ASTM D420-18
(Guide)Standard Guide for Site Characterization for Engineering Design and Construction Purposes
Standard Guide for Site Characterization for Engineering Design and Construction Purposes
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 An adequate site characterization will provide pertinent information for decision making on one or more of the following subjects:
4.1.1 Location of the structure, both vertically and horizontally, within the area of the proposed construction and selection of construction methods and equipment.
4.1.2 Location and preliminary evaluation of suitable borrow and other local sources of construction aggregates.
4.1.3 Need for special excavating and dewatering techniques with the corresponding need for information, even if only approximate, on the distribution of soil water content or pore pressure, or both, and on the piezometric heads and apparent permeability (hydraulic conductivity) of the various subsurface strata.
4.1.4 Evaluation of slope stability in natural slopes, cuts, and embankments.
4.1.5 Conceptual selection of embankment types and hydraulic barrier requirements.
4.1.6 Conceptual selection of alternate foundation types and elevations of the corresponding suitable bearing strata.
4.1.7 Development of additional detailed site characterizations for specific structures or facilities.
4.2 The site characterization may require the collection of sufficiently large soil and rock samples of such quality as to allow adequate testing to determine the soil or rock classification or mineralogic type, or both, and the engineering properties pertinent to the proposed design.
4.3 This guide is not meant to be an inflexible description of requirements; methods defined by other ASTM standards or non-ASTM techniques may be appropriate in some circumstances. The intent is to provide a list to assist in preparation of a site characterization plan.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide refers to ASTM methods to perform site characterization for engineering, design, and construction purposes. The objective of the site characterization should be to identify and locate, both horizontally and vertically, significant soil and rock types and groundwater conditions present within a given site area and to establish the characteristics of the subsurface materials by sampling or in situ testing, or both.
1.2 Laboratory testing of soil, rock, and groundwater samples is specified by other ASTM standards not listed herein. Subsurface exploration for environmental purposes is also outside the scope of this guide.
1.3 Prior to commencement of the site characterization the site should be checked for potentially hazardous or otherwise contaminated materials or cultural/archeological conditions. If evidence of unknown potentially hazardous or otherwise contaminated materials or conditions are encountered in the course of the site characterization, work shall be interrupted until the circumstances have been evaluated and revised instructions issued.
1.3.1 In addition the location and nature of underground and overhead utilities should be identified to ensure that there is no impact to the proposed site characterization. Impacts may include but are not limited to interference with geophysical methods, damaging utilities, creating an unsafe work condition, and limiting accessibility for exploratory equipment.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. Inch-pound units are provided in brackets for convenience.
1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a give...
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Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D420 − 18
Standard Guide for
Site Characterization for Engineering Design and
1
Construction Purposes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D420; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Site characterization for engineering design and construction purposes involves both simple and
complex techniques that may be accomplished by many different procedures and may be variously
interpreted. These studies are frequently site specific and are influenced by geological and
geographical settings, by the purpose of the site characterization, by design requirements for the
project proposed, and by the background, training, and experience of the staff involved.
This document is a guide to the selection of the variousASTM standards that are available for the
exploration of soil, rock, and groundwater for projects that involve surface and/or subsurface
construction, or both. It is intended to improve consistency of practice and to encourage rational
planning of a site characterization program. Since the subsurface conditions at a particular site are
usually the result of a combination of natural, geologic, topographic, and climatic factors, and of
historical modifications both natural and manmade, an adequate and internally consistent exploration
program will allow evaluation of the results of these influences.
1. Scope* 1.3.1 Inadditionthelocationandnatureofundergroundand
overhead utilities should be identified to ensure that there is no
1.1 This guide refers to ASTM methods to perform site
impact to the proposed site characterization. Impacts may
characterization for engineering, design, and construction pur-
include but are not limited to interference with geophysical
poses. The objective of the site characterization should be to
methods, damaging utilities, creating an unsafe work
identify and locate, both horizontally and vertically, significant
condition,andlimitingaccessibilityforexploratoryequipment.
soil and rock types and groundwater conditions present within
a given site area and to establish the characteristics of the 1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
subsurface materials by sampling or in situ testing, or both. are to be regarded as the standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system
1.2 Laboratory testing of soil, rock, and groundwater
shall be used independently of the other. Combining values
samplesisspecifiedbyotherASTMstandardsnotlistedherein.
from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the
Subsurface exploration for environmental purposes is also
standard. Inch-pound units are provided in brackets for conve-
outside the scope of this guide.
nience.
1.3 Prior to commencement of the site characterization the
1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information
site should be checked for potentially hazardous or otherwise
or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
contaminated materials or cultural/archeological conditions. If
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
evidence of unknown potentially hazardous or otherwise con-
experience and should be used in conjunction with professional
taminatedmaterialsorconditionsareencounteredinthecourse
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all
of the site characterization, work shall be interrupted until the
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-
circumstances have been evaluated and revised instructions
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
issued.
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock
unique aspects. The word“ Standard” in the title of this
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and Subsurface
document means only that the document has been approved
Characterization.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2018. Published March 2018. Originally
through the ASTM consensus process.
published as D420 – 65T. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
D420 – 93(2003), which was withdrawn January 2012 and reinstated February
2018. DOI: 10.1520/D0420_D0420M-18. safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
*A Summary of Changes s
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