EN 1538:2010/FprA1

Execution of special geotechnical works - Diaphragm walls

This European Standard deals with the execution of diaphragm walls and the practical aspects which must be taken into account in the production of the working drawings. Diaphragm walls can be permanent or temporary structures.

Ausführung von Arbeiten im Spezialtiefbau - Schlitzwände

Exécution des travaux géotechniques spéciaux - Parois moulées

Izvedba posebnih geotehničnih del - Diafragme

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• ICS: 93.020 - Earthworks. Excavations. Foundation construction. Underground works
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 288 - Execution of special geotechnical works
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 288 - Execution of special geotechnical works
• Current Stage: 5060 - Closure of Vote - Formal Approval
• Start Date: 16-Mar-2015
• Due Date: 03-Mar-2015
• Completion Date: 16-Mar-2015
• Ref Project: SIST EN 1538:2011/kFprA1:2015 - Execution of special geotechnical works - Diaphragm walls

Relations

• Merged Into: EN 1538:2010+A1:2015 - Execution of special geotechnical work - Diaphragm walls
• Effective Date: 19-Jan-2023
• Amends: EN 1538:2010 - Execution of special geotechnical work - Diaphragm walls
• Effective Date: 26-Jun-2013

Overview

EN 1538:2010/FprA1 - Execution of special geotechnical works: Diaphragm walls (CEN) is a European standard that sets out requirements and practical guidance for the execution and site control of diaphragm (slit) walls. The amendment aligns the concrete- and material-related provisions with EN 206:2013 and clarifies production, supervision, testing and working‑drawing information for both permanent and temporary diaphragm walls used in earthworks, foundation construction and underground works.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and purpose: Guidance for execution, preparation of working drawings and site control for diaphragm walls (panels may be linear, T- or L-shaped).
• Materials and concrete: Constituents (cement, aggregates, water, additions, admixtures) are referenced to EN 206:2013. The standard recommends use of CEM II/CEM III or partial replacement of CEM I for improved workability, durability and reduced heat/bleeding.
• Fresh and plastic concrete: Fresh concrete requirements (consistency, flow, segregation resistance) and the option to specify strength at ages other than 28 days where appropriate.
• Support fluids and slurry: Requirements for hardening slurries and bentonite suspensions; measures for loss of support fluid in permeable soils (e.g., increased bentonite content, fillers, pre‑grouting).
• Execution practices: Guide-wall, panel excavation and overlap techniques; tolerances for obstructions (boulders); use of tremie placement for concreting under support fluids and recommendations for concrete head above cut‑off levels.
• Testing, supervision and monitoring: On‑site sampling, slump/flow checks (refer to EN 206:2013 Table D.3), strength sampling and integrity tests (coring or acoustic methods) to detect anomalies.
• Design interaction: Complements Eurocode 7 (EN 1997-1 / EN 1997-2) for geotechnical design and ground investigation; includes reinforcement detailing where needed.

Practical applications

• Construction of retaining and cut‑off diaphragm walls for deep excavations, basements, tunnels and waterfront or contaminated‑site barriers.
• Use where groundwater control, uplift prevention or cut‑off of contaminants is required.
• Temporary (shoring) or permanent structural walls in urban and infrastructure projects.

Who uses this standard

• Geotechnical and structural engineers preparing designs and working drawings
• Specialist diaphragm‑wall contractors and site supervisors
• Concrete and materials laboratories performing site testing and acceptance
• Project managers, clients and authorities specifying execution and quality control

Related standards

• EN 206:2013 - Concrete: specification, performance, production and conformity (referenced throughout)
• EN 1997 (Eurocode 7) - Geotechnical design (design and ground investigation guidance)

Keywords: EN 1538:2010/FprA1, diaphragm walls, geotechnical works, CEN, EN 206:2013, tremie, slurry, guide-wall, integrity tests, diaphragm panels, construction quality control.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2015
,]YHGEDSRVHEQLKJHRWHKQLþQLKGHO'LDIUDJPH
Execution of special geotechnical works - Diaphragm walls
Ausführung von Arbeiten im Spezialtiefbau - Schlitzwände
Exécution des travaux géotechniques spéciaux - Parois moulées
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 1538:2010/FprA1
ICS:
93.020 Zemeljska dela. Izkopavanja. Earthworks. Excavations.
Gradnja temeljev. Dela pod Foundation construction.
zemljo Underground works
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
FINAL DRAFT
EN 1538:2010
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
FprA1
October 2014
ICS 93.020
English Version
Execution of special geotechnical works - Diaphragm walls
Exécution des travaux géotechniques spéciaux - Parois Ausführung von Arbeiten im Spezialtiefbau - Schlitzwände
moulées
This draft amendment is submitted to CEN members for unique acceptance procedure. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 288.
This draft amendment A1, if approved, will modify the European Standard EN 1538:2010. If this draft becomes an amendment, CEN
members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for inclusion of this amendment
into the relevant national standard without any alteration.

This draft amendment was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made
by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has
the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United
Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to
provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice and
shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2014 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 1538:2010/FprA1:2014 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents
Page
Foreword .3
1 Modifications to Clause 1, Scope .4
2 Modifications to Clause 2, Normative references .4
3 Modification to Clause 3, Terms and definitions .4
4 Modification to Clause 4, Information needed for the execution of the work .4
5 Modifications to 6.1, Constituents .5
6 Modifications to 6.3, Concrete .6
7 Modification to 6.4, Plastic concrete.7
8 Modification to 6.5, Hardening slurry .7
9 Modification to Clause 7, Considerations related to design .7
10 Modification to Clause 8, Execution .7
11 Modification to Clause 9, Supervision, testing and monitoring .8
12 Modification to Annex A, Glossary .9
13 Modification to Annex B, Control schedules during the execution .9
14 Modification to Annex D, Degree of obligation of the provisions .9

Foreword
This document (EN 1538:2010/FprA1:2014) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 288
“Execution of special geotechnical works”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the Unique Acceptance Procedure.
The general scope of TC 288 is the standardisation of the execution procedures for geotechnical works
(including testing and control methods), and of the required material properties.
The Task Group CEN/TC 288/TG Amendments had been charged to amend EN 1538:2010, Execution of
special geotechnical work — Diaphragm walls, and EN 1536:2010, Execution of special geotechnical work —
Bored piles, in order to accord both standards with EN 206:2013, Concrete — Specification, performance,
production and conformity. For this purpose, the technical provisions on fresh concrete, previously contained
in 6.1, Constituents, and 6.3, Concrete, have been moved to the normative Annex D of EN 206:2013.
The design, planning and execution of retaining and cut-off diaphragm walls call for experience and
knowledge in this specialized field. The execution phase requires skilled and qualified personnel and the
present standard cannot replace the expertise of specialist contractors.
For design, this document is complemented by EN 1997-1, Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design ― Part 1:
General rules, and EN 1997-2, Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design ― Part 2: Ground investigation and testing.
This European Standard expands on design only where necessary (e.g. the detailing of reinforcement) and
provides full coverage of the construction and supervision requirements.
Concerning the acceptance of concrete on site, the concrete placement process, the curing and the quality
control measures to be taken during the execution of diaphragm walls, this Standard provides the respective
requirements which complement the general rules contained in EN 13670, Execution of concrete structures.

1 Modifications to Clause 1, Scope
In key to Figure 1, replace No. 5 with
"5 Working platform level".
rd
Replace 3 part of Figure 2 with
"
".
2 Modifications to Clause 2, Normative references
Replace
"EN 206-1:2000, Concrete ― Part 1: Specification, performance, production and conformity" with
"EN 206:2013, Concrete Specification, performance, production and conformity".
Delete
"EN 197-1:2000, Cement ― Part 1: Composition, specifications and conformity criteria for common cements";
"EN 934-2, Admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout — Part 2: Concrete admixtures ― Definitions,
requirements, conformity, marking and labelling
EN 1008, Mixing water for concrete ― Specification for sampling, testing and assessing the suitability of
water, including water recovered from processes in the concrete industry, as mixing water for concrete" and
"EN 12620, Aggregates for concrete".
3 Modification to Clause 3, Terms and definitions
In 3.9, add "/ Schlitzwandlamelle" to read:
"3.9
panel
fr panneau
de Schlitzwandelement / Schlitzwandlamelle
section of a diaphragm wall which is concreted as a single unit
NOTE A diaphragm panel may be linear, T-shaped, L-shaped, or of other configuration.".
4 Modification to Clause 4, Information needed for the execution of the work
th
In 4.2.1, replace 9 bullet with the following:
"
 presence of contaminated ground;".
5 Modifications to 6.1, Constituents
Replace 6.1.4 with the following:
"
6.1.4.1 Cements for diaphragm walls are listed in EN 206:2013, Annex D.
6.1.4.2 The use of CEM II or CEM III cement or the partial replacement of CEM I cement by type II
additions is recommended because they have been shown to have beneficial effects on concrete, such as:
 improved work
...