reported on a HOKLAS Endorsed Test Certificate.

Concreting for cast-in-situ

piles should be in one continuous operation.

(2) Reinforcement

Sampling and testing of steel reinforcement should be carried out in

accordance with the methods specified in CS2. Testing should be carried out
by a HOKLAS accredited laboratory. The test results should be reported on a
HOKLAS Endorsed Test Certificate.

(3) Steel Piles

A copy of the mill certificate of the structural steel used should be submitted to
Buildings Department together with a statement signed by the RSE to confirm
that the requirement of chemical composition and mechanical properties
appropriate to the type of steel have been complied with.

7.1.4 EXCAVATION

Foundation works often require excavation, which, even if shallow, can be dangerous
if not properly designed. Adequate precautionary and protective measures should be
provided to ensure that the excavation works are properly protected and the
foundation works are carried out safely.

7.2 EFFECT OF FOUNDATION WORKS ON ADJACENT STRUCTURES

AND LAND

7.2.1 ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF FOUNDATION WORKS

The effect of the foundation works on surrounding land, structures and services should
be assessed. The assessment should include:
(a) a detailed report on the structural conditions of all nearby buildings, structures
and existing services and the geotechnical condition of the nearby land likely to
be affected by the foundation works within a minimum distance of 50m
measured from the site boundary;
(b) estimation of the effect of the foundation works on the nearby buildings,
structures, services and lands, with particular attention given to works that will
induce vibration, dewatering works, and excavation and lateral support works;
(c) estimation of the response of the nearby buildings, structures, services and land
to the effect of the foundation works;
(d) proposals of measures to mitigate the effect and response mentioned in items (b)
and (c) above; and
(e) proposals of the preventive and precautionary measures, monitoring scheme and
contingency plans to be undertaken before and during construction.

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7.2.2 SHORING AND UNDERPINNING

Details of any shoring or underpinning to any building, structure, land or services

required as precautionary measures should be included in the foundation proposal.

7.2.3 MONITORING PLAN

Where the construction of a foundation may affect any building, structure, land, street or
services, a monitoring plan should be provided. It should contain:
(a) sufficient monitoring stations for the detailed monitoring of movement and
vibration in any building, structure, land, street or services;
(b) sufficient piezometers for the detailed monitoring of the ground water
conditions;
(c) the frequency at which the readings will be recorded or taken;
(d) the action levels and the contingency measures to be undertaken.

The construction activities on site should also be properly recorded so that they may be
correlated with the monitoring readings if necessary. Such correlation can often
explain why some apparently abnormal readings are recorded.

The monitoring plan should include a system of three triggering levels, namely the
alert, alarm and action levels respectively and the corresponding contingency
measures to be carried out when the triggering levels are reached. An example is
given in Table 7.1.

Table 7.1 Example of the Contingency Measures for Three Triggering Levels
Triggering level Contingency measures
The monitoring should be enhanced by increasing the frequency
Alert
of monitoring measurements and the number of check points.
The method of installation of the pile foundation should be
Alarm reviewed with the purpose of mitigating the detrimental effects
arising from vibration or ground settlement.
The corresponding site works should be suspended. Construction
Action activities should not be resumed until the necessary remedial and
preventive measures have been completed satisfactorily.

7.2.4 GROUND SETTLEMENT

The ground movements arising from pile driving or other foundation works depend
on several factors including construction method and sequence, sub-soil geology,
groundwater conditions, layout and details of the foundation works and
workmanship. Excessive ground movements caused by foundation works may be
detrimental to adjacent buildings or structures, especially those supported by
shallow foundations, or piles with inadequate lateral resistance or foundations with
inherently low factors of safety.

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 As different structures will have different tolerance in accommodating movements of

their foundations, acceptance of estimated ground settlements should be considered
on a case-by-case basis with respect to the integrity, stability and functionality of the
supported structures. Table 7.2 provides an example of the typical values that may
be adopted for the three triggering levels on nearby buildings, structures or services
that are not sensitive to settlement.

Table 7.2 Typical Values for the Three Triggering Levels on Nearby
Buildings, Structures or Services that are not Sensitive to
Settlement

Monitoring check Triggering level

points Alert Alarm Action

Ground settlement 12 mm 18 mm 25 mm

Services settlement / 12 mm 18 mm 25 mm
angular rotation or 1:600 or 1:450 or 1:300

Building tilting 1:1000 1:750 1:500

While the three triggering levels should provide a useful tool for a systematic
monitoring of any settlement that may be induced by the foundation works, it is
equally important to keep a close surveillance on any anomalies such as rapid
increase in the measured settlement, signs of distress or damage on any adjacent or
nearby structural or non-structural elements or services, etc.

7.2.5 DEWATERING

Dewatering may cause undue settlement of buildings, structures, streets, land and
underground services if not properly designed and carried out. Where dewatering is to
be undertaken, an assessment of the effects of dewatering on the adjoining buildings,
structures, streets, land and underground services should be made. Recharging should
be considered where appropriate. A monitoring scheme in accordance with the
provisions of clause 7.2.3 should be provided.

The groundwater table during construction should be properly controlled such that it
would be maintained within the limits permitted in the dewatering design. In case the
groundwater table is lowered below the permitted limits, the designer should be
informed and appropriate action such as suspension of the dewatering should be taken
immediately.

7.2.6 VIBRATION

Vibration caused by foundation works should not induce cracks, settlement or other
damage to any building, structure, land, street or services. Special attention should be

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given if there are any buildings or structures supported by shallow foundations bearing
on loose sand or silty soils, which are prone to densification when subject to vibration.

Vibration may be categorised into several ways as follows:

(a) Continuous vibrations in which the cyclic variation in amplitude is repeated

many times e.g. vibrations from a vibrating pile driver;
(b) Transient vibrations in which the cyclic variation in amplitude reaches a peak
and then decays away towards zero relatively quickly e.g. vibrations from an
isolated hammer blow;
(c) Intermittent vibrations in which a sequence (sometimes regular, sometimes
irregular) of transient vibrations occurs, but with sufficient intervals between
successive events to permit the amplitude to diminish to an insignificant level
in the interim periods e.g. vibrations from a drop hammer pile driver.

Continuous vibration and transient/intermittent vibration require different degree of

control. For continuous vibration, if its frequency coincides with the natural
frequency of a building structure, resonance will occur and the effect of vibration will
be magnified, and therefore more stringent control is required.

For protection of buildings in general, the vibration should not cause a peak particle
velocity of ground movement exceeding the limits given in Table 7.3.

Table 7.3 Limits of ppv for Protection of Buildings

Limits of ppv (mm/s)
Building condition
Transient or
Continuous vibration
intermittent vibration
Robust and stable
15 7.5
buildings in general
Vibration-sensitive or
7.5 3
dilapidated buildings

Where protection of historic buildings or structures is required, stringent requirements

on vibration control are usually imposed by the appropriate authorities such as
Antiquities and Monuments Office. Where protection of railway is required, reference
should be made to the requirements stipulated in the relevant PNAP.

Where necessary, e.g. the presence of any hospital with sensitive equipment, old
masonry building, dilapidated structure or delicate utility sensitive to vibration, a test
driving of pile should be carried out to establish the tolerable vibration induced by the
proposed method of driving. Measures to reduce vibration such as pre-boring for pile
installation, controlling the number of piles being driven at any one time, controlling
the weight and drop height of the pile driving hammer, etc. should be implemented
where necessary.

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 For assessment of ground-borne vibration, the following empirical formulaNote 1 may

be adopted for prediction of vibration:


W 

vres = k p  1.3 e 

r 

where vres = resultant ppv (mm/sec)

kp = ground borne vibration coefficient
We = nominal hammer energy (J)
x = distance of recipient from pile measured along ground surface (m)
y = depth of pile toe at the time of assessing vres (m)
r = slope distance of recipient from pile toe (m), i.e. r = x 2 +
y 2
Note 1: The empirical formula is extracted from BS 5228-2. Permission to reproduce extracts
from British Standards is granted by BSI Standards Limited (BSI). No other use of
this material is permitted
The value of kp may be estimated from relevant previous experience or based on a first
approximation of 1.5 (or 3.0 for pile driven to bedrock), and then verified by back
analysis of field measurements taken during test driving.

7.2.7 PUBLIC RELATIONS PLAN FOR PILING WORKS

Piling works (including installation of temporary pile walls for excavation and lateral
support works) will inevitably cause disturbance to the occupants of nearby buildings.
While every effort should be made to keep such disturbance to the minimum, a good
PR Plan is equally important. PR Plan should be implemented to notify the nearby
occupants in advance of the forthcoming pile driving operations, to facilitate
communication between the affected occupants and the contractor, to minimize
possible complaints, and to enable the AP/RSE/RSC to handle complaints in a timely
and effective manner. The PR Plan should include the following information which
should generally be given in both Chinese and English:
(a) Background of the project, including the construction programme and a list of
vibration-generating construction activities;
(b) Name and method of contact with the AP, RSE, RGE and RSC of the project;
(c) Organization chart including a PR officer;
(d) Objectives of the PR Plan;
(e) List of concerned groups, e.g. Owners’ Corporation, Mutual Aid Committee,
District Council;
(f) List of vibration sensitive nearby buildings, structures or services;
(g) Schedule of public relations activities such as briefing session; posting notices,
issuing reminders of any forthcoming and duration of hard driving, continuous
vibration activities or similar activities;
(h) List of telephone hotlines and contact persons for public enquiries;

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 (i) Details of the complaint handling mechanism, including any pledges on

response time, follow-up reply to complainant after the course of the
complaint has been dealt with, etc.;
(j) Details of the vibration and settlement monitoring plan, including frequency
for taking measurements, the threshold limits for the measurements, etc.;
(k) Flow chart for public relations action plan;
(l) Proforma for recording complaint, including complainant details, causes of
complaint, remedial actions and follow-up reply to complainant; and
(m) Register of number of complaints received.

7.2.8 BLASTING

If blasting is to be carried out as part of the foundation works, it must be properly

designed and controlled such that it will not adversely affect the stability of any
adjacent slope, retaining wall, building, structures and services through ground
vibrations or other effects. Adequate measures must also be provided to protect the
safety of the workers and the public against possible flyrock.

When blasting is to be adopted for foundation works, reference should be made to the
following:
(a) Regulation 23 of the Building (Construction) Regulations;
(b) Regulation 46 of the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations;
(c) PNAP APP-24 - Railway Protection
(d) PNAP APP-72 - Control of Blasting; and
(e) General Specification for Civil Engineering Works.

7.3 FOUNDATION RECORDS AND REPORTS

The Building Authority requires the submission of record plans, report and a specified
form certifying the completion of the foundation works by the relevant personnel upon
completion of the works.

Foundation Record Plans

Record plans should include details of the characteristic features of the site and the
identification, location, size, depth and level of each foundation unit as constructed.

Foundation Report
The report should include:
(a) the date of construction/installation, the quality and quantity of materials used
and any necessary test on the bearing strata for each foundation unit;

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 (b) the driving performance and verification of the design assumption made on
vibration predication for driven piles;
(c) the concrete test cube results, excavation records, predrilling and post-
installation proof drilling records for bored piles; and
(d) a review on the following items should be carried out to identify any rooms for
improvement:
(i) the scope of the condition survey on nearby buildings;
(ii) the effectiveness of the monitoring plan; and
(iii) the effectiveness of the PR Plan.

7.4 PILE CONSTRUCTION

7.4.1 DRIVING TEST AND TRIAL PILES

For driven piles, test driving should be conducted to verify the design assumptions
made for the piles and founding strata prior to driving any other piles.

Where special ground conditions exist or when a new type of piles is to be used, trial
piles may be required to be carried out before the installation of other working piles in
order to verify the design assumptions and the performance of the pile. The trial piles
should also be tested by the imposition of test loads in accordance with the procedures
and criteria specified in clause 8.4 upon installation.

7.4.2 TEST BORING

Where boring is carried out with the drilling bit that advances ahead of the steel casing
and the drill hole is larger than 450 mm, the following problems may occur:
(a) overbreak/ground loss resulting in undue disturbance to sub-soil – usually due
to the presence of problematic soil layers such as bouldery reclamation fill,
improper operation of the boring equipment, or the use of ineffective or worn-
out drilling bits; and
(b) excessive drawdown of water table – usually due to adverse geology in the
soil/rock strata such as the presence of permeable rock joints.

Therefore, test boring is required to assess the following:

(a) the safety and suitability of the boring method and equipment;
(b) the drawdown of ground water table and ground settlements that may be
induced by the boring operation for reviewing the proposed monitoring plan;
and
(c) the range of anticipated rates of advancement of the boring operation for
different soil or rock strata for control of the boring operation for working
piles.
The following should be specified in the test boring proposal:

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