Fill
Engineered fill shall be used for building platforms, road subgrade, embankments or
bulk filling works.
After the removal of topsoil and before the excavation of any cutting commences the
Contractor shall survey and mark the position of the intersection line between cuts and
fills.
Following excavation to the bottom of the cut, a terrace shall be excavated for the full
width to a depth of 300 mm below and parallel to the bottom of the cut. The terrace
shall extend into the cut area for a distance of 3 metres. The material excavated shall
be incorporated in the embankments. Material incorporated in embankments shall be
included in the excavated volume for Cut to Fill.
Any material which is dumped shall be included in the volume for Cut to Waste.
Blasting will not be permitted.
Engineered filling may be either approved compacted clay or other suitable excavated
material or granular fill.
Bulk filling Clay
Fills and embankments shall be constructed to the lines and levels as shown on the
drawings.
The filling material shall at all times be compacted at a moisture content not less than
its optimum moisture content, or greater than 5% above optimum moisture content.
Compaction shall be sufficient to attain a C.B.R (California Bearing Ratio) not less than
8% and air voids not greater than 10%.
The C.B.R shall be determined either by C.B.R field test apparatus or by correlation of
tests taken by a Proctor Needle penetrometer. Air voids shall be determined on a
comparison of proctor needle readings in the field and in the laboratory on a Proctor
sample compacted to the British Standard with air voids having been calculated.
Alternatively the compaction may be controlled by Shear can testing in accordance with
NZS 4431 with the standard to be achieved being a shear strength greater than
150kPa and a maximum air voids of 10%.
The Contractor shall undertake a programme of inspection, testing and supervision to
ensure the construction of engineered files in accordance with this specification.
All testing shall be performed by a laboratorys accredited with IANZ New Zealand. The
laboratory shall be nominated and approved by the Engineer before the
commencement of earthworks construction.
Test results shall be transmitted to the Engineer within 24 hours of the test being
carried out. Should any tests fail a non-conformance report shall be transmitted to the
Engineer detailing the corrective actions proposed for his approval. Should the

corrective action not be approved the Contractor shall rectify the works in accordance
with the engineers instruction.
Compaction testing shall be carried out to a frequency complying with the requirements
of NZS 4431 for standard compaction.
The Engineer may also undertake testing at the Principals expense as an Audit. In the
event of a discrepancy the Engineer shall instruct the Contractor as to the corrective
action, if any is required.
Imported fill materials shall be approved by the Engineer prior to the material being
bought onto the site. The Contractor shall provide test results as necessary to prove
the suitability of the material to be incorporated into the works.
Wetting of fill material, if required, shall be carried out with sprinkling equipment of a
type which ensures uniform and controlled distribution of water. After wetting the soil
shall be bladed to ensure a uniform distribution of moisture throughout the layer.
No filling shall be placed until the foundation has been inspected and approved by the
Engineer. The upper layer of the filling shall be properly shaped and brought to a firm,
uniform surface as specified for the subgrade areas.
At the completion of filling and before any metal is placed, the subgrade shall be
inspected and tested to ensure the minimum C.B.R value has been achieved.
Engineered filling - Granular
Granular filling, as an alternative or in addition to clay filling, is to be an approved sand,
scoria or rock filling. All materials shall be placed in layers of less then 200mm and
compacted to give less than 25% total voids.
All filling shall be tested and certified by an approved testing laboratory.
1.23

Hardfilling
Hardfilling shall be used where indicated and to trenches under roads, filling under
roads and carparks and hardfilling under the building. Hardfilling shall be 50mm down
clean graded scoria or clean graded hardfill free of clay and organic matter. Compact in
maximum 200 mm thick layers to give less than 25% total voids and no vertical
movement can be observed from a slow passage of the compacting roller.
All filling shall be tested and certified by an approved testing laboratory.

1.24

Blinding Under Slabs on Ground

Place over hardfilled areas under all slabs cast on ground a 25mm blinding layer of
sand, moisten and roll ready for the damp proof course.

1.25

Topsoiling and Grassing

All trimmed areas shall be covered with topsoil to a depth of 75mm compacted depth.
Areas to be grassed shall be treated with a fertiliser comprising 30% potash mix
applied at a rate of 300kg per hectare or as otherwise approved by the Engineer.
Grass shall be sown on other than berms with a pasture standard seed mixture to be
approved by the Engineer before sowing commences. Berms shall be sown with a
mixture to the approval of the Territorial Local Authority. The Contractor shall achieve a
minimum 95% cover of the species before the end of the maintenance period.

1.26

Tree Roots

In the areas containing tree roots where trees are to remain, over excavate by 300 mm,
remove any tree roots encountered and backfill with bulk filling. In all other areas tree
roots must be removed.
1.27

Surplus Material
Remove all surplus excavated material and unsuitable material off site unless
otherwise directed.