General Specification

Section 2c Slope Drainage, Stabilization &

Monitoring

SECTION
2c
MONITORING
2c.01

SLOPE

DRAINAGE,

STABILIZATION

AND

Existing Watercourses and Storm Water Drains

The Contractor shall maintain the capacity of all existing
watercourses and storm water drains on site so as not to disrupt
the flow in them. Care shall be taken to ensure that they are not
blocked by debris or excavated material or damaged by the
works. No modification is permitted without the prior approval of
the Engineer.
If diversion is necessary, the diversion must be completed before
the watercourses and drains are allowed to be filled or
disconnected.

2c.02

Channels and Catchpits

Unless otherwise specified, surface channels, stepped channels
and catchpits shall be constructed of Grade 20P plain concrete.
The wetted surfaces shall be finished with 12 mm thick 1:3
cement-sand mortar steel-trowelled smooth. All other surfaces
shall have a finish produced by ordinary formwork but with major
imperfections made good.
Surface channels shall be formed to the minimum falls specified
on the drawings.
Movements joints shall be formed at a
maximum interval of 10 m.
If provided, channel covers shall be constructed of Grade 30D
reinforced concrete unless otherwise specified. Steel reinforcing
bars shall comply with Construction Standard CS2: 1995.
Channel covers shall be well seated so as not to wobble under
traffic.
Stepped channels shall be constructed to a maximum gradient of
1:8 and provided with weepholes.

2c.03

Sand Traps
Unless otherwise specified, sand traps shall be constructed of
Grade 30D reinforced concrete. Steel reinforcing bars shall
comply with Construction Standard CS2: 1995.
Sand trap
surfaces shall have a steel-trowelled finish of 12 mm thick 1:3
cement-sand rendering or an off-form finish with major
imperfections made good as specified.
Precast strip covers shall be in Grade 30D reinforced concrete.
Sand traps shall be provided with mild steel grating, hand
packed rubbles and other components as detailed on the
drawings.

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General Specification
Section 2c Slope Drainage, Stabilization &
Monitoring

2c.04

Retaining Wall Drainage Layers

Filters for retaining wall drainage layers shall be free-draining
granular materials such as clean crushed rock products and shall
satisfy the following criteria. No-fines concrete shall not be used
as a filter material.
Grading of the Filter
(a)

The filter shall not be gap-graded.

(b)

Not more than 5% of the filter shall pass a 63 m BS sieve

and that fraction shall be cohesionless.

(c)

The uniformity coefficient of the filter (D60/D10) shall be less

than 20 but more than 4 (D 60 is the size of the sieve that
allows 60% by weight of the material to pass through it).

(d)

The maximum size of particles shall not exceed 50 mm.

Grading envelope of the filter when compared with grading of

the base soil (or revised grading using only material smaller than
5 mm if the base soil is widely graded with original D 90 greater
than 2 mm and D10 smaller than 0.06 mm)
(e)

The coarse side of the filter D 15 shall be less than 5 times

the fine side of the base soil D85.

(f)

The fine side of the filter D 15 shall be more than 5 times the
coarse side of the base soil D15.

Drainage layers shall be not less than 300 mm thick if placed by

hand or 450 mm thick if placed by machine.
2c.05

Retaining Wall Subsoil Drains

Subsoil drain pipes for retaining walls shall be one of the
following:
(a)

Concrete porous drain pipes to BS 5911-114:1992

(b)

Unglazed clayware field drain pipes and junctions to BS

1196:1989

(c)

Perforated vitrified clayware to BS 65:1991 extra strength

with o ring flexible spigot and socket joints

(d)

Perforated plastic pipes and fittings to BS 4962:1989

(e)

Other approved drain pipes

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General Specification
Section 2c Slope Drainage, Stabilization &
Monitoring

2c.06

Horizontal Drains - Materials

Horizontal drains for rock slopes shall be single pipe drains
consisting of a single perforated pipe with a non-perforated
invert and wrapped with a geotextile filter sheath.
Horizontal drains for soil slopes shall be double pipe drains
consisting of an outer permanent pipe and an inner removable
pipe wrapped with a geotextile filter sheath. Both the outer and
inner pipes shall be perforated pipes with a non-perforated
invert.
Pipes for horizontal drains shall be UPVC pipes to BS 4660:2000
or BS 3506:1969. Class 0 UPVC pipes shall not be used. The
perforations in pipes with a non-perforated invert shall cover
approximately two-thirds of the circumstance of the pipe.
Geotextile filter sheaths for horizontal drains shall be formed of
woven or non-woven geotextile filter of a proprietary type
approved by the Engineer.

2c.07

Horizontal Drains Installation

Drilling for horizontal drains shall be carried out using casings to
prevent collapse of the hole and to permit unimpeded insertion
of the pipes and geotextile filter sheath. Flushing other than by
clean air or fresh water shall not be used.
Tolerances for drilling shall be within the following:
(a)

Deviation in drillhole entry point location: 75 mm.

(b)

Deviation in alignment: 1 in 20.

(c)

Deviation from straight: 20 mm in any 3 m.

(d)

A positive gradient (falling towards the entry point) shall be

maintained throughout the complete length of the drillhole.

Drillholes shall be protected by temporary plugging or other

means to prevent entry of deleterious material after drilling and
before insertion of horizontal drains.
Geotextile filter shall be wrapped around drain pipes with a lap
of at least 50 mm and fixed to the pipe along the pipe invert
with non-metallic ties at 300 mm centres to prevent dislocation.
The ends of pipes shall be marked so that the invert is correctly
positioned during installation.
The length of horizontal drains assembled before installation
shall not exceed 12.5 m with pipe sections securely connected
together.
In the case of double pipe drains, the inner pipe shall have two
10 mm diameter holes drilled 50 mm from the end of the pipe to
facilitate removal at a later date. After the insertion of the outer
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General Specification
Section 2c Slope Drainage, Stabilization &
Monitoring

pipe and before that of the inner pipe, the annular space
between the drillhole and the outer pipe shall be completely
filled with cement grout for 1 m only from the face of the slope.
2c.08

Connection of Slope Drainage

All drainage for slopes and retaining walls shall be connected to
the permanent building drainage system or to Government
drains as specified. No channels or drains for slopes or retaining
walls shall be allowed to discharge onto adjacent lots or, unless
otherwise approved, into natural streams or other waterways.

2c.09

Shotcreting Materials
Shotcrete, or sprayed concrete, shall consist of:
(a)

Ordinary Portland cement to BS 12:1996

(b)

Aggregates to BS 882:1992 from an approved source,

maximum size 10 mm

(c)

Admixtures approved by the Engineer having, for reinforced

shotcrete, a chloride ion content not exceeding 2% by
weight of the admixture or 0.03% by weight of cement,
whichever is less

(d)

Steel fabric reinforcement to BS 4483:1998

The total chloride ion content of the shotcrete mix, expressed as

a percentage by weight of the cement, shall not exceed 0.35%.
Unless otherwise specified, the minimum compressive strength
when tested as the estimated in-situ cube strength of core
samples, shall be 20 MPa at 28 days for plain shotcrete and 30
MPa at 28 days for reinforced shotcrete.
The Contractor shall design the shotcrete mix to provide the
requisite strength and workability, taking into account the nature
of the slope surface, the mixing and spraying plant, the likely
rebound from the surface and so on. Adjustment, for example in
the cement content, to the mix may be required following the
completion of the trial panel.
2c.10

Shotcreting Preparations
A trial panel of minimum size 3 m x 3 m and minimum thickness
50 mm shall be constructed on the surface to be sprayed. This
is to demonstrate, among other things, that the mix is of the
right consistency, the mixing and spraying plant and equipment
are in good working order, and the operatives are competent.
The average percentage rebound shall also be measured and
used as the basis of adjustment to the mix if necessary.
Prior to shotcreting, slope surfaces shall generally be cleaned to
remove loose material, vegetation and other foreign matter that
may prevent good bonding of the shotcrete with the surface. For
rock slopes, the cleaning process has to be carried out with an

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General Specification
Section 2c Slope Drainage, Stabilization &
Monitoring

air-water jet or high-pressure water jet. Weak material in joints

or seams shall also be removed to a depth equal to the width of
the weak zone.
When slope surfaces are dry or the surface temperature is high,
the slope surface shall be sprayed with water unless otherwise
instructed by the Engineer. Water spraying shall be carried out
no earlier than 1 hour before shotcreting.
Fabric reinforcement for shotcrete shall be laid uniformly over
the slope surface without sharp bends and securely fixed with
steel nails or rawl bolts. The cover to reinforcement shall be not
less than 20 mm and adjacent sheets of fabric reinforcement
shall be laid to overlap by at least 150 mm.
2c.11

Shotcreting Application and Curing

The constituents of shotcrete shall be kept dry before mixing and
water added at the nozzle at the instant of spraying. The rate of
air and water supply, the rate of spraying and other factors shall
be adjusted to produce dense and homogenous concrete without
sloughing.
Rebound shall not be re-worked and shall be
promptly removed. During spraying, other surfaces not to be
shotcreted shall be properly protected.
Shotcrete shall be sprayed to the specified thickness in layers
not exceeding 50 mm thick. Tolerances for the total thickness
shall be 0 and +15 mm and panels of shotcrete shall not be
larger than 15 m in any one dimension.
50 mm diameter weepholes shall be provided in the shotcrete
surface at 1.2 m staggered centres. For rock slopes, weepholes
shall be formed at a closer spacing at positions of rock joints and
farther apart elsewhere as instructed by the Engineer.
Weepholes shall extend to the full thickness of the shotcrete.
Shotcrete shall be cured for a period of 4 days by one of the
following methods:
(a)

Covering with hessian, sacking, canvas or other absorbent

material approved by the Engineer, which shall be kept
constantly wet.

(b)

Covering with polyethylene or tarpaulin sheeting, shotcrete

surfaces being wetted before the sheeting is placed.

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General Specification
Section 2c Slope Drainage, Stabilization &
Monitoring

2c.12

Shotcreting Inspection and Testing

Shotcrete shall be inspected or tested for soundness, thickness,
strength and quality as follows. Non-compliance with specified
requirements shall be rectified to the satisfaction of the
Engineer.
Soundness and Thickness
Completed shotcrete areas shall be sounded with a wooden
mallet. Hollow spots and other substandard areas shall be
removed and re-sprayed.
At locations selected by the Engineer, 25 mm diameter cores
shall be taken to determine the thickness of the shotcrete.
Shotcrete of insufficient thickness shall be thickened or removed
and re-sprayed.
Compressive Strength and Quality
During the course of shotcreting works, a test panel shall be
made for each shotcrete area of 500 m 2 or part thereof. The test
panel shall be 1 m x 1 m minimum size and 250 mm thick and
constructed by spraying concrete, without reinforcement, onto a
mould securely fixed at the same height and inclination as the
slope surface being worked. The panel shall be cured alongside
the slope under the same conditions.
Three 100 mm diameter cores shall be taken through the full
depth from each panel in an inner zone 125 mm from the edges.
All 3 cores shall be prepared and tested to Construction Standard
CS1: 2010 by an approved Material Testing Laboratory to
determine the estimated in-situ cube strength at 28 days.
The compressive strength of the shotcrete shall be considered
acceptable if:
(a)

Each core has an estimated in-situ cube strength of at least

75% of the specified strength.

(b)

The average estimated in-situ cube strength of the 3 cores

is at least 85% of the specified strength.

The cores shall also show no segregation of the constituents of

shotcrete and have few voids.
If the cores do not indicate acceptable strength or quality, the
shotcrete represented by the cores shall be removed and resprayed.
All core holes shall be filled with dry packed concrete of similar
mix proportions as those of the shotcrete and well rammed by
hand. Alternatively, suitable resin mortar may be used.

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General Specification
Section 2c Slope Drainage, Stabilization &
Monitoring

2c.13

Soil Nailing Materials and Components

Soil nails shall be of a proprietary type approved by the
Engineer, consisting of Grade 460 high yield deformed steel bars
to Construction Standard CS2: 1995. Soil nails shall be supplied
in an appropriate length with a cold rolled threat at least 150
mm long at one end. Nails shall be galvanized to a minimum
average mass coating of 610 g/m2 in accordance with BS EN ISO
1461:1999. Nuts, washers and bearing plates for soil nails shall
also be galvanized.
Galvanized mechanical type screw couplers approved by the
Engineer may be used to make up soil nails to the required
length but their use shall be kept to the minimum.
Soil nails and accessories shall be stored in clean and dry
conditions. At the time of installation, they shall be free from
rust, nicks, dents or other physical damage and any deleterious
material.
Cement grout for soil nailing shall consist of ordinary Portland
cement to BS 12:1996 and have a water cement ratio of less
than 0.45. The minimum compressive strength of cement grout
shall be 30 MPa at 28 days. To ensure necessary expansion of
the grout, approved commercial grade extra-fine aluminum
powder may be blended with the cement in strict compliance
with manufacturers instructions.

2c.14

Soil Nailing Installation and Grouting

Holes for soil nails shall be drilled through all materials to the
length/depth specified using a method that is suited to the
ground conditions. However, in no case shall any part of a
drillhole be formed outside the lot boundary.
The flushing medium for drilling shall be air or clean water unless
otherwise specified. Drillholes shall be cased throughout the
length to prevent collapse. On completion of drilling, drillholes
shall be temporarily plugged or otherwise protected to prevent
entry of deleterious material.
Records shall be kept of the measured dimensions of the drillhole
and the types and conditions of soil strata encountered in the
drilling.
Drillholes shall be cleaned of drill cuttings, sludge and debris
before a soil nail is inserted. Soil nails shall be seated with
appropriate spacers or centralizers fixed evenly along the length
of the soil nail.
All threads on the projecting end of the soil nail shall be free
from rust and burrs and the nut shall be free running on the
threads. Threads of the nut and of the soil nail and surfaces of
the washers shall be lubricated with an approved rust preventive
plastic grease before the nut is tightened.
The Contractor shall submit a grouting proposal to the Engineer
for approval before grout is used. The proposal shall detail grout

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General Specification
Section 2c Slope Drainage, Stabilization &
Monitoring

mix proportions, methods of mixing, grouting pressures,

procedures and equipment and any other relevant details.
Prior to grouting, the grout shall be mixed for a minimum period
of 3 minutes with a high-speed mechanical stirrer and sieved
through a 1.18 mm wire cloth. The grout shall be used as soon
as possible after the ingredients are mixed but in any event
within 1 hour of addition of aluminum powder to the cement and
water.
Soil nails shall be grouted as soon as practicable, but in any
event within 48 hours of the completion of drilling so as to
ensure the stability of the slope.
Grout shall be injected into the drillhole to fill completely the
space between the soil nail and the soil. A vent pipe leading to
the slope surface shall be provided in the drillhole. To ensure
that the soil nail is fully grouted, grouting shall be stopped only
when there is a consistent outflow of grout free of air bubbles.
Working soil nails shall be grouted over the entire length up to
the anchorage. Test soil nails shall be grouted over the specified
length.
If during grouting the grout intake increases suddenly by a
significant amount, the Engineer shall be informed immediately.
If grout is found to flow from the slope surface or any other
location, the leaks shall be plugged or caulked to the satisfaction
of the Engineer.
The Contractor shall keep records of grouting, which shall be
available for inspection by the Engineer at all times. A grouting
report shall also be submitted to the Engineer after the
completion of grouting.
No further excavation for slopes shall proceed until the grout has
attained a cube strength of 30 MPa.
2c.15

Soil Nailing Testing

Prior to the installation of working soil nails, a number of test soil
nails to be specified by the Engineer shall be installed for testing
to the pull-out test. The purpose of the testing is to enable a
review of the adequacy of the soil nail design to be made based
on parameters obtained from the tests. No working soil nails
shall be installed until the Engineer instructs to do so.
Another number of working soil nails to be selected by the
Engineer shall be tested to the proving test.
Tests shall be carried out by means of a reaction system in which
a tensile load is applied to the soil nail balanced by compressive
loads exerted on the slope surface. The test load shall be
applied to the soil nail through a spherical seating to ensure axial
loading.
Loading equipment shall be of the hydraulic type capable of
delivering a smooth increase/decrease of load and of
maintaining a constant load at each loading stage.
Load

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General Specification
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Monitoring

measuring devices shall be calibrated by a laboratory and

accurate to within 2 kN of the indicated load. The test load shall
also be measured by a calibrated pressure gauge in the
hydraulic system.
Measurement of movement shall be made with dial gauges
accurate to a reading of 0.01 mm. Measurements shall be made
against a reference frame that is supported away from the
influence of reaction loads.
The Contractor shall submit a proposal to the Engineer before
testing is commenced, detailing the loading arrangement and
setup, equipment used and sufficient calculations to verify load
transfer and reactions.
2c.16

Soil Nailing Test Procedures

Pull-out Tests
Pull-out tests shall not be carried out until the grout has attained
a cube strength of 21 MPa and the following procedures shall be
followed:
(a)

The maximum test load T shall be 80% of the ultimate

tensile strength of the steel bar of the soil nail.

(b)

An initial load equal to 0.2 T shall be applied.

(c)

This is followed by 3 loading and unloading cycles:

0.2 T 0.47 T 0.2 T
0.2 T 0.47 T 0.73 T 0.47 T 0.2 T
0.2 T 0.47 T 0.73 T T 0.73 T 0.47 T 0.2 T
The test load shall be applied at a rate of 3 5 kN/min.
When the load in each loading stage is reached, readings of
extension are taken at 10-minute intervals for 30 minutes
or longer while the load is held constant.

(d)

The test shall be terminated when either the maximum test

load T is reached, the total extension exceeds 40 mm, or
the soil nail has been pulled out.

A graph showing soil nail extensions verses applied loads shall

be plotted and a test report incorporating this graph and other
results submitted to the Engineer within 3 days of completion of
the test.
If a test soil nail has been pulled out, the hole shall be grouted
unless otherwise instructed. In other cases, the protruding part
of the soil nail shall be cut-off flush with the finished slope
surface and the remaining part of the drillhole grouted.

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General Specification
Section 2c Slope Drainage, Stabilization &
Monitoring

Proving Tests
Unless otherwise specified, proving tests on working soil nails
shall not be carried out until the grout has attained a cube
strength of 21 MPa. The following procedures shall be followed:
(a)

The maximum test load shall be 80% of the ultimate tensile

strength of the steel bar of the soil nail.

(b)

The maximum load shall be applied in one continuous

process with the rate of load application in the range of 3
5 kN/min.

(c)

The maximum load shall be held for 10 minutes or longer

until the rate of extension does not exceed 0.2 mm/min.

In the event of test failure, the Engineer shall be informed

immediately. The Contractor shall submit remedial proposals for
the Engineers approval and implement them at his own
expense.
A test report of the test results and load-extension graphs shall
be submitted to the Engineer within 3 days of completion of the
test.
2c.17

Soil Nailing Shotcreting on Completion

On completion of proving tests on working soil nails, slope
surfaces that are stabilized by soil nailing shall be sprayed with
reinforced shotcrete to the requirements of this Specification.

2c.18

General Requirements for Slope Instrumentation

Instruments used in slope monitoring shall be from reputable
manufacturers, and their reliability shall be well proven by
successful past usage.
Instruments shall be calibrated by an
approved laboratory at intervals recommended by the
manufacturer, or more often if necessary. Calibration certificates
shall be submitted to the Engineer.
Instruments shall be handled, stored, installed, used and
maintained strictly in accordance with the manufacturers
instructions so that they are in good working order and their
performance is not impaired.
Instrumentation works shall be carried out under the supervision
of a qualified and experienced technician. The Engineer may
require the submission of the technicians details of
qualifications and experience.

2c.19

Installation and Maintenance of Instruments

The Contractor shall give adequate notice to the Engineer before
instruments are installed. Instruments shall be installed at the
locations specified by the Engineer. If installation is not possible
because of obstructions or other reasons, the revised locations
shall be agreed with the Engineer.

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General Specification
Section 2c Slope Drainage, Stabilization &
Monitoring

Installed instruments shall be clearly and conspicuously marked

with identification letters or numbers.
Survey stations and reference points shall be established from
Government bench marks and checked against other known
datum references whenever possible.
The Contractor shall submit a record plan showing the asinstalled locations of all instruments and their identification
marks to the Engineer after the installation. If the Engineer so
directs, a plan showing the locations and details of all survey
stations, reference points and bench marks shall also be
submitted.
Instruments shall be maintained so that they function properly.
They shall be protected by barricades, covers, signs or other
suitable means.
Slope and other works shall be executed
carefully to avoid damaging the instruments.
If instruments are damaged, obstructed or otherwise not in
working order, the Engineer shall be informed immediately. Such
instruments shall be abandoned or replaced as instructed by the
Engineer.
2c.20

Recording and Reporting of Monitoring Readings

Before the commencement of slope works, a set of initial
readings of the instruments such as settlement check points,
piezometers and inclinometers shall be taken. Piezometers may
have to be read over a period of time to order to eliminate
seasonal and other fluctuations in establishing the average
water level. The initial readings shall be submitted to the
Engineer.
Subsequently, monitoring readings shall be taken at the
frequency specified on the drawings and submitted to the
Engineer at weekly, or some other specified, intervals. The
Engineer may instruct that readings be taken more frequently if,
in his opinion, the site conditions warrant this.
Records of monitoring readings shall be kept on site and be
available for the inspection of the Engineer at all times.
If readings are found to be unreliable because of instrument
error, such instruments shall be replaced forthwith.
If abrupt, significant or unusual changes in readings are
recorded, the Engineer shall be notified immediately.
If the limiting criteria stipulated on the drawings are reached, the
Contractor shall cease work, report to the Engineer immediately
and await further instructions.
***

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