UNIT RATES FOR EXCAVATION AND EARTHWORK
The nature of the work included in the excavation section of the bill of quantities falls
broadly into six categories for the purpose of pricing by the estimator, namely;
1. Site preparation work. Involving cutting down existing trees, hedges, shrubs, etc.,
turfing and excavating top soil for future use.
2. Excavation. Covering various types of excavating operations.
3. Earthwork support. Involving the temporary support to sides of excavations where the
estimator considers there is a need for this operation.
4. Disposal of excavated material. Involving the various methods available for disposing
of any excavated material whether on or off the site.
5. Filling. Involving backfilling around excavations and making up levels generally in
areas on the on the site using materials specified by the architect.
6. Surface treatments. Involving the preparation of the surface of the ground by
compaction, blinding, etc.
Factors affecting the cost of excavation work
1. Weather conditions
In dry conditions, it can be expected that mechanical plant will perform well and
achieve considerable savings in time and expense, but under wet conditions it tends to
become bogged down and its efficiency seriously impaired.
2. Bulking
Soil after being excavated increases in volume (bulks) to a greater or lesser extent
depending on the nature of the ground. The estimated bulking should be considered as
this will affect the unit rate for carting away. Bulking factors for types of ground are
given below;
Type of ground Increase in volume (%)
Gravel 10
Sand 12
Ordinary earth 25
Clay 33
Rock 50
3. Type of excavation and volume
The estimator must decide whether hand or mechanical excavation, or a combination
of both is to be used, and the type of mechanical plant required. However, the method
adopted must result in the fastest rate of progress, given the circumstances, and at
lowest possible cost.
4. The nature of the ground
It is always advisable for the estimator to visit the site to ascertain the nature of the
prevailing ground conditions. Where hand excavation is involved, the nature of the
ground will have a crucial bearing on output.
5. Distance to a tip
It is normally the contractor’s responsibility to provide a tip for the material to be
carted away from the site. The distance the excavation has to be carted to tip and the
charges and conditions at the tip should be ascertained as these will affect the unit rate
for carting away.
6. Banksmen
A ‘banksman’ is a labourer who is assigned to work with an excavator and whose task
is to assist in setting out and guiding the machine along the right lines and to correct
depth. However, he is entitled to additional payment which should be included in the
cost of operating the excavator while assuming the work he does to be ‘non-
productive’.
Adjustments for hand excavation in ground other than “normal”
Type of ground Multiplier
Sand 0.75
Stiff clay 1.25
Compact gravel 1.50
Soft chalk 2.50
Soft rock 4.00
Excavating plants;
- Excavator with backactor and front-loading bucket
- Excavator with Face shovel
- Excavator with Skimmer
- Excavator with Dragline
- Excavator with Crawler tractor and scraper
Guide to average excavation outputs
Hand excavation
Operation Output per m3
in unskilled
hours
Excavate to reduce levels 2.50
Excavate basement n.e
1.5 m deep 4.35
3.0 m deep 5.80
4.5 m deep 7.25
Excavate foundation trench n.e
1.5 m deep 3.25
3.0 m deep 6.50
Wheeling excavated material (per 100 1.00
m)
Backfilling in layers and compacting 1.50
Loading excavated material into lorry 2.00
Machine excavation
Type of excavation Output of machine in m3 per hour
0.19 m3 0.29 m3 0.38 m3
capacity capacity capacity
bucket bucket bucket
Reduce levels 9 15 21
Trenches 7 11 17
Basements 9 15 21
Pits 5 8 11
Increases in bulk of materials after excavation (%)
Gravel 10
Sand 12 ½
Ordinary earth 25
Clay 33
Rock 50
EARTHWORK SUPPORT (timbering/planking & strutting)
Earthwork support is measured and priced in square metres to the actual face of the
excavation which may require supporting.
The cost of providing earthwork support in timber depends upon:
a) The nature of the ground and depth of excavation.
b) The type of excavation (basement, trench, pit, etc.)
c) The cost of the timber to be used.
d) The number of times the timber can be salvaged for re-use.
The average number of uses can be taken as being 6 -10 depending on the quality of
timber and how carefully it is used.
The following are average labour constants for timbering (planking and strutting)
work (per m3)
Description Unskilled hours
Fixing timber poling boards, walers
and struts 18
Stripping timber poling boards,
walers and struts 9
Unloading timber and site cartage 1
The method of pricing is as follows;
a) Prepare a suitable design for earthwork support.
b) Consider the cost of supporting a given length or area of trench, basement, pit
etc.
c) Calculate the cost of timber required, and divide by the assumed number of
uses.
d) Calculate the labour cost of fixing and stripping the timber to the length or
area of excavation under consideration.
e) Add the material and labour costs together and reduce the total to a rate per
m2 .
HARDCORE FILLING
Materials used for hardcore, such as bricks, broken stone, etc can be bought either by
volume or by weight. The cost of placing hardcore in bulk filling or in beds can vary
considerably depending on whether the delivery lorry can gain access directly into the
final position of the material. Where this is not possible, the hardcore may have to be
tipped some distance from the building and barrowed into place.
Hardcore filling over 300 mm thick is measured in cubic metre and under 300 mm
thick in square metres, stating the thickness.
Average outputs for barrowing and filling hardcore are;
Barrowing and filling: Bulk hardcore over 300 1.2 m3 per hr
Thick hardcore in beds n.e
300 thick 0.8 m3 per hr
Compacting with: Vibrating roller 0.4 hrs per m2
10 tonne roller 0.02 hrs per m2
The quantity of hardcore measured in the bill of quantities is the amount after
compaction, and since hardcore consolidates by approximately 20% (depending on
the type of stone), 25% should be added to the basic cost of material to allow for this.
1 m3 of hardcore weighs approximately 1.60 tonnes.
