STANDARD CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS FOR

EARTHWORK
DIVISION 20

SECTION 20.01 GENERAL

Article 1.1 Scope of Work

The Work covered by this Division consists of providing all plant, labor, equipment,
supplies, material, transportation, handling, and storage, and performing all operations
pertaining to the: 1) construction of subbase for parking lots, streets, alleys, curbs, gutters,
sidewalks and bike trails, 2) construction for all trench excavation, backfill, bedding, and
foundation material for utility installation; and 3) excavation and backfill for building
structures and retaining walls.

Article 1.2 Definitions

A. Backfill

Material placed in an excavated area.

B. Bedding

Ground or support in which pipe is laid.

C. Borrow

Material used as fill and/or backfill which is obtained from a source other than
required excavation.

D. Compaction

Tamping by hand or machine to achieve required density in soils.

E. Disposal Site

Any area where waste, unsuitable, unusable or surplus material from construction is
placed. Contractor provided disposal sites are delineated in Division 10, Section
10.04, Article 4.9 – Disposal Sites.

F. Excavation

Area or material removed to provide a suitable base for improvement.

Page 1
Standard Construction Specifications
Division 20 - Earthwork Revised 11/08
G. Fill

Fill is considered the material placed above the original or natural ground line.

H. Leveling Course

Leveling course is compacted material placed above the subbase and below the
finishing surface of the improvement.

I. Non-Frost-Susceptible Material

Non-organic soil containing less than three percent (3%) by weight of grains smaller
than .02 mm obtained from minus three inches (-3") material.

J. Service Connection

Any connection from a main line utility or storm drain to a property line for the
purpose of providing service to an individual property

K. Subbase

The subbase is compacted material placed above the subgrade and below the
leveling course.

L. Subgrade or Bottom Excavation

The subgrade is material below the bottom of excavation and upon which the
subbase material is placed.

M. Trench

Any excavation for a utility or drainage system.

N. Unsuitable or Unusable Material

Unsuitable or unusable material may consist of any material which is, in the opinion
of the Engineer, inadequate for use in the proposed construction.

Article 1.3 Applicable Standards

The latest revision of the following standards of the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) are hereby made a part of these specifications:

ASTM C-29 Test for Unit Weight of Aggregate

ASTM C-117 Test for Materials Finer than No. 200 Sieve in Aggregates by Washing
ASTM C-131 Test for Resistance to Abrasion of Small Size Coarse Aggregate by
Use of the Los Angeles Machine

Page 2
Standard Construction Specifications
Division 20 - Earthwork Revised 11/08
ASTM C-136 Test for Sieve or Screen Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
ASTM D-422 Test for Particle Size Analysis of Soil
ASTM D-424 Test for Plastic Limit and Plasticity Index of Soils
AASHTO M-147 Materials for Aggregate and Soil-Aggregate Subbase, Base, and
Surface Courses
AASHTO T-180-D Test for Moisture-Density Relations of Soils
AASHTO T-205 Test for Field Determination of Density of Soil In-Place
AASHTO T-238 Test for Density of Soil In-Place by Nuclear Method.

Article 1.4 Equipment

All equipment, tools, and machines used in the performance of the Work covered by these
Specifications shall be subject to the approval of the Engineer and shall comply with all
applicable safety requirements. All equipment used on the project shall be adequately
maintained and shall be the proper equipment for the Work being accomplished so as to
produce the result required by the Contract Documents.

Article 1.5 Compaction Standards

The required density of fill and backfill shall meet the requirements as outlined in
Section 20.21 - Classified Fill and Backfill. In areas outside of road rights-of-way, the
density shall be as required by the Contract Documents or as directed by the Engineer.

Where compaction density is specified, the maximum density shall be determined in

accordance with the current requirements of AASHTO Standard Method T-180-D.

The Diameter of the test mold in AASHTO T-180 Method D limits the size of particles
which may be included in the test to that passing the three-quarter inch (3/4”) sieve. In
those instances where the particles are retained on the three-quarter inch (3/4”) sieve, a
correction must be applied to the standard laboratory density prior to calculating the
percent compaction. To expedite field result the plus three-quarter inch (3/4”) material may
be sieved wet and the weight computed as a percent of the total weight of the material
from the hole. The corrected laboratory density shall be computed in each instance by the
formula:

Page 3
Standard Construction Specifications
Division 20 - Earthwork Revised 11/08
 62.4
Corrected Lab Density = A 62.4(B)
+
C rD

Where: A = Percent by weight of original material retained on the 3/4-inch sieve,

expressed as a decimal.

B = Percent by weight of original material passing the 3/4-inch sieve,

expressed as a decimal.

C = Specific gravity of +3/4-inch material (apparent specific gravity) as

determined by AASHTO T-85.

D = Uncorrected laboratory density (minimum 3/4-inch material).

r = Coefficient with value depending A, as follows:

for A = 0.18 or less, r = 1.00

A = 0.19 or more, r = 1.036 - 0.2A

Backfill under traffic and building structures and trench backfill in the public rights-of-way
from six inches (6”) over the top of the pipe to the surface shall be compacted to
ninety-five percent (95%) of maximum density, unless otherwise noted and approved by
the Engineer.

The backfill material shall be placed in horizontal lifts not exceeding twelve inches (12”) in
thickness and compacted. Any excavations improperly filled shall be reopened to the
depth required for proper compaction, then refilled and compacted at the Contractor's
expense. The use of water in excess of the quantity required to obtain specified density
(optimum moisture content) to settle or compact the backfill will not be permitted.

Article 1.6 Subsurface Investigation

Information pertaining to subsurface exploration, borings, test pit locations, and other
preliminary investigation may appear in the Bidding Documents or be available at selected
locations for review by the Bidder. This information was acquired for design purposes only
and is not considered adequate for construction.

The soils classifications and geotechnical designations recorded are informational only and
represent only those subsurface conditions on the particular date, at the specific location,
as indicated on each soils log and on the plans. The ground water levels indicated on the
test hole logs and shown on the Drawings were recorded at the time the test holes were
performed. These water levels may vary seasonally and are shown for design and
informational purposes only. Contractor shall assume responsibility for any conclusions
that may be drawn from such information and the conclusions shall not be considered just
cause for a claim for additional compensation or contract time extension. Contractor

Page 4
Standard Construction Specifications
Division 20 - Earthwork Revised 11/08
should obtain and analyze such additional information as the Contractor may feel
necessary and shall be responsible for any conclusions drawn from that information.

The Owner does not warrant the correctness of the soils investigation or of any
interpretation, deduction, or conclusion given in the report relative to subsurface conditions.
The Bidder shall make his own deductions and conclusions as to the nature of the
materials to be excavated, the difficulties of making and maintaining the required
excavations, the difficulties which may arise from subsurface conditions, and of doing any
other Work affected by the subsurface conditions, and shall accept full responsibility
therefore.

Article 1.7 Weather Limitations

Unless otherwise authorized by the Engineer, fill and backfill material, base course, and
leveling course shall not be placed when the atmospheric temperature is below thirty-five
degrees Fahrenheit (35 F). When the temperature falls below thirty-five degrees
Fahrenheit (35 F), it shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to protect all areas of
completed Work against any detrimental effects. Any areas of Work not completed in
accordance with the Contract Documents that are damaged by weather shall be
reconditioned, reshaped, and recompacted by the Contractor in conformance with the
requirements of the Contract Document without additional cost to the Owner.

Article 1.8 Underground Utilities

The Contractor shall continuously support underground utilities during backfill placement
and compaction. During backfill placement and compaction, the Contractor shall place
geotextile fabric with a minimum twelve inch (12”) separation from underground utilities,
unless directed otherwise by the Engineer.

Article 1.9 Contaminated Material

Unless otherwise noted in the Contract Documents, the Owner is not aware of any
contaminated material within the project limits. If such material is encountered, Contractor
shall notify the Engineer immediately for direction. Unless the contamination was caused
by Contractor’s operation, discovery of contaminated material will be treated as a changed
condition per Division 10, Section 10.05, Article 5.18 – Changed Conditions.

Page 5
Standard Construction Specifications
Division 20 - Earthwork Revised 11/08