Table Of ContentLATERAL SUPPORT
IN SURFACE EXCAVATIONS
CODE OF PRACTICE
1989
THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTION OF
CIVIL ENGINEERS
GEOTECHNICAL DIVISION
LATERALS UPPORINTS URFACEE XCAVANTSIO
LATERSAULP PORT
INS URFAECXCAVATEI ONS
CODOEF P RACTICE
1989
THES OUTAHF RICIANNS TITOUFT ION
CIVEINLG INEERS
GEOTECHNIDCIAVLI SION
LATERAL SUPPRTO INS URFAECEX CAVATIO-NCodSe ofP ractice
© SOUTAHF RICANI NSTITUTOIFCO INV EINLG IEN�E.
Firsetd ition 1972
Seconedd it1i9o8n9 . .
Seconedd itsieoncndoi, m pression 1993
Publibsyth hSoeeud t .hA frIincsatnio tfCu itivEoinnlg ineers (GDeiovtiescihonni)c.a l
Alrli grhetsse Nrvedo.p aorttf h Codies ofP racmtaibyce ree p rodbuecb erdo,a dcast
ort ransmiinatt nefydo romrb ya nmye aneeslc,t ronimcechaalnliyci,an ldcliglyn u,
photocopyriencgo,or brdy ii nnfogr msattoirooairngan en r ye trsiyesmvtw aeilt htohuet
pripoerr miioosnfts hGeoet echnDiicvailos fSi oonu Atfhr iIcnasnt iotfCu itviioln
Engineers.
Altheovuegeryhff ohrtabe se nm adt�eo � stuhrae( itnhfeo ramnaddta itponar esent
edi tnh Ciosdo ePf r acarteci ocrern eecittt,hhG eeeo rt echDniivicsnaioltor hnS e o uth
AfriIcnastni toufCt iEivnoiglni naerreeers s ponsfoirba lneeyror rsa nodm isnssni,roo
fora ncyo nseqreuseunlceftsroi mtn hgese er roomrsi,ss ieotnsTc,he.v ewsi exepSSerd
itnh Hiasn dbaoorekn onte cessaortfih lGyee otthoeascDelhi nviincsotihroe Sn ou th
AfriIcnastni tdu CtiiEvoningl i neers.
ThiHsa ndbcoaobnke o rdefrreodm :
SohuA tfrniI cnastituotfC iioEvnni gli neers,
P.OB.o x 94345
YEOVILLE
2143
ISB0-6N2 0-13790-(8s cooftv er)
ISB0-6N2 0-139(5h1a-crXod v· er)
PrinbtySe idg Pmrae (sPtys)L imi.t�.·e- d.
TypesbeytI tnidnuGgsr tarpi·ha.il c s.
FOREWORD
ThisCo deo fP racrteiepcsrneet tsh eeffo rtso fad edcitaegdr ooufcpiv li
engnieersformt �h GteoencihaclD ivoinos ftie hS AICwEh,oh aevs pent
_
fveiy earsiu np daitnagn rde sviitnehgCo deo fP racotnLi atecrelSa upoprt
inS urfaceE xcavas,tw ihoincwahs f iprustb hleidis n1 972.
Thep rveiuosp ubliioacnrats oef rmo tShyem poosniD ueepmB asmeent
Ecx�vtianosh eliJdno hnanesrbgiu n1 967.tt hAtaitam n eum breo fd epe
basemet,nsr anggf rimon 1t5o3 �m etesr idne ptwhe,rb eeig ne cxatvead
inJ ohanensubrIgit.sb evleitdeh tahtTe r uBsatn, Ck arnlC teontarned
SatdnadrB anCekn treexa cvantswi eoraem ontghd ee epietnsh twe o dr l
att htaite.m
Twevley eaarftsep ru bclaitoifto hnoe rg iinCoadle t,h Geeo tencihcal
Dvisiicoonn sidtd ahetthre es t-oaf-tthee-arth ad vaadcnesdos ingifntli,yc a
prtaiacruillnty h uees o fa ncrhfsoo lra teralt hsaaru tep svpiiooortftn, h e
Codew anse ces:Isa stro yobnec amec lret ahtahtce h apdteearlswi intgh
fuondtaiionnv easttipioagnrt,i cfuolararn lcyh owroirankng,dd e siaglns o
neeeddu pdating.
Asbe fotrhece,o m mitsteeraec htehwdeo rfloadsr i mCoidleac ro vienrg
alals peocfst usrf a·ceex cavaantldia otsneusrp aploo nwrt h hit com odel
thewiorrT kh.e fyon udC odeosfP ractdiecnaegl· ·wi it·ha nchoarnsd,
publicatiowintsdh i adpehawrlaailgnlmgpi inlgai,nn dgg r outbiuntg ,
nowhceoruetl hd-ef iydn ao doCefP rac·dt eiacleitnthg ho--..evv eisruabljle ct
ofl aertaslu ppionsrt u rfeaxccea vat-ions:
Thilsa tCeosdtie st hereofnocarege a ai nn·u itjuSeolu·yAt fhrican
publicaanwtdii bloeoln if m mevnasletu toeh c ei evninglei erpirnogf ession
fotrhy ee atrocos m eT.h ceo mmitwtheh�ev a ew o�koen-idht a vbee en
drnaf wroamlfa lc eotfts h per ofeassniid(?n nc;lC u(?dnes uelntgiinsng,e er
conttrroassc pecsiianilgnli at·es ruaplpaonrt_dc �veinlge ienrisnt he
aacdemfiice ld. Tthehriesf roCeropedr eet shebenr tosat dp eosses ibl
sepcutmro fc ievnigli rnieenexgpe reti ints hfiiswe iltdSh oiunAt frhi cIa .
woulldi tktoea tkheoi psp ortounnb iethoyafa l lcfli e vniglei enrwsh moa y
useita ndc liwehnomt asyb eneffritoi mto ,ft hantkhiceno gm meieatt nd
inp acrtuiliatCrsh ainr,Mm raR osPsa rry-fDoafrvi iyveeesa o,rfe s f fort
inb rginingt hriesv itsoai noe-nm ine·snattliys·fcaocnstciol·oryu:,n· - ··
CMM cIMLLAN
SACIEP redesnit19,88 Mar1c9h8 9
MEMBEROSF T HE
COMMITET E
TheCo mmitrteesep onfsotirhb pelr eo ducotfti hoCinos d eP roafc otni ce
behaolft fhG ee otechDniivciaslti hoSeno uoAtffh r iIcnasnt iotfCu itviioln
Engineers:
ChairmaRn P arry-DParv.iEBenSsgc:E; n gM;I CEF;S AICMES;A ConAsAEA;r b
Editor PFS avaPgreo;Ef rn erP;r .EBnSgcE; n gM;S cE ngM;I CEF;S AICE
CommittPeWeD ayP;r .EMnSgcE; n gM;S AICAEM;A SCE
TRG iddings;B ScPM;rI .CEEn g;
W HeinPzr;. EDnrg-;IM nSgcI; n g; MBA; MAMSSCAEFI;SC EA;I MM
B KronPer;. EBnSgcE; n gM;S AICE
PAL oudPorn.;E BnSgcB; E ngP;h DM;I CEM;S AICE
NDM cCoPlrl.;E MnSgA;I CE
M MontagueP.Jro.nEeMnsAg;;M; I CE; MSAICE
GW PlaPnrt.;E Bn Egn;g C;E ngP;h DM;I CEM;S AICMEA;S CE
AWR ohde; ProBfS;cB ;SP cEr n.gEM;n I gn;Fg ;S AICMES;A ConsE
FS cheeDlre-;I ng
ThCeo mmiwtitseeht eors e coradp pirtescf ioiarnt viaolnau sasbilset ance
rendeirnte hpder oduocftt hiCoiodsne o fP r�citnti hcleeeg aalr,c ehcittural
andi nsuraasnpceebc ytt sh feo llopwrionfge $_csoilolneaalg ues:
MrsK Foul�es.JBoAnL,eL sB,
MrH GS ummerMlAerycD,hi ,Tp P M,I ArScAhR, I SA,
MRTPFiI,F Ei re
MrA Wilkinson
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Extrafcrtotsmh vea riaocutossf P arliahmaevbneeet n r eprodiunc ed
AppenGd,wi ixt thh.p eermisosfti hoGeno vernPmreinntPt reert,o ria.
FOREOWRDT OT HE1 972DIT IENOO FT HECO DEO FP RACTICEO N
LATERSAULP OPRTIN SURFEAEX CCAVTAIONS
ByM r. P.J .eK,lrP irEng,B ScEngM,SA ICEM,A SCE.
Presidento ft hSeo uhAt friIcnasnit oiontfC u itvEniglei enrs.
Durig1n 966a,g r ouofpind ividlun aegienrhese ldids ciounswssith hteC itnyg ieEner
ofJo hannesbuwrigatv hie wt oc lfayriiprnogb lermesl atttoeh sadef eotfey x caatnviso
tord eebpa seenmst.
Ariigsnf rotmh edsei sscsunisoa,s ymopsiounmd eebpa seenmtosr,ng iasbeyd
tehJ ohannseburBgr nacho ft hSeo utAhf rainIc nstiotfCu itviEionlnng eieirns
asoscaitiwointt hhS et crtuuDrviails iwoahsne ,l idnA ugu1s96t7T .h sey pmosium
1
arousenda tioinnatlte a rnedts hpeocr eediwnegrspe u bhlei.ds
Att hceo ncluosfti hoseny mopsmi uiwta ss uggetshtaetd mam iteCobt ee
estbalhiesdt odr afta odceo fpr actfiolcrate e sruaplp wohrti wcohu bledap plbilcea
tot hweh oolfet hReep ublic.
TheC ommi2tc toenetseiodsfm emberosft hien terTeesctihedcn Dailv oinsso if
tehI nsttiioatnnu,wd a ass sstiebdya p ractbiasrirnaigns bdty ie nrs aunrcber eorks
andu nderwriters.
Wheinbt e caampep artehntatthCo em mittceoeun lodht o pteoc ompltehtee
tasikna r easonpaebrliaeoc do,- ordeidniawttaoiasrnp gp oi3nI titesd d u.teo h is
persisttheatnthcc eeo dhea sse etnh lei gohfdt a y.
Iitsn oitn tentdhetadht ci osd beet hfei nwaodlro nl atseurpaplro artt;th heart
iwti blelu sed, amaenndud pedda btyea dle ln gineenegrasgi entd h dee s,i gn
constrauncdmt oinoint oofril nagt esruaplpow rto rkTsh.eI nstihtoupteiiwstoi nl l
servteh peu rpfooswreh iicwtha psr epnaarmde,tl opy r ovsaifdeae n cdo nsistent
guidetloie nngiense ers.
Tot hbee sotft hCoeu ncikln'osw lneods giemi slpaercc iodfeoif pc r acrteilcaet ing
tol atle rsaupepxoirtas ntywsh reei nt hweo rld.
1.S.A.IJ.ohCa.nEn.e sBbruarngScy hm.p osoinuD me eBpa seemntsA,u gu1s9t6 7.
2. A.A. HePyrdEennBgryS,cc( hE,nA gM}S,A IMCIES,t rMuScAtCEo,n MsCoEn,s E( CA};
8.Isa,aP crsEnBgS,c (EMnSgA}I,CF EI,CF EI,S trMuAcSEEC,M, S ACosnEM,Co nsE( CA),
(ChairPmraonf}eJ;s. sEJo.ner8n .i nPgrsE,nB gS,c (ESnMg()M,Ml Sl)A,EI ,FC ICEP;r ofresso
K.KnigPhrtE,nB gS,c (EPnhDg(}aR,n dM)S,AC IEE;. MLa.r gPor,E nBgS,cn (gEM)S,A ICE,
FICEF,I StrAuMcStAEEI,;RM .P arry-DParvEniBgeS,sc( ,E nMgS)A,I MCIEC,WE .;KS .c hutte,
PrEnBgS,c (EDnigp)T,aP n-(dRM}S,AC IE,MA SCE;K .NS.o dendr,lP urEnBgS,c (gE)n,
MSAICMEI,C EMl,n stWPR.CS ;t anPdreErng, , BSc(EnMgI)S,t ErM,MuS AcAStIECC,E,
MSAConsE.
3.M.M atlzB,S c(EAnMgS)A,I MCICEE,.
CONTEN.T S
P�e
CHAPETR 1N:T ROIDUCTOIN.....................................................1.. .
11. SCOPE· ························································ 1· ···
1.2 BASIC CONSIDERATIO.N..S........................... 2.
1.3 RPELIMINARYA CTOIN..................................3. .
13..1 AppointmoefnEn tg niee.r................. .3. ...
1.3.2L eagir eqiruemenatnsdp ercauotnis.....3 .
1.3.3 Noftiicnas.t.i..o..................................4 . ....
1.3 .4 Insunrcae.s...................................... .4. ....
1.35. oCnatcruatlas petsc..............................5.
1.4 PLANNINDGE,S IGANN DE XECUOTNI.......5. ...
1.5 M�ASUREM.E..N.T.. ......._....... ................... .5........
CHATPER·2.S: l "!"IENV ESTITGl�pN. .:.:..·�..·· · ·.·...·..:..·..·.·.-.-.7.. .......
21. INTRODUCT.I.:O...N... ..........................7... .........
- • •:• • •
22. OBEJCTIV-EASNDP LANNING......................7. ..
2.3 DESKS TUDAYN DP RELIMINARY
FILEDWORK. ...........:.............................. ..8.. ..... ..
2.4D ETAILFIEEDL ADN DL ABROATOYR
INVESTGIAT ION. .:......... ...............................9... .
2.4.E1x teanntdi nte·n.s.i..t....y.. .. ............ . .....9 .
24.2. Methoodfis ne svtigtain.o.............1.1 . ........
2.4.3. Desipctrni oofst art.a.......................1..1.. ..
2.4.4 Samplnig.........................................1..1.. . .
2.4.5L aboratetsotry.i. ..n...g... .....................1. 2. .
24..6 Feildte sitgn...................................12.. ... ...
2.74 .I nvestidguarticinoognn s tructio1n2. ..........
2.4.8 djAaceanctt eisv..i...t..i.................1...2 .. .....
2.4.9 Montioring...................................... .3.. 1.....
25. EXISGT ISNTRUCTURAENSDS ERVICES.1.3. ...
2.6R EPORTS·· ···················.·. ........................1.3.. ..... .
2.6.1 Sitivnese gtaitiroenpo r..t....................13.. .
26..2 Complieotrne p.o.r.t... •·.. .....•.·..·· ·..·····.··1. 4
CHPATER3 :SSU EPLPCOERTOTI.N. ..O..FS.. .Y..A.S... .T....E..O..M..F. LA.. ...T...E..R..A...L..................1.5 ....
31. INTRDOUCTOIN. ......·...·.· .. .··. .. . .....·. ·.·.·.·.·. .·.·. 1. .5
32. STIEC ONDITNIS.O .....................................1. 5....
3.3P ROPOSEDD EVEL�EN:Ti.;·P.· ·M. . ·.................1.6
34. ADJACETN PROPER.TY. ............·...... ...........1.7. .
3.5C ONSTRUIOCNTS YSTEMS............1.. 7. .............
3.15 .Cosntrucwtiitoahnnio np en
unuspporetx_aec�da t.i.:o.. n... .. ........1.7. . ....
3..25 Tepmorasruyp psotrtr uatgtaeidan st
centdruaJ11lp .l�..i··. n· g· ······.··.·· ···'.1 ·8·
··.!·······
3.5.T3e mporaryb yfs uu.lbplrpyaocrt.e .d
tre.n.c.-.h.. ..... .................1.9.. ......................
3.45· .F ulblrya ctede mposruapryp. o.rt.. ....19.. ...
�.5..P 5e rma,wn�eIcnIQt n uscttrpiroino r to
exvcaatiaondnb racferdoa mc entral
permacnoennstt r.u.c.t.i.o.n.. .2 .0. ..............
3.5.G6r ouanndc hors..........2. 0. .........................
·3 .5.S7o niali .l.:i.. n..g. .:.. ..................2...1 . ...........
3.5.R8o cbko l.t.s. .....:·..·.. ........2...2... .. ..............
3.5.C9a ntiwlaelvlesr. ....................2...3 .. ...........
3.15O . Caiosnss...................................2.. .4... .......
3.151.C oncurrenatn dduo pwwnawradr d
conscttri.uo .n .... .. .. .. ... . ... 25 . . . . ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.152.U nconvenmteitohnooadflss u popr..t.....26
3.6D EWTAERINGAN DL EACHINOGFS OLDSI. ..28
CHAPTE4R:E A RTHP RESUSRES. ..............................................3 .1
4.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................3.. 1.. .
4.2 DESING PARAMET.E.R.S. ....................3 .1. ..........
4.2.S1o islt repnagrtahm e.t.e.r.s..........3.1.. .......
4.2.W2a lflr icatniwdoa nla ld hes.i.o.n.. ..3.1.. ....
4.32 .-Cn>fidelnicmei t.s..................3.4.. ........ .....
4.3D EFINNI OTFIS OYMBOLS...............3.. 4. ............
4.4E FFECOTFM OVEMEONFTS UPPORT
SYSTEOMN E ARTPHR ESSURES......3..5.. ...... ..
4.4..G 1e ne.r.a.l............................3.5.. ........ ........
4.4.M2o vmeentrse quitrode edv ealcotpi ve
andp asseiavrept rhe ss.u.r.e.s. .3.6. ..........
4.5A T-RESTE ARTPHR ESSUR.E.S. ......3 .8. .............
4.6A CTIAVNED PASPSRIEVSES URES..3.9. ...........
A.6.A1c tipvree ss-:--urgeesn egruaild an4c2e...
4.6.A2c tipvree ss-umriensi mduems ign
pressures...................4..2.. ........................
4.6.P3as sivper ess-ugreense gruaild a4n4c e.
47. RESTRICMTOEVDE MENTS......4.5. ....................
4.8E MPIRIMCEATLH O.D.S. :.. ............ ..4.5. ...............
4.9S URCHARLGOEA DING................4..7.. ...............
4.1E0F FECOTFSW ATEPRR ESSU.R.E... ..4.7. ..........
4.1P1R ESSUIRNED UCBEYDB ACKFIL.L.I.N4.G7. ...
4.1R2E STRAOIFNE TX CAVATIIONRN OSC .K. .4.8. ..
4.12G.e1n eral....................4..8.. ..........................
4.12F.a2i lmuerceh anainsmdme st hoodfs
anyasl.i.s......................4..9.. .....................
CHAPTE5R: DESOIFLG ANT ERSAULP PORSTY STEMS..53. ........
5.1I NTROCDTUIO..N................5.3 . .........................
5.1.G1e neral............5.3. ..................................
