SIST EN 16907-1:2019

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2019
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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
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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.

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
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
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
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
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 . 161
H.3.7 Selection of fill material properties (earthworks fill design) . 161
H.3.8 Extracts from core tables of UK Specification for Highway Works (SHW) . 163
H.4 Control of earthworks during construction . 168
H.5 References . 168
Bibliography . 170

European foreword
This document (EN 16907-1:2018) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 396
“Earthworks”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2019, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by June 2019.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document is one of the European Standards within the framework series of EN 16907 on
Earthworks. 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 collectively as a group of standards for executing earthworks. The full set of Parts is as
follows:
— EN 16907-1 Earthworks - Part 1: Principles and general rules (this document);
— EN 16907-2 Earthworks - Part 2: Classification of materials;
— EN 16907-3 Earthworks - Part 3: Construction procedures;
— EN 16907-4 Earthworks - Part 4: Soil treatment with lime and/or hydraulic binders;
— EN 16907-5 Earthworks - Part 5: Quality control;
— EN 16907-6 Earthworks - Part 6: Land reclamation earthworks using dredged hydraulic fill;
— EN 16907-7 Earthworks - Part 7: Hydraulic placement of extractive waste.
Within this standard, references to specific parts of the standard are written by reference the full
reference (e.g. “EN 16907-2”).
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. 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.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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 the United Kingdom.
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 will be used
together with Part 1.
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;
— noise barriers, visual barrier, and other non-load bearing earthworks:
— landscaping embankments;
— backfilling of open mines and quarries;
— tailings dams;
They are characterized by the need to use available natural or recycled materials and to handle them in
a way appropriate to yield prescribed properties.
This standard is applicable to all types of earth-structures, except the cases 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.
This standard does not cover ground improvement beneath an earth-structure by techniques such as
piling, jet grouting, deep soil mixing, vertical drains or stone columns.
Due to the variable subsoil and climate conditions within Europe and to the different national contract
conditions, national sets of rules have been established in several European countries which could not
be harmonized within a short period by a European Standard. This European Standard gives therefore
basic rules to reach the aims described above. Informative Annexes B to H of this document give
examples of national practices following these rules.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. 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, Eurocode 7 - Geotechnical design - Part 2: Ground investigation and testing
EN 16907-2, Earthworks - Part 2: Classification of materials
EN 16907-3, Earthworks - Part 3: Construction procedures
EN 16907-4, Earthworks - Part 4: Soil treatment with lime and/or hydraulic binders
EN 16907-5, Earthworks - Part 5: Quality control
EN 16907-6, Earthworks - Part 6: Land reclamation earthworks using dredged hydraulic fill
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
Note 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 A.
3.1 Definitions
3.1.1
air void content
ratio of the volume of air to the total volume of the soil
3.1.2
binder
product or combination of products which, when mixed with a material, provides either a short-term or
a long term enhancement of the properties of the material
3.1.3
bulking
volume change of a soil mass due to handling (normally a positive volume change upon excavation)
3.1.4
capping layer
specific transition layer, part of the upper zone of the fill, placed below the superstructure. The capping
layer is part of the earth structure
3.1.5
classification
definition of classes and assigning of materials to classes with similar properties for earthworks
3.1.6
compaction
densification of fill material by mechanical process, to obtain prescribed properties of the fill
3.1.7
compactive effort
overall measure of the physical exertion applied to compact a layer of fill, which reflects : compactor
mass/m , number of passes, speed of the roller, frequency of vibration and layer thickness
3.1.8
cut or cutting
linear earth-structure formed by the process of excavation
3.1.9
degree of compaction (of fill)
ratio between in situ dry density of compacted fill material and maximum dry density obtained from a
standard laboratory compaction test
3.1.10
degree of saturation
ratio of the pore water volume to the volume of voids
3.1.11
description
identification and naming of a given material and its physical and soil mechanical properties that are
relevant for earthwork purposes
3.1.12
design of earth-structure
defining the civil engineering structure under EN 1997 series to meet the functional requirements for
future use
3.1.13
design of earthworks
defining the construction process to produce a specified earth-structure
3.1.14
dredging
excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh
water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and placing them at a different location
3.1.15
dry density
mass of the solid particles divided by the total volume of a sample
3.1.16
earth-structure
civil engineering structure, made of soils, rocks, by-products or recycled materials, resulting from
earthworks (cut, fill, infill)
3.1.17
earthworks
civil engineering process that modifies the geometry of ground surface, by creating stable and durable
earth-structures
3.1.18
earthworks constructor
person or organization in charge of executing earthworks
3.1.19
earthworks designer
person or organization in charge of designing earthworks
3.1.20
embankment
common name for an earth-structure formed by the process of filling to form a free standing earth
structure (including linear features and nonlinear platforms)
3.1.21
end product specification
specification requiring earthworks to be constructed to achieve specified engineering criteria related to
the compacted fill
3.1.22
excavation
general term used both for the process of excavating the ground or for the resulting change in the
ground surface either for a temporary excavation or permanent earth structure
3.1.23
extractive waste
mineral wastes derived from mineral extraction operations
3.1.24
fill
collective term used in this standard to describe all earth-structures formed by the placement of fill
material in a controlled manner for an engineering purpose (including embankment, infill, platform,
etc.)
3.1.25
fill material
material used for the construction of a fill
3.1.26
fill zone
subdivision of a fill (or part of an earth-structure), such as the base, the core, the shoulders and the
upper zone
3.1.27
filling
process of placing fill material to form a temporary or permanent earth structure
3.1.28
formation level
prepared surface on which the fill or the superstructure is built
3.1.29
hydraulic fill
material placed in a liquid form, as a mixture of soil particles and water, in a deliberate manner so that
the soil particles accumulate as a deposit, and densify as further fill is placed above to create a body of
fill
3.1.30
infill
earth structure formed by filling a void or hollow in a controlled manner to form a body of engineered
fill that is not free standing (including an excavation infill, filling behind an embankment for the
purposes of land reclamation, mine infill, etc.)
3.1.31
materials
soils, rocks, industrial by-products and recycled mineral materials used during earthworks for
construction of earth-structures. In this standard, materials do not include binders, geosynthetics and
other materials, which are designated by their own name
3.1.32
mattressing
behaviour of soil that is too wet during compaction, resulting in the formation of waves, creating
instability of the compaction plant and preventing further compaction
3.1.33
maximum dry density
maximum value of the dry density obtained in the reference compaction test (Proctor or Modified
Proctor, Vibrating Hammer Compaction or any other compaction test). This value is related to a water
content that is also known as the optimum water content
3.1.34
method specification
specification requiring to produce and place earth-structures using specified materials, specific types of
equipment and methods
3.1.35
natural soil or rock
soil or rock that is either in its original geological setting or has been excavated, but has not been
fundamentally modified by human activity other than earthworks processes such as excavation,
screening and crushing, drying (or those processes described in this standard).
3.1.36
non-structural fill
fill that is not going to support any infrastructure
3.1.37
optimum water content
water content at which a specified compactive effort can compact a soil mass to its maximum dry
density
3.1.38
over compaction
excessive compaction, by load intensity or duration, resulting in excess porewater pressure leading to
unacceptable fill properties (e.g. mattressing)
3.1.39
performance specification
specification requiring the works to be defined relative to long-term project requirements, which are
commonly set at a relatively high level
3.1.40
properties
physical, mechanical and chemical attributes of a material
3.1.41
quality assurance
planned and systematic actions necessary to provide confidence that the earth-structure will perform
satisfactorily in service i.e. that it has been constructed to the specified requirements
3.1.42
quality control
system used to monitor, assess and adjust construction/execution processes to ensure that the final
product will meet the specified level of quality
3.1.43
secondary fill material
material that has been fundamentally changed by human activity for one purpose and then is reused as
an earthworks fill material (this may include: recycled material, by-product, secondary aggregate, etc.)
3.1.44
specification (technical specification)
document or set of clauses that states the technical requirements for construction and control of the
earthworks (to be read in conjunction with the project drawings)
3.1.45
suitable material
fill material where the soil properties prior to compaction satisfy the requirements of the earthworks
technical specificatio
...