BS 5930:1999+A2:2010

This Code of Practice deals with the investigation of sites for the purposes of assessing their suitability for the construction of civil engineering and building works and of acquiring knowledge of the characteristics of a site that affect the design and construction of such work and the security of neighbouring land and property. It has been assumed that in the selection of construction sites due regard has been paid to the wider environmental and economic considerations affecting the community generally. More than one site may require detailed investigation before the final choice is made.

In this code, the expression Site Investigation has been used in its wider sense. It is often used elsewhere in a narrow sense to describe the exploration of the ground, which in this code has been termed Ground Investigation. It is to be noted, however, that although the treatment of ground investigation is detailed, the treatment of other aspects of site investigation is less detailed.

The use of soil and rock as construction materials is treated only briefly; further information is given in BS 6031.

This code of practice consists of the following sections:

• Section 1: Preliminary considerations;

• Section 2: Ground investigations;

• Section 3: Field investigations;

• Section 4: Field tests;

• Section 5: Laboratory tests on samples;

• Section 6: Description of soils and rocks;

• Section 7: Reports and interpretation.

Section 1 deals with those matters of a technical, legal or environmental character that have usually to be taken into account in selecting the site (or in determining whether a selected site is suitable) and in preparing the design of the works.

Section 2 discusses general aspects and planning of ground investigations, including the influence of general conditions and ground conditions of the selection of methods of investigation.

Sections 3, 4 and 5 discuss methods of ground investigation, sub-divided as follows: section 3 excavation, boring, sampling, probing and tests in boreholes; section 4: field tests; section 5: tests on samples. The division between sections 3 and 4 is somewhat arbitrary and has been based mainly on convenience in arranging the subject matter.

Section 6 deals with the terminology and systems recommended for use in describing and classifying soil and rock materials and rock masses.

Section 7 deals with the preparation of field reports and final borehole logs, the interpretation of the data obtained from the investigation and the preparation of the final report.

Users of this Code of Practice, particularly those of limited experience, are advised against referring to the methods of ground investigation in sections 3, 4 and 5 without studying the preliminary considerations in sections 1 and 2. It should be appreciated that the description of a method is only to be considered as a guide and should not be taken as mandatory. In this respect, it should be realized that development continues to take place involving changes in some of the methods.

It may be noted that there is an imbalance of treatment between tests; in some cases more comprehensive treatment has been given to tests less frequently used. This is because many of the common tests are described extensively elsewhere (see BS 1377), whereas there is a paucity of reference to other tests.

The code has been drawn up in relation to conditions existing in the United Kingdom, but occasional reference is made to conditions overseas where this has appeared desirable.