What is BS EN 16907-4-Soil treatment for earthworks about?
BS EN 16907 is a European standard that discusses earthworks. The main aim of the EN 16907 series is to provide best industry strategies and guidance to entities involved in earthworks, to ensure that the foundational stability and integrity of civil engineering processes are maintained.
BS EN 16907-4 is the fourth part of the multi-series that applies to the treatment with binders of natural soils, weak rocks, intermediate rocks, chalk, recycled materials and artificial materials for the execution of earthworks during the construction and maintenance of roads, railways, airfields, platforms, dykes, ponds and any other types of earth structure.
Who is BS EN 16907-4- Soil treatment for earthworks for?
BS EN 16907-4 on soil treatment with lime and/or hydraulic binders is relevant to:
- Geotechnical engineers and consultants
- Designers, contractors, operators and maintainers of earthwork
- Construction companies
- Land/soil/site investigation authorities
- Land reclamation project management
- Civil engineers
- Local authorities
Why should you use BS EN 16907-4- Soil treatment for earthworks?
Earthworks are a civil engineering process aimed at creating earth-structures by changing the geometry of the earth surface for construction or other activities. The main purpose of earthworks is the removal of overburden to gain access to structurally capable earth or soil, excavation for basements and other underground structures, and the development of structural fills to support floors are all required for most structures.
In the context of the present standard, the treatment of a material designates the operation which consists of mixing, to an agreed specification, the material with a binder, for example lime, or hydraulic binder, or both of them, and optionally with additional water. The objective is to enhance the properties of materials with poor characteristics for use in earth structures. It can also be to enhance properties of materials to enable their use in specific applications (like capping layers, abutment fills, foundations, etc.).
BS EN 16907-4 also focuses particularly on the execution and control of the treatment tasks. It includes advice on the suitability of binders, machinery and tests to achieve a suitable performance during the construction procedure.
BS EN 16907-4 also contributes to eliminating difficulties in handling, placing, trafficking or compaction of soil when the water content and or the plasticity is too high.
Overall, BS EN 16907-4 compliant treatment of soils and other materials with binders can improve its strength for the execution of earthworks during the construction and maintenance of any earth structure.