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Trench Preparation Excavation and

Backfill Method Statement for Electric
Underground Cable Laying

The purpose of this document is to specify the

procedure for excavation backfilling and trench
preparation for installation of 132 kV cables and fiber
optic Cables.

Roles & Responsibilities

Project Manager: Lead all construction activities and

enforce strict adherence to all procedures.

Site Manager: Lead the construction activities at site

and report to the Project Manager.

Field Engineer: Ensure that all related works are

carried out in accordance with the approved drawing
and project specification. Report to the site manager.

QA/QC Engineer : Responsible for the necessary

quality control implementation by following the
customer specification.

Supervisor : Supervise field installations and report to

the field engineer.

HSE Officer : Ensure that all the site activities are

carried out in accordance with the project health and
safety plan.

Necessary Tools and Equipment’s

Hand tools for Excavation

Hand Shovels
Plastic Buckets
Wheel Barrows

Equipment’s

Jack hammer for removing hard strata like asphalt

and Rocks
Crane & Buckets – shall be used to remove
excavated material from pit where pit is not
accessible by other methods.
Plate compactor, Mechanical Tampers to compact
the backfilling materials.
Air compressors
Water tankers

Excavation & Backfilling

Preparations and Preconditions

Permit to Work (PTW) shall be raised for the

excavation clearly mentioning the location of work,
size of excavation and levels.

Excavations area shall be surveyed and marked to the

lines and levels as shown on the drawings.

The area of excavation will be cordoned off using

safety barricading to stop trespassers.

Assign sufficient banks men, helpers and supervisors

at the site prior to start of excavation.

Required sign boards such as “DEEP EXCAVATION”

“MEN WORKING” “DANGER” and warning boards will
be placed to indicate the excavation work.

Ensure the working area at any confined space is free

from any Hazardous Gas by proper Gas testing using
the Gas testing instrument.

Proper temporary supports shall be provided to the

adjacent structure prior to start excavation.

Fences and minor structures of any character or upon

within the limits of the works and not necessary for
the construction shall be removed carefully and stored
neatly for reinstating after the construction works.

If any Survey points, bench marks, boundary stones

and markings falling on the area shall be removed only
with the client’s written consent and shall be stored
and reinstated according to their instructions.

Check the area of excavation to find out any

underground facilities other than listed in
topographical survey by:

Using appropriate detective equipment, such as cable

detector, metal detector etc.

Check existing exposed excavation nearby area to find

out existing underground facilities.

Refer available As-built drawings from the consultant,

other agencies, other contractors doing projects
nearby areas and mark in the area.

Take trial/ test pits to find out existing underground

pipes, structures.

Check the indication marks, signs, manholes nearby

area and find out the path of services.

Trial Pit and Excavation Procedures

Prior to star of any excavation, the area shall be

checked for the existing services/utilities by obtaining
the approvals with reference to the relevant drawings.

The necessary excavation activities shall start only

after getting the notice intent from the client /
customer.

Excavation of the trial pits shall be done manually as

per the size indicated in the approved drawings up to
the required length and level.

In open areas the excavation shall be carried out by

using the machineries, the exact location of each
trench and pit being subjected to the prior approvals.

Manual excavation will be carried out to expose the

existing utilities, if any, which has to be identified.

The trenches shall be kept dry during cable

installation operation. The contractor shall deal with
the dispose of water so as to prevent any risk to the
cables and other materials.

Contractor shall provide suitable dewatering methods

as explained in section 6.0 while performing the works
according to the scope of work.

The required control measures shall be developed and

implemented while performing the works and more
importance will be given for public safety and
environmental issues.

While performing the work the trenches shall be

straight, free from any sharp objects/edges likely to
injure the cable or accessories and filled with soft
sand and sieved sand to form smooth bedding before
the cables are laid.

The contractor shall take the necessary precautions to

prevent damage to the road or ground surface due to
a slip or breaking away from the side walls of the
trench including the pedestrian safety as well.

The vehicle entry shall be restricted on the specified

work area by prior approval from the concerned
agencies.

Where ever there is a crossover of the existing

services/utilities, these shall be protected with utmost
care with the prior permission of concerned
authorities and approved methods. The contractor
shall obtain the necessary approval from the client /
consultant or the concerned authorities to according
to the scope of the work.

Excavate the area by using only hand tools as per the

markings and levels with proper protection of sides. If
excavation depth exceeds 1.2 m proper shoring and
shuttering should be provided as per the safety norms
or the excavation shall be stepped, wide enough to
get stable slope on sides of wall from soil sliding.

Excavations in sand shall be to a slope of 1:3, one

vertical to three horizontal. If any permanent slope is
to be kept in the sand it shall be stabilized by one of
the following means,

Mass concrete blinding

Cement/sand mixture
Bituminous/cement mixture

Trim and form the edges of soil to profiles and levels

as indicated in drawings.

If the excavation level is below the local water table

level suitable dewatering system (well point method
and/or pump and sump method, refer section 6.0)
shall be designed and installed in such a way that
alterations and extensions to the system during
operations are possible.

For Rock excavation hard excavation shall be carried

out by ripping, excavation, wedging, chiseling using
jack hammers, or by other recognized methods
approved by consultant. Blasting will not to be
adopted under any circumstances for rock excavation.

In trench excavation the bottom width of at least in

800 mm plus the dimension of pipes, conduits, ducts,
etc to be installed.

The bottom of the excavation shall be levelled and

trimmed to receive the permanent works. The bottom
of the excavation shall be moisture conditioned to +
2% of optimum and mechanically compacted to a
density of not less than 95% of the maximum dry
density.

Precautions shall be taken to protect the bottom of

the excavation and, if the bottom of the excavation
becomes unsuitable either by exposure to weather
conditions, water, or due to any other reasonably
foreseeable event, it shall be removed and replaced
with suitable materials.

Provide proper rigid barriers around excavations

include provision of ladders, emergency escape way,
adequate side slopes or shoring and shuttering,
detours.

If fossil content is noticed during excavation shall be

brought in notice of the OWNER.

The top width of excavation shall be increased or

depend upon the depth of excavation , It is required
to provide suitable slope to side of excavation to avoid
soil sliding, then the top trench width shall be
increased accordingly by step cutting method. If the
top width of excavation is restricted due to
existing facilities then protect the side of excavation
with proper shoring.

If the bottom of excavation is loose strata then

excavate 300 mm more to select fill materials to form
a hard and compacted grade strata for construction.

If the bottom of excavation is below the water table

level, provide proper shoring prior to excavate below
the water table level then excavate 300 mm more to
fill Aggregates or Gravel to form a hard grade strata.

Excavation Adjacent to Underground Services

Excavation near the existing electrical cables,

instrumentation and control cables, sewer line, gas
lines and any other service line shall take all necessary
precautions to protect the services with proper
supports & covers.

All existing structures, foundations, pipes and cables,

if any, which are to be incorporated into the final work,
shall be adequately protected from damage.

All underground services located during excavation

shall be mapped for consideration during construction
of the works.

If any underground service is noticed other than

specified in the area during excavation shall be
brought in notice of the client.

Excavation shall not be carried out adjacent to or near

existing building foundations, without suitable
shoring/sheet piling.

Over Excavation

In case excavations executed beyond the established

levels, backfill the over excavation with lean concrete
or other approved material.

The volume corresponding to the over excavation shall

not be carried out adjacent to or near existing building
foundations, until suitable shoring/sheet piling has
been installed.

Stockpiles and Disposal

Excavation material shall be removed, stockpiled or

deposited away from the excavation area for reuse, or
disposed in the approved dumping area as directed by
OWNER/Engineer’s.

Debris, rocks and unusable materials shall be removed

on daily basis from the site to approved dumping area
or final destination whether in the work or in the waste
areas, including any necessary temporary stockpiling
and the additional loading and transporting.

Only permitted materials or selected materials from

excavation shall be stored or stockpiled for re-use.

Refilling of Excavation

The refilling of excavations shall be started as soon as

practicable after the permanent works have been
tested and approved by the consultant.

Refilling of trenches over pipes shall be done by hand

to a depth of 300 mm above the crown of the pipe
with dune sand or lightly compacted selected
excavated material free from large stones, rock, clay
lumps or other substances which may cause damage
to the permanent works.

Refill the leftover portions with suitable backfilling

material in 300 mm per layer which shall be fully
compacted by mechanical tamper/plate
compactor/roller and tested in accordance to project
requirements.

Backfilling of Trenches

Backfilling area shall be backfilled with approved

material compacted in layers by suitable equipment
like plate compactors, vibratory roller compactors,
etc., until the specified density has been obtained to
the satisfaction of the client.

Compacting shall be carried out with special care by

means of mechanical tampers of a type approved by
client to avoid damage to structures.

Areas to be backfilled shall be prepared so as to

obtain a soil density at least equal to 95 percent of
Standard Proctor test (ASTM D 698).

Backfilling Materials

Backfilling materials shall be free from stones or rocks

larger than 50 mm, or other material which might
prevent proper compaction or cause the compacted
fill or embankment to perform inadequately.

Backfilling materials shall be free from fossil content,

clay, vegetations and its roots, waste materials,
Material containing gypsum or other soluble salts
greater than the allowable limits.

Following classified materials shall not be used for

backfilling.

Organic material, logs stumps and perishable

materials.
Material susceptible to spontaneous combustion.
Materials with undefined properties.
Materials having moisture content greater than the
maximum specified.
Building rubble and domestic and industrial wastes.
Soils and rock susceptible to deterioration/change
of their properties.
Clay, silt and other loose or soft soils not in
accordance with compaction criteria.
Dredged material.
Rock materials

Filling of Materials

Fill material shall be spread and compacted in 300

mm layers, with a compacted layer thickness not
exceeding 300 mm where mechanical compactors like
vibratory plate/drum compactors are used.

The thickness of fill material shall not exceed 150 mm

where manual compaction methods are adopted.

If the thickness of loose fill layers required to exceed

300 mm written approval including methods of
compaction shall be required from the client.

If the surfaces receiving fill layers is smooth, then

scarified to obtain a good friction/key between the
new fill layer and the sub grade.

Rock fill or aggregate fill materials shall be deposited

under water with the client’s permission. Fill materials
like cohesive soil (i.e. soils that possess low shear
strength, are plastic and compressible, deforms
plastically under constant load, changes volume in the
presence of water) shall not be permitted deposit
under water.

Where swamps, bogs or other similar wet areas must

be traversed by the works, they shall be drained as
directed by the client according to the material and
conditions encountered. Prior to the formation of
embankments, fill, etc. any unsuitable material
occurring on the site shall be removed to such depths
and widths as may be directed by the client and
approved excavations shall be properly backfilled with
suitable and approved excavated materials and shall
be deposited and compacted to the satisfaction of the
client. Similarly, soft or weak spots encountered will
be removed and, as with any voids, will be backfilled
as specified.

Final layer of backfilling shall not contain soft rock

fragments exceeding 50mm upon placement to the
satisfaction of the OWNER/ENGINEER’S.

Trench backfilling containing pipes shall be properly

packed at the sides with sand which shall be well
rammed with narrow wooden rammers before filling
further. The filling shall then be carried up to 150 mm
above any sand or concrete surround with fine
selected material and well watered and rammed. The
remainder of the trench shall then be refilled in layers
not exceeding 300 mm thickness, watered and
rammed until the ground is thoroughly consolidated.
No mechanical rammer shall be used with 300 mm of
the top of any pipe or surround and material shall not
be drooped from a height.

The top surface area shall be dense and level without

any protruding rock fragments in excess of 50 mm,
recesses or soft spots, to the satisfaction of the client.

Tolerance level shall be maintained as per the

specifications

Excavated materials may only be used for backfilling

after obtaining satisfactory approved lab test results;
otherwise fill materials shall be imported to the site.

Formation of Cable Trench

The formation of the trench shall be in accordance
with applicable standard and specifications.

The trench shall be excavated upto the required depth

of 1.3m from the existing ground level.

Dune sand bedding shall be done for a thickness of

150mm at the bottom of the trench using TR tested
and approved dune sand, prior to the installation of
cables.

Cables and the 4” uPVC pipes for the FO Cables are

laid over the dune sand bedding

Sand Filling

TR tested and approved sand (Max 120°C cm/W) is

filled in the trench to the required level as per
approved drawing.

Sufficient Water is poured to match the required

Moisture content and to get 95% MDD

Cable protection tiles are laid above the dune sand

filling

Final Backfilling

Ensure the Concrete Cable Tiles are securely placed.

Selected sieved materials from the excavated soil shall

be backfilled for a thickness of 250mm above the
cable protection tiles. Care shall be taken to avoid
stones and boulders mixing with the backfill material.

Install 132kV Cable Warning Tape at a height of

250mm from top of the concrete cable tiles

Backfill to the required level in similar way.

Ensure Proper Compaction of soil is done after every

150mm layer laid.

Reinstate the area as to its original situation.

Compaction of the Back Filling Material

The required density shall not be less than 95%

Modified Proctor under Roads and pavements. This
shall be obtained by compaction in layers by means of
rollers and/or dozers, applying as many passes as may
be necessary and to the approval of the consultant.

Sweet water or portable water from a source approved

by the company shall be sprayed on the placed
material prior to compaction where necessary to
achieve the optimal moisture content.

Brackish or salt water is not allowed to be used in

compaction.

The density of each placed and compacted layer shall

be established by testing prior to the placement of
subsequent layers. If the results of test indicates that
the required density is not being achieved further
tests shall be carried out.

Compacted Soil Testing

All the testing shall be carried out to the satisfaction

of client. All such tests shall be carried out at a
laboratory approved by clients. Results of all tests
shall be approved by client. Filling of subsequent
layers shall not commence till approval from
consultant is obtained.

Field density testing shall be in accordance with

BS1377 at a minimum frequency of one per 5000 m2
per layer shall be achieved.

Tolerance limit for the permanent finished earth work

shall be included as stated in specifications.

The top surface area of the finished surface shall be

dense and level without any protruding rock fragment
in excess of 50 mm, recesses or soft spots, to the
satisfaction of client.

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