SIST EN 16907-1:2019

Earthworks - Part 1: Principles and general rules

This standard (Part 1) gives definitions, principles and general rules for the planning, design and specification of earthworks. It introduces the other parts of the standard, which have to be used together with Part 1.
It is applicable to all types of earth-structures, whatever their intended use is (roads, railways, airfields, waterways, buildings, landfills, tailing dams, etc.), except where listed below:
-   Some specific types of works such as the execution of trenches and small earthworks may be organized using simplified or specific rules;
-   Some structures, such as dykes and dams, need earthworks which have specific design and construction requirements: these may extend beyond the rules of this standard.

Erdarbeiten - Teil 1: Grundsätze und allgemeine Regeln

Teil 1 dieser Europäischen Norm legt Definitionen, Grundsätze und allgemeine Regeln für die Planung, Bemessung und Spezifikation von Erdarbeiten fest. Er führt die anderen Teile der Norm ein, welche gemeinsam mit Teil 1 angewendet werden.
Erdarbeiten sind Tiefbaumaßnahmen mit dem Ziel, Erdbauwerke zu schaffen, indem die Geometrie der Erdoberfläche für Bau- oder sonstige Aktivitäten geändert wird. Anwendungsgebiete von Erdarbeiten hängen mit Folgendem zusammen:
— Verkehrsinfrastrukturen (Straßen und Autobahnen, Schienenwege, Wasserwege, Flughäfen);
— Unterbauten für Industrie-, Gewerbe- und Wohngebäude;
— Wasserbau-, Hochwasserschutz- und Küstenschutzanlagen;
— Hafenanlagen und Flughafengelände, einschließlich Errichtung von Aufschüttungen im Wasser;
— Flussdeiche und Meeresdämme zur Landgewinnung;
— Erd- und Steinschüttdämme;
— Dämme auf dem Festland aus hydraulisch eingebrachtem Auffüllmaterial;
— Lärmschutzwände, Sichtbarrieren und andere nichtlasttragende Erdarbeiten;
— Aufschüttungen zur Landschaftsgestaltung;
— Verfüllung von Tagebaugruben und Steinbrüchen;
— Abgangssperren.
Erdarbeiten sind dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass verfügbare natürliche und wiederaufbereitete Materialien so verwendet werden müssen, dass vorgeschriebene Eigenschaften erreicht werden.
Diese Norm gilt für alle Arten von Erdbauwerken, mit Ausnahme der nachstehend aufgeführten Fälle:
— einige spezielle Arten von Arbeiten, so darf z. B. die Ausführung von Gräben und kleinen Erdbauwerken nach vereinfachten oder besonderen Regeln organisiert werden;
— für einige Bauwerke wie Deiche und Dämme sind Erdarbeiten erforderlich, bei denen spezielle Anforderungen an die Bemessung und den Bau gestellt werden: diese können über die in dieser Norm festgelegten Regeln hinausgehen.
Diese Norm deckt keine Bodenverbesserung unterhalb eines Erdbauwerks durch Verfahren wie Pfahlwerke, Düsenstrahlverfahren, tiefe Bodenvermörtelung, senkrechte Dräns oder Schottersäulen ab.
Aufgrund der schwankenden Untergrund- und Klimabedingungen innerhalb von Europa sowie der unter-schiedlichen nationalen Vertragsbedingungen, wurden nationale Regeln in mehreren Europäischen Ländern festgelegt, die innerhalb eines kurzen Zeitraums nicht durch eine Europäische Norm harmonisiert werden konnten. Diese Europäische Norm enthält daher Grundregeln zur Erreichung der vorgenannten Ziele. Die informativen Anhänge B bis H in diesem Dokument enthalten Beispiele für nationale Verfahrensweisen, die diesen Regeln folgen.

Terrassement - Partie 1 : Principes et règles générales

Cette norme européenne (Partie 1) donne les définitions, les principes et les règles générales applicables à la planification, à la conception et aux spécifications des terrassements. Elle introduit les autres parties de la norme, qui doivent être utilisées avec la Partie 1.
Les terrassements sont un processus de génie civil qui vise à créer des ouvrages en terre en modifiant la géométrie de la surface de la terre dans le cadre des projets de construction ou pour d'autres activités. Les champs d'application des terrassements sont associés :
 aux infrastructures de transport (routes et autoroutes, voies de chemin de fer, voies navigables, aéroports) ;
 aux plateformes destinées à la construction de bâtiments industriels, commerciaux ou résidentiels ;
 aux aménagements hydrauliques, aux travaux de défense contre les crues et de protection des côtes ;
 aux zones portuaires et aéroportuaires, y compris la construction de remblais dans l'eau ;
 aux digues en rivière et aux terre-pleins gagnés sur la mer ;
 aux barrages en terre et en enrochements ;
 aux remblais créés par remblaiement hydraulique ;
 aux écrans acoustiques ou visuels et autres ouvrages en terre ne portant pas de charge :
 aux remblais paysagers ;
 au remblaiement des mines à ciel ouvert et des carrières ;
 aux digues de confinement de résidus miniers.
Ils sont caractérisés par la nécessité d'utiliser les matériaux naturels disponibles ou des matériaux recyclés et de les traiter de façon appropriée pour obtenir les propriétés prescrites.
La présente norme s'applique à tous les types d'ouvrages en terre à l'exception des cas suivants :
 certains types de travaux comme l'exécution de tranchées et de petits terrassements peuvent être organisés en utilisant des règles simplifiées ou spécifiques ;
 certains ouvrages, comme les digues et les barrages, nécessitent des terrassements qui ont des exigences spécifiques de conception et de construction : ces exigences peuvent aller plus loin que les règles de cette norme.
La présente norme ne couvre pas l’amélioration du terrain sous un ouvrage en terre par des techniques telles que l’installation d’inclusions rigides, la réalisation de colonnes de sols traités en place par jet ou mélange mécanique, l'installation de drains verticaux ou de colonnes ballastées.
Compte tenu de la variabilité des conditions de sous-sol et de climat en Europe, et des différentes dispositions contractuelles nationales, des règles spécifiques ont été établies dans différents pays européens. Celles-ci n'ont pas pu être harmonisées sous forme d'une Norme européenne unique dans les délais de rédaction du présent document. Pour cette raison, cette Norme européenne définit les
FprEN 16907-1:2017(F)
7
règles de base pour atteindre les objectifs décrits ci-dessus. Les annexes informatives B à H du présent document donnent des exemples de pratiques nationales qui suivent ces règles.

Zemeljska dela - 1. del: Načela in splošna pravila

Ta standard (1. del) določa definicije, načela in splošna pravila za načrtovanje, projektiranje ter specifikacijo zemeljskih del. Vpeljuje druge dele standarda, ki se morajo uporabljati skupaj s 1. delom.
Uporablja se za vse vrste zemeljskih struktur ne glede na njihov namen uporabe (ceste, železnice, letališke steze, vodne poti, zgradbe, odlagališča, jalovinske pregrade itd.), razen kot je navedeno spodaj:
– nekatere določene vrste dela, kot so izkopavanje jarkov in manjša zemeljska dela, se lahko organizirajo z uporabo poenostavljenih ali posebnih pravil;
– nekatere strukture, kot so zadrževalni nasipi in jezovi, zahtevajo zemeljska dela s posebnimi zahtevami glede projektiranja in konstrukcije: te lahko presegajo pravila tega standarda.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 30-Mar-2016
• Publication Date: 14-Mar-2019
• ICS: 93.020 - Earthworks. Excavations. Foundation construction. Underground works
• Technical Committee: ZEM - Earthworks
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 27-Feb-2019
• Due Date: 04-May-2019
• Completion Date: 15-Mar-2019
• Ref Project: EN 16907-1:2018 - Earthworks - Part 1: Principles and general rules

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN 16907-1:2019
01-april-2019
=HPHOMVNDGHODGHO1DþHODLQVSORãQDSUDYLOD
Earthworks - Part 1: Principles and general rules
Erdarbeiten - Teil 1: Grundsätze und allgemeine Regeln
Terrassement - Partie 1 : Principes et règles générales
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 16907-1:2018
ICS:
93.020 Zemeljska dela. Izkopavanja. Earthworks. Excavations.
Gradnja temeljev. Dela pod Foundation construction.
zemljo Underground works
SIST EN 16907-1:2019 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN 16907-1:2019

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SIST EN 16907-1:2019


EN 16907-1
EUROPEAN STANDARD

NORME EUROPÉENNE

December 2018
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 93.020
English Version

Earthworks - Part 1: Principles and general rules
Terrassement - Partie 1 : Principes et règles générales Erdarbeiten - Teil 1: Grundsätze und allgemeine Regeln
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 20 May 2018.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.

This European Standard exists 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, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.





EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2018 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 16907-1:2018 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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SIST EN 16907-1:2019
EN 16907-1:2018(E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 9
3 Terms and definitions . 9
3.1 Definitions . 9
3.2 Abbreviations and symbols . 14
4 Principles of earthworks design and execution . 17
4.1 General. 17
4.2 Stages of earthworks projects . 17
4.3 Instructions for the execution of works . 18
4.4 Relationship between earthworks and earth-structure design . 19
4.5 Sustainable development and environmental considerations for earthworks . 20
4.6 Risk management . 21
4.7 Types of earthwork processes . 22
5 Specific site and material investigations . 22
5.1 Information needed for earthworks design . 22
5.2 Coordination of ground investigations . 23
5.2.1 General. 23
5.2.2 Site investigations for geotechnical design . 23
5.2.3 Specific ground investigations for earthworks . 23
5.2.4 Geotechnical reporting . 24
5.3 Use of classification systems . 24
6 Design of earthworks for fills . 25
6.1 Introduction . 25
6.2 Design procedure . 26
6.2.1 General. 26
6.2.2 Fill zones . 27
6.3 Selection of the fill material properties and compaction process . 32
6.3.1 General. 32
6.3.2 Characterization of materials . 33
6.3.3 Criteria for assessing the compacted fill material . 34
6.3.4 Compaction behaviour of fill materials . 35
6.3.5 Relationship testing to assess fill performance . 37
6.3.6 Link between construction method and earthworks fill design . 38
6.3.7 Use of full-scale tests to assess a compaction process for a given fill material . 38
6.3.8 Design of fill cross-section . 39
6.4 Details of specific parts, materials and earth structures . 39
6.4.1 Introduction . 39
6.4.2 Capping layers . 39
6.4.3 Transition zones . 40
6.4.4 Fills on slopes . 42
6.4.5 Specific materials . 42
6.4.6 High fills . 43
6.4.7 Fills on soft soils or areas prone to flooding . 44
6.4.8 Fills built above cavities . 44
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SIST EN 16907-1:2019
EN 16907-1:2018(E)
6.4.9 Surplus materials. 45
7 Design of earthworks for cuttings . 45
7.1 General . 45
7.2 Materials involved . 45
7.3 Geometry . 46
7.4 Drainage . 46
7.5 Overall stability . 46
7.6 Relevant properties of the cutting base (subgrade) . 46
8 Design of earthworks formed by dredging and hydraulic placement of fills . 47
9 Design of earthworks for hydraulic placement of wastes . 47
10 Earthworks Drainage . 48
10.1 Drainage for collecting water . 48
10.2 Protection of slopes against erosion. 51
11 Optimization of earthworks project design . 51
12 Technical Specifications for earthworks. 52
12.1 General . 52
12.2 End product Specification . 54
12.3 Method Specification . 54
12.4 Performance Specification . 55
13 Monitoring earthworks and checking earth-structures performance . 55
13.1 Introduction . 55
13.2 Needs and techniques for monitoring and checking earthworks . 56
13.3 Checking earth-structure performance . 57
14 Use of national experience and non-conflicting rules . 57
14.1 General . 57
14.2 Informative examples of experience-based national practices . 57
Annex A (informative) Geometry definitions for earthworks and earth-structures . 59
Annex B (informative) Summary of national practice - Austria . 62
B.1 Introduction . 62
B.2 Soil and Rock Classification . 63
B.2.1 Soil classification according to ÖNORM B 4400-1 . 63
B.2.2 Soil and rock classification according to ÖNORM B 2205 . 63
B.3 Execution of earthworks . 63
B.3.1 General . 63
B.3.2 Soil and rock excavation . 64
B.3.3 Preparation of formation level of subsoil (embankment foundations) . 64
B.4 Construction of embankments and fills. 65
B.4.1 Construction materials . 65
B.4.2 Placement and compaction . 66
B.4.3 Construction of formation level of sub-base . 68
B.4.4 Construction of embankments and cut slopes . 68
B.4.5 Backfilling and filling of structures . 69
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SIST EN 16907-1:2019
EN 16907-1:2018 (E)
B.4.6 Filling of line trenches and covering of lines (pipes, cables) . 73
B.4.7 Measures aimed at improving subsoil and fills . 74
B.5 Quality Control (Tests) . 76
B.5.1 General. 76
B.5.2 Test types . 76
B.5.3 Test procedures . 77
B.6 Literature . 80
Annex C (informative) Summary of national practice - France . 83
C.1 Introduction . 83
C.2 Classification of materials . 83
C.3 Design of Earthworks . 87
C.3.1 Introduction . 87
C.3.2 Specification of the mechanical properties to be obtained . 87
C.3.3 Classification of hydric state of materials and weather conditions. 89
C.3.4 Fill material . 90
C.3.5 Capping layer . 92
C.3.6 Compaction of fill . 95
C.3.7 Extraction and transportation of soil and rocks . 98
C.3.8 Compaction of materials . 98
C.4 Control of earthworks . 99
C.4.1 Introduction . 99
C.4.2 Technical processes and control methods. 99
C.5 References . 102
Annex D (informative) Summary of national practice - Germany . 104
D.1 Introduction . 104
D.2 Classification of materials . 105
D.2.1 Classification according to DIN 18196 . 105
D.2.2 Classification according to DIN 18300 . 110
D.2.3 Classification of frost susceptibility of soil groups according to ZTV E-StB . 111
D.3 Execution of earthworks . 112
D.3.1 General. 112
D.3.2 Loosening, loading and conveying . 112
D.3.3 Placing and compacting . 112
D.3.4 Special construction methods in earthworks according to ZTV E-StB . 115
D.4 Control of Earthworks . 116
D.4.1 Types of testing . 116
D.4.2 Testing methods . 117
4

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SIST EN 16907-1:2019
EN 16907-1:2018(E)
D.5 References . 118
Annex E (informative) Summary of national practice - Norway . 121
E.1 Introduction . 121
E.2 Classification of materials . 121
E.3 Design of earthworks . 122
E.3.1 Dredging. 122
E.3.2 Underwater blasting . 122
E.3.3 Transportation at sea . 123
E.3.4 Spreading and compaction of fills . 123
E.3.5 Filling under water . 133
E.3.6 Replacement / displacement of soft soil . 135
E.3.7 Influence of weather conditions. 136
E.4 Quality control of earthworks . 136
E.5 References . 137
Annex F (informative) Summary of national practice - Spain . 138
F.1 Introduction . 138
F.2 Classification of materials . 138
F.2.1 General . 138
F.2.2 Soil classes . 138
F.2.3 Fill classes built with rocky materials . 141
F.3 Possible use of marginal materials . 141
F.3.1 General . 141
F.3.2 Some marginal soils . 141
F.3.3 Some marginal rocks . 142
F.4 Preliminary design of earth-structure cross section . 143
F.5 Types of earth-structures to be built . 145
F.6 Basic construction rules . 145
F.6.1 Preparation of the ground area to build the earth or rockfill . 145
F.6.2 Earthfills. 145
F.6.3 Rock and random fills . 147
F.7 Control of earthworks . 148
F.7.1 General . 148
F.7.2 Earthfills. 148
F.7.3 Rock and Random fills . 149
F.8 Reference . 150
Annex G (informative) Summary of national practice – Sweden . 151
G.1 Introduction . 151
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SIST EN 16907-1:2019
EN 16907-1:2018 (E)
G.2 Classification of materials . 151
G.2.1 Introduction . 151
G.2.2 Soil classification . 151
G.2.3 Rock classification . 153
G.3 Design of earthworks . 153
G.4 Control of earthworks . 153
Annex H (informative) Summary of national practice - United Kingdom . 155
H.1 Introduction . 155
H.2 Classification of materials . 155
H.3 Design of earthworks . 159
H.3.1 General. 159
H.3.2 BS 6031:2009, Clause 8.2: Specification of earthworks by SHW approach . 159
H.3.3 SHW required documentation within project earthworks specification . 160
H.3.4 Compaction requirements (classification, design and construction aspects) . 160
H.3.5 Alternative specifications . 160
H.3.6 Additional requirements for deep fill areas/buildings and structures .
...

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 16907-1:2016
01-februar-2016
=HPHOMVNDGHODGHO1DþHODLQVSORãQDSUDYLOD
Earthworks - Part 1: Principles and general rules
Erdarbeiten - Teil 1: Grundsätze und allgemeine Regeln
Terrassement - Partie 1 : Principes et règles générales
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 16907-1
ICS:
93.020 Zemeljska dela. Izkopavanja. Earthworks. Excavations.
Gradnja temeljev. Dela pod Foundation construction.
zemljo Underground works
oSIST prEN 16907-1:2016 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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oSIST prEN 16907-1:2016

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oSIST prEN 16907-1:2016


DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 16907-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE

EUROPÄISCHE NORM

January 2016
ICS 93.020
English Version

Earthworks - Part 1: Principles and general rules
Terrassement - Partie 1 : Principes et règles générales Erdarbeiten - Teil 1: Grundsätze und allgemeine Regeln
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 396.

If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard 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
© 2016 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 16907-1:2016 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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oSIST prEN 16907-1:2016
prEN 16907-1:2016 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 5
Introduction . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Principles of earthworks design and execution . 8
4.1 General . 8
4.2 Stages of earthworks projects . 8
4.3 Instructions for the execution of works . 9
4.4 Design of earthworks and design of earth-structures . 10
4.5 Earthworks, sustainable development and the environment . 12
4.6 Risk management . 13
4.7 Types of earthworks . 13
5 Specific site and material investigations . 13
5.1 Information needed for earthworks design . 13
5.2 Coordination of geotechnical investigations for earth-structure and earthworks . 14
5.2.1 General . 14
5.2.2 Site investigations for geotechnical design . 14
5.2.3 Specific geotechnical investigations for earthworks . 15
5.2.4 Geotechnical reporting . 16
5.3 Use of classification systems . 16
6 Design of earthworks for embankments . 17
6.1 Introduction . 17
6.2 Design procedure . 18
6.2.1 General . 18
6.2.2 Embankment zones . 18
6.3 Selection of the fill material properties and compaction process . 23
6.3.1 General . 23
6.3.2 Characterization of materials . 24
6.3.3 Criteria for assessing the compacted fill material . 24
6.3.4 Compaction behaviour of fill materials . 25
6.3.5 Relationship testing to assess fill performance . 28
6.3.6 Link between construction method and earthworks fill design . 28
6.3.7 Validation of the compaction process for a given fill material . 28
6.3.8 Design of embankment cross-section . 29
6.4 Design of specific parts of embankments . 29
6.4.1 Introduction . 29
6.4.2 Capping layers . 29
6.4.3 Transition zones . 30
6.4.4 Embankments on slopes . 32
6.4.5 Specific materials . 32
6.4.6 High embankments . 34
6.4.7 Embankments on soft soils . 34
6.4.8 Embankments built above cavities . 35
2

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oSIST prEN 16907-1:2016
prEN 16907-1:2016 (E)
6.4.9 Surplus materials . 35
7 Design of earthworks for cuttings . 35
7.1 General . 35
7.2 Materials involved . 36
7.3 Geometry . 36
7.4 Drainage . 36
7.5 Overall stability . 37
7.6 Relevant properties of the cutting base (subgrade) . 37
8 Design of earthworks formed by dredging and hydraulic placement of fills . 37
9 Design of earthworks for hydraulic placement of mineral wastes . 38
10 Drainage . 39
10.1 Drainage for collecting water . 39
10.2 Protection of slopes against erosion . 41
11 Optimization of earthworks project design . 42
12 Specifications for earthworks . 43
12.1 General . 43
12.2 End product Specification . 44
12.3 Method Specification . 45
12.4 Performance Specification . 45
12.5 Additional requirements for deep fill areas/buildings and structures . 46
13 Execution of earthworks . 46
14 Monitoring earthworks and checking earth-structures performance . 47
14.1 Introduction. 47
14.2 Needs and techniques for monitoring and checking earthworks . 47
14.3 Checking earth-structure performance . 48
15 Use of national experience and non-conflicting rules . 48
15.1 General . 48
15.2 Informative examples of experience-based national practices . 49
Annex A (informative) Example of procedure for the validation of the compaction process
for a given fill material. Organization and execution of trial sections . 50
Annex B (informative) Geometry definitions for earthworks and earth-structures . 52
Annex C (informative) Summary of national practice - France . 55
C.1 Introduction. 55
C.2 Classification of materials . 55
C.3 Design of Earthworks . 59
C.4 Control of earthworks . 70
C.5 References . 74
Annex D (informative) Summary of national practice - Germany . 75
D.1 Introduction. 75
D.2 Classification of materials . 76
D.3 Execution of earthworks . 83
D.4 Control of Earthworks . 87
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oSIST prEN 16907-1:2016
prEN 16907-1:2016 (E)
D.5 References . 89
Annex E (informative) Summary of national practice - Norway . 91
E.1 Introduction . 91
E.2 Classification of materials . 91
E.3 Design of earthworks . 92
E.4 Quality control of earthworks . 104
E.5 References . 106
Annex F (informative) Summary of national practice - Spain . 107
F.1 Introduction . 107
F.2 Classification of materials . 107
F.3 Possible use of marginal materials . 110
F.4 Preliminary design of earth-structure cross section . 112
F.5 Types of earthstructures to be built . 113
F.6 Basic construction rules . 113
F.7 Control of earthworks . 116
F.8 Reference . 118
Annex G (informative) Summary of national practice – Sweden . 119
G.1 Introduction . 119
G.2 Classification of materials . 119
G.3 Design of earthworks . 121
G.4 Control of earthworks . 121
Annex H (informative) Summary of national practice - United Kingdom . 123
H.1 Introduction . 123
H.2 Classification of materials . 123
H.3 Design of earthworks . 126
H.4 Control of earthworks during construction . 133
H.5 References . 134

4

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oSIST prEN 16907-1:2016
prEN 16907-1:2016 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 16907-1:2016) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 396
“Earthworks”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document is one of the European Standards within the framework series of EN 16907 on
Earthworks, as follows:
— Part 1: Principles and general rules (this document);
— Part 2: Classification of materials;
— Part 3: Construction procedures;
— Part 4: Soil treatment with lime and/or hydraulic binders;
— Part 5: Quality control;
— Part 6: Land reclamation with dredged hydraulic fill;
— Part 7: Hydraulic placement of mineral waste.
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Introduction
Earthworks are a civil engineering process aimed at creating earth-structures by changing the geometry
of the earth surface for construction or other activities. Application fields of earthworks are associated
with:
— transport infrastructures (road and motorways, railways, waterways, airports);
— platforms for industrial, commercial and residential buildings;
— water engineering, flood defence and coastal protection works;
— harbours and airport areas, including the construction of embankments in water;
— river dykes and marine embankments for land reclamation;
— earth and rock fill dams;
— onshore embankments made of hydraulically placed fill;
— landscaping embankments;
— backfilling of open mines;
— tailing dams;
— etc.
They are characterized by the need to use available natural or recycled materials and to handle them in
a way appropriate to yield prescribes properties.
The set of standards prepared by CEN/TC 396 is divided into several parts, which correspond to
different steps of the planning, execution and control of earthworks and should be considered for
executing earthworks:
— Part 1: Principles and general rules (this document);
— Part 2: Classification of materials;
— Part 3: Construction procedures;
— Part 4: Soil treatment with lime and/or hydraulic binders;
— Part 5: Quality control;
— Part 6: Land reclamation with dredged hydraulic fill;
— Part 7: Hydraulic placement of mineral waste.
These “Earthworks standards” do not apply to the environmental planning and geotechnical design that
determines the required form and properties of the earth-structure that is to be constructed (these
aspects are covered in other European Standards). They apply to the design of the earthworks
materials, execution, monitoring and checking of earthworks construction processes to ensure that the
completed earth-structure satisfies the geotechnical design.
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1 Scope
This European Standard (Part 1) gives definitions, principles and general rules for the planning, design
and specification of earthworks. It introduces the other parts of the standard, which need to be used
together with Part 1.
It is applicable to all types of earth-structures, whatever their intended use is (roads, railways, airfields,
waterways, buildings, landfills, tailing dams, etc.), except where listed below:
— some specific types of works such as the execution of trenches and small earthworks may be
organized using simplified or specific rules;
— some structures, such as dykes and dams, need earthworks which have specific design and
construction requirements: these may extend beyond the rules of this standard.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1997-1, Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design - Part 1: General rules
EN 1997-2: 2007, Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design - Part 2: Ground investigation and testing
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
earthworks
civil engineering process that modifies the geometry of ground surface, by creating stable and durable
earth-structures
3.2
earth-structure
civil engineering structure, made of soils, rocks, by-products or recycled materials, resulting from
earthworks (cutting, embankment)
3.3
design of earthworks
defining of the construction process to produce a specified earth-structure
3.4
materials
all soils, rocks, by-products and recycled materials handled during earthworks
Note 1 to entry: Materials do not include binders, geosynthetics and other materials, which are designated by
their own name.
3.5
fill material
material used for the construction of an embankment
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3.6
embankment
any earth-structure formed by the placement of fill material in a controlled manner (including the
infilling of large excavations, and earth-structures formed by dredging)
3.7
embankment zone
subdivision of an embankment, such as the base, the core, the shoulders and the upper zone
3.8
superstructure
any type of civil engineering construction placed on top of an embankment
Note 1 to entry: Examples of superstructure are road, rail track, building, etc.
3.9
capping layer
specific transition layer, part of the upper zone, placed below the superstructure
3.10
cutting
structure produced by excavating ground
Note 1 to entry: The geometry of earth-structures and parts of them (layers, surfaces, etc.) are not always
described in the same way in different languages and countries. Drawings explaining the meaning of these
geometric terms are given in informative Annex B.
4 Principles of earthworks design and execution
4.1 General
Earthworks include to extract, load, transport, transform/improve, place, stabilize and compact natural
materials (soils, rocks), by-products or recycled materials in order to obtain stable and durable cuttings,
embankments or engineered fills, with prescribed properties. These works may be executed
underwater. Earthworks require planning, design, construction and maintenance. They depend on the
properties on the materials, the required properties of the structure and the environment.
This document gives rules relative to the organization of earthworks projects and their design and
planning.
4.2 Stages of earthworks projects
Each earthworks project consists of two main stages:
— pre-construction studies, including:
— the analysis of the earth-structure to be built;
— site investigations and classification of materials (prEN 16907-1:2016, Clause 5 and
prEN 16907-2:2015, Clause 5);
— assessment of the compatibility of these materials with the required properties of the earth-
structure (prEN 16907-1:2016, Clauses 6, 7, 8 and 9);
— selection of a construction procedure (prEN 16907-1, -3, -6 and -7);
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— optimization of earthworks at the scale of the whole project (prEN 16907-1:2016, Clause 11);
— specifications for executing the works (construction procedure, monitoring, quality control)
(prEN 16907-1, -3, -5, -6 and -7);
— execution of works (construction):
— installation on site;
— checking the design assumptions (that may be revised, if necessary);
— execution of works as specified;
— monitoring;
— quality assessment;
— checking the characteristics of the completed earth-structure vs. the requirements, leading to
the acceptance of the results of the earthworks.
4.3 Instructions for the execution of works
The design of earthworks shall produce detailed instructions to be imposed on the execution of works
(Parts 3 to 7). These instructions include such items as:
— for building sites:
— type and consistency of the area to be worked with;
— foundation level, type of foundation and construction of buildings nearby;
— type and consistency of existing enclosure or retaining structures;
— type, position, dimension and owner of natural or artificial cavities and obstacles (anchors,
geosynthetics, stone columns, sealing bodies, grouted material, etc.);
— for embankments and cuttings:
— quantity (volume), type, position, dimensions and structure of the earth-structures;
— quantity, type, position, dimensions, formations and purpose of construction pits and trenches,
including minimum dimensions of the working space;
— inclination of slopes and development of berms;
— deviations from the specified dimensions for ablation or removal profiles; especially for
planum and coating thickness;
— protection for construction pits and trenches, embankments and slopes;
— efforts related to the laying and reconstruction of the protection for construction pits and
trenches, embankments and slopes;
— keeping a protective layer above foundation level, thickness of the protective layer and
moment of removal;
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— description and classification of soils, rocks and other materials, en accordance with Part 2;
— main differences to do with properties and conditions of soils, rocks and other materials before
and after excavation;
— constraints concerning the use of specific materials, especially by-products and recycled
materials;
— usage, treatment and processing of soils, rocks and other materials as well as type of laying or
other uses;
...