Practice Note for Authorized Persons,

Buildings Department Registered Structural Engineers and APP-24

Registered Geotechnical Engineers

Railway Protection under Railways Ordinance,

Mass Transit Railway (Land Resumption and Related Provisions) Ordinance and
Area Number 3 of the Scheduled Areas in Schedule 5
to the Buildings Ordinance

As a result of the merger of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation and the
Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) on 2 December 2007, the MTR
Corporation Limited (MTRCL) becomes the operator of all the railway lines in the
territory. The existing railway lines in operation are listed in Appendix A.

2. To safeguard the safety and stability of the railway structures and

facilities 1, railway protection areas have been delineated and shown on relevant plans and
a set of building/engineering guidelines has been specified. A copy of the plans showing
the railway protection areas is available for viewing in MTRCL’s office by appointment
via email (RPNotify@[Link]). Relevant information are available at MTRCL’s
website 2.

3. As a general guide, the boundary of the railway protection areas is about

30 m outside the outer surface of the railway structures and facilities or the railway
fence/wall, or from the nearest rail if there is no railway fence/wall, but it may encompass
the whole of any lot where any part thereof lies within the 30 m distance. At the railway
stations, the area enclosed by the boundary may be more extensive.

4. The railway protection areas of some of the railway lines are designated
as Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas in Schedule 5 to the Buildings Ordinance (BO).
Such protection areas are delineated and shown edged black on the plans as listed out in
the Schedule, which will be updated from time to time as and when necessary. A copy
of these plans has been deposited in the Land Registry and is available for viewing in the
Building Information Centre of the Buildings Department (BD) or BD’s website 3 as
detailed in Practice Note for Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and
Registered Geotechnical Engineers (PNAP) APP-39.

/5. …

1
The common types of railway structures and facilities comprise station structures, viaducts,
tunnels, platforms, ventilation shafts, overhead line masts, tracks, ancillary buildings,
underground cooling water mains or other utilities, etc.
2
[Link]
3
[Link]
 -2-

5. The guidelines at Appendices B and C apply to all building works

(including ground investigation works and underground drainage works) to be carried out
in the railway protection areas. Ground investigation works and underground drainage
works in Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas are subject to additional control as stated
in paragraphs 13 and 14 below. While the guidelines are not applicable to the part of the
lot that lies outside the railway protection areas, authorized persons (AP)/registered
structural engineers (RSE)/registered geotechnical engineers (RGE) should ensure that
building works outside the railway protection areas will not cause any adverse effects or
damage to or render inadequate the factor of safety of any railway structures or facilities.

Building Works

6. Plans submitted to BD for proposed building works within the railway

protection areas will be circulated to MTRCL for their comment under the centralised
processing arrangements. Section 27 of the Railways Ordinance (RO) (Cap. 519) or
section 15 of the Mass Transit Railway (Land Resumption and Related Provisions)
Ordinance (MTR(LR&RP)O) (Cap. 276) will be invoked to require the incorporation of
any necessary measures to protect the railway lines.

7. AP, RSE and RGE are required to monitor and assess the impact of any
movement, vibration and/or other effects induced by the building works on the railway
structures and facilities. A monitoring plan with particulars solely for monitoring the
railway structures and facilities should be included in the plans submitted to the Building
Authority (BA) for approval in respect of site formation works, foundation works,
excavation and lateral support works and other types of building works which would
cause ground movement/vibration affecting the railway structures and facilities. Apart
from obtaining consent for commencement of works from the BA, AP, RSE and RGE are
required to inform MTRCL directly the commencement of any building works within the
railway protection areas, and send a copy of the monitoring records to MTRCL at
bi-weekly intervals or at a frequency to be agreed by MTRCL during the whole process
of the building works concerned. MTRCL will also plan an appropriate monitoring
programme and will alert the parties concerned if any adverse situation of the railway
structures and facilities becomes apparent.

8. In addition to the monitoring of railway structures and facilities, AP, RSE

and RGE should maintain regular contact with MTRCL and keep MTRCL informed of
the records of any necessary monitoring within and in the vicinity of the building site (e.g.
monitoring of piezometric change, ground movement) as necessary.

9. The Director of Buildings may in writing, under the provisions of section

12 of the MTR(LR&RP)O authorise an employee of MTRCL to enter any building site
within the railway protection areas for the purpose of monitoring the construction works.
Alternatively, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics may issue such notice under the
provisions of section 24 of the RO.

/Communication …
 -3-

Communication and Announcement Mechanism for Private Construction Works

within Railway Protection Areas

10. BD, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and
MTRCL have established a communication and announcement mechanism for private
construction sites within railway protection areas.

11. During the construction of a private development project, if any

monitoring checkpoint within railway protection areas records a reading reaching the
pre-set limit for suspension of construction works set by BD or MTRCL, or in any other
circumstances where BD, EMSD or MTRCL considers the safety of railway structures,
facilities or operations has been so affected that warrants suspension of construction
works 4, the three parties will notify each other immediately. A joint press release by BD
and EMSD will be issued within 48 hours upon the suspension of works requested by
BD, EMSD or MTRCL, or voluntarily initiated by AP/RSE of the development project.
MTRCL will also issue a separate press release.

12. For announcement of resumption of the suspended works, a joint press

release by BD and EMSD will be issued within 48 hours after AP/RSE’s application for
resumption of suspended works 5 has been agreed by BD, EMSD and MTRCL.

Ground Investigation Works and Underground Drainage Works

13. The practice of monitoring building works being carried out above railway
structures has proved very effective and a number of potentially dangerous ground
investigation operations have been identified. Particularly dangerous are ground
investigation works where carelessness may result in the drill bit breaking through an
underground railway tunnel with the possibility of striking a train.

14. Ground investigation works within Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas
require prior approval and consent from the BA. Plans prescribed under regulation 8(1)(l)
of the Building (Administration) Regulations should be submitted and the proposals
should follow the guidelines at Appendix B. Application for concurrent processing of
approval and consent in respect of ground investigation works should follow PNAP
ADM-16. Apart from those underground drainage works which may be carried out under
the simplified requirements of the Minor Works Control System (MWCS) as mentioned
in paragraph 16 below, underground drainage works in any building to be carried out in
Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas are not exempted from application for approval
and consent to commence works and are subject to the full provisions of the BO.

15. Proposals for ground investigation works or underground drainage works

in or for any existing buildings to be carried out within railway protection areas other than
those designated as Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas should be forwarded to
MTRCL for comment prior to commencement of the proposed works.

/Minor …

4
In principle, all works that would induce adverse impact on the affected railway
structures/facilities should be suspended once the pre-set “Action” limit is reached. The extent
of works to be suspended may be predetermined and specified in the prescribed plans for the
BA’s approval.
5
Partial resumption of the suspended works may be allowed if there are sufficient justifications
to ensure the safety of the railway structures, facilities and operations.
 -4-

Minor Works

16. Upon receipt of minor works (MW) submission for notice of

commencement of Class I and Class II MW involving spread footing, excavation or
underground drainage works within Area Number 3 of the scheduled areas to be carried
out under the simplified requirements of the MWCS, BD would forward a copy of the
MW submission to MTRCL. MTRCL would then convey their comments to the
prescribed building professionals (PBP)/prescribed registered contractors (PRC) directly.
PBP/PRC should inform MTRCL and obtain their agreement before commencement of
the MW. Section 27 of the RO or section 15 of the MTR(LR&RP)O will be invoked in
case the proposed MW would be incompatible with any works for the construction,
maintenance or improvement of the railway and facilities or with the operation thereof.

Guidelines for Registered Contractors

17. A similar practice note has been issued to registered contractors.

( YU Po-mei, Clarice )
Building Authority

Ref.: BD GP/BORD/67 (XI)

BD RAIL/29/78 (X)

This PNAP is previously known as PNAP 77

First issue April 1981
Last revision September 2020
This revision December 2022 (AD/NB2) (General revision)
 Appendix A
(PNAP APP-24)

List of Railway Lines in Operation

1. Airport Express

2. Disneyland Resort Line

3. East Rail Line

4. High Speed Rail

5. Island Line

6. Kwun Tong Line

7. Light Rail

8. South Island Line

9. Tseung Kwan O Line

10. Tsuen Wan Line

11. Tuen Ma Line

12. Tung Chung Line

(12/2022)
 Appendix B
(PNAP APP-24)

Guidelines on Carrying Out Building Works

Within Railway Protection Areas

A. General

All proposals for building and engineering works including utilities works within
the railway protection areas should be subject to special scrutiny of BD and other
relevant government departments in consultation with MTRCL prior to giving
approval to any plans and/or consent for the commencement and carrying out of
such works. Every proposal should be assessed individually on its impact on
existing railway and related structures and facilities including all plants and
fixtures necessary for the safe operation of the railway and subject to satisfactory
compliance with the following technical requirements.

B. Design, Planning and Construction of Building Works within Railway

Protection Areas

(a) Ground investigation works

Ground investigation proposals should include the following:

(i) Details of the exploration and locations of the proposed

exploration holes, trial pits, trenches, field testing or
instrumentations relative to any railway structures and facilities
whether inside or outside the lot;

(ii) Proposed depth of boreholes/drillholes, pits or trenches;

(iii) A method statement for sinking boreholes/drillholes, excavating

trial pits and trenches including back-filling, conducting field
testing or installing instrumentation;

(iv) A method statement for checking verticality of

boreholes/drillholes located within a distance of 10 m on plan of
any point of the underground railway structures and facilities,
should boreholes/drillholes be sunk to a depth of 3 m from the
highest point of the railway structures and facilities; and

(v) A method statement for controlling the depth of

boreholes/drillholes to be sunk within a distance of 3 m on plan
of any point of the underground railway structures and facilities.

Each proposal will also be judged against the requirements as specified in

item (b) below.

/(b) …

-1-
 (b) Site formation, foundation and excavation works

Where site formation, foundation or excavation works, etc. are proposed

above, beneath or adjacent to railway structures and facilities, the following
requirements should be complied with:

(i) Unless prior special agreement of MTRCL has been obtained,

no pile, foundation, borehole/drillhole, well, soil nail, horizontal
drain, rock bolt/dowel or other geotechnical installation should
be driven, constructed or installed within a distance of 3 m from
any point of the underground railway structures and facilities;

(ii) Unless prior special agreement of MTRCL has been obtained,

piling works will not be permitted within 3 m on plan from the
railway fence or wall along the railway structures and facilities,
or 7 m on plan from the centreline of the nearest track when
there is no railway fence or wall;

(iii) Any part of an anchor, if allowed, should be more than 3 m away

from any part of a railway structure/facility, and the centroid of
the fixed length of the anchor should be more than twice the
fixed length away from any railway structures and facilities; and

(iv) The vertical or horizontal pressure change on any underground

structures and facilities due to the works, including excavation,
filling, ground improvement, dewatering and field testing (such
as plate loading test, pressure-meter test and packer test), and
due to the addition or reduction of loads transmitted from
foundations (including any loads arising during construction),
should not exceed 20 kPa 1.

(c) Demolition works

Where demolition and removal works for any structure which includes
scaffolding, advertising signs, container offices and buildings are proposed
above or adjacent to above-ground railway structures such as entrances,
vent shafts, power distribution substations, traction substations, plant
rooms, overhead railway structures and at-grade railway tracks, effective
measures to protect the railway structures and facilities should be provided.

(d) Building openings adjacent to railway ventilation facilities

There are certain restraints on the design of and making alteration to

properties in close proximity to railway ventilation facilities to minimise the
possibility of contamination by fire or smoke. In this connection, AP/RSE
are advised that any opening such as an openable or fixed window,

/doorway …

1
This 20kPa limit is set for avoiding any adverse effects on underground railway structures and
facilities. This limit may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, subject to MTRCL’s and BD’s
acceptance when engineering approach is adopted.

-2-
 doorway, building ventilation system intake or exhaust and the like in any
building should be located not closer than 5 m to the ventilation opening of
any railway ventilation facilities, irrespective of whether such ventilation
facilities are free-standing or accommodated in a building. This distance
may be reduced to 2.5 m, if the exhaust air from the railway ventilation
facilities is directed away from and is not likely to affect the opening by
natural convection.

(e) Scaffolding, advertising signs and projections

Erection of scaffolding, working platforms, advertising signs or any

projections at a level above the railway tracks should not be allowed within
a distance of 6 m on plan of any point of the railway tracks, without the
agreement of MTRCL. When such works are permitted to be carried out
within the 6 m limit, effective measures to protect the railway structures and
facilities should be provided. According to individual circumstances, it
may be necessary for such works to be conducted outside the railway
operation hours. All protective works should comply with the relevant
ordinances and their subsidiary regulations.

(f) Vertical greening systems

Any vertical greening systems should be located not closer than 5 m to the
ventilation opening of any railway ventilation facilities.

(g) Protection of open section railways from fallen objects

During the carrying out of the construction works, proper protection of the
railway tracks from fallen objects must be provided at all times by the
erection and maintenance of suitable hoardings, covered walkways and
gantry, and catch platform. Reference should be made to PNAP APP-102.
AP/RSE should take into consideration the risk of falling objects on the
railway track and adopt mitigation measures as appropriate.

(h) Flood protection

For a building that adjoins or is integrated with the railway structures and
facilities, its drainage system should be designed to prevent any possible
flooding arising from blockage of drains, bursting of water pipe, etc. from
entering the railway structures and facilities.

For construction sites adjacent to and/or adjoining railway structures and

facilities, an effective site drainage system should be provided to prevent
any foul and/or storm water from entering the railway structures and
facilities. Such flood protection measures should be agreed with MTRCL.

/(i) …

-3-
 (i) Marine works

Any reclamation, dredging, laying of submarine pipes or other engineering

works to be carried out in proximity to the railway immersed tunnel and
marine structures should be submitted for approval in consultation with
MTRCL.

(j) Sinking of wells

Sinking of wells within railway protection areas is building works subject

to the control of the BO including section 14(1) thereof. Before the carrying
out of the works, the approval of plans and consent for the commencement
of such works should be obtained from the BA.

C. Requirements for Monitoring the Effects on Railway Structures and

Facilities Arising from Building Works within Railway Protection Areas

AP/RSE/RGE may use one of the following approaches to monitor the effects on
railway structures and facilities arising from the proposed building works of a
specific site. AP/RSE/RGE should take into full consideration not only the
affected railway structures and facilities, but also the proposed building works,
construction sequence, site conditions, geological profiles, precautionary
measures and other related factors in choosing which approach to be adopted. In
addition, AP/RSE/RGE should carefully predict the “Alert, Alarm, Action” levels
in order to minimise further changes during the construction stage which might
bring about unnecessary public concerns and construction hindrance.

(a) Empirical approach

Different railway structures and facilities will have different tolerance in

accommodating movements, vibration and/or other effects. In the absence
of an engineering analysis agreed by MTRCL, the effect of building works
on railway structures and facilities should not exceed the following
empirical limits 2:

(i) Differential movement resulting from the works should not

produce angular distortion in any railway structures and
facilities including the plinth or track in excess of 1 in 1 000 in
any plane or a total movement in any railway structures and
facilities including the plinth or track exceeding 20 mm in any
plane;

(ii) The induced level difference between rails of a track in

perpendicular plane resulting from the works should not exceed
5 mm;

/(iii) …

2
A set of more stringent values may need to be adopted if the empirical limits are considered
insufficient to ensure the structural integrity, stability, serviceability and/or functionality of
the railway structures and facilities as well as the operational safety of railway (e.g. railway
structures with previous settlement records).

-4-
 (iii) The maximum peak particle velocities (ppv) induced to any
railway structures resulting from blasting (where permitted) and
from driving or withdrawing of piles or any similar operation
which can induce prolonged vibration should not exceed
25 mm/sec and 15 mm/sec respectively, when measured with a
vibrograph;

(iv) Vibration measured on the overhead power line mast, or

signalling and telecommunication furniture of railway should
not exceed the ppv of 10 mm/sec and the vibration amplitudes
should not exceed 80 µm; and

(v) While the requirements for controlling vibrations and

settlements as specified in PNAP APP-137 should be followed,
the “Alert”, “Alarm” and “Action” levels should be taken as
approximately 50%, 75% and 100% respectively for movement,
and 60%, 80% and 100% respectively for vibration of such
empirical limits. Hence, the levels to be adopted should be as
follows:

Criterion Alert Alarm Action

Angular distortion in any plane 1:2 000 1:1 350 1:1 000
Total movement in any plane 10 mm 15 mm 20 mm
Level difference between rails of 2.5 mm 3.8 mm 5 mm
a track in perpendicular plane
ppv induced to any blasting 15 mm/sec 20 mm/sec 25 mm/sec
railway structures
prolonged 9 mm/sec 12 mm/sec 15 mm/sec
vibration
Vibration measured ppv 6 mm/sec 8 mm/sec 10 mm/sec
on the overhead
vibration 48 µm 64 µm 80 µm
power line mast, or
amplitude
signalling and
telecommunication
furniture of railway

(b) Engineering approach

RSE/RGE may adopt engineering approach to establish a set of site-specific

limits 3. RSE/RGE should include in the submission of plans a proposal of
preventive and mitigation measures to be implemented prior to and during
the works, and a detailed and comprehensive assessment on the effects of
the proposed works with respect to the integrity, stability, serviceability and
functionality of the railway structures and facilities, as well as the

/operational …

3
Subject to MTRCL’s and BD’s acceptance on a case-by-case basis, the engineering approach
may also be adopted for the assessment of any adverse effect on railway structures and
facilities.

-5-
 operational safety of the railway. Guidelines on the engineering approach
are given in Appendix C of this PNAP.

To facilitate early clearance of the basic design principles for adopting the
engineering approach before formal submission of plans, RSE/RGE should
make use of the pre-submission enquiry service for obtaining BD’s
determination on the matters. BD may hold pre-submission conferences
with AP/RSE/RGE and invite representatives of government departments
and MTRCL to discuss and examine the issues and principles involved.

D. Other Requirements

(a) Maintenance of road lamp standards

When road lighting tower maintenance vehicles are to be used to service

road lamp standards adjacent to railway tracks, the working equipment
should not be positioned closer to the railway tracks than the nearest part of
the road lamp standard where the height of the lamp standard is greater than
the height of the tracks. If the working equipment is to be operated at a
level higher than 1 m above railway tracks and closer than 6 m from the
railway tracks, effective measures subject to the agreement of MTRCL
should be provided. According to individual circumstances, it may be
necessary for such works to be conducted outside the railway operation
hours.

(b) Fire services/police vehicles

The operation of fire services/police vehicles adjacent to the railway tracks

or vent shafts under emergency situations should be in accordance with the
emergency procedure agreed between MTRCL and the respective
organisation.

(c) Tree planting works

For tree planting works within railway protection areas, the respective
planting proposal should be sent to MTRCL for comment. The tree planting
proposal should provide an estimation of the sizes (including height and
spread width at maturity) of the proposed trees where possible. The tree
planting locations should be agreed by MTRCL such that collapse of tree
trunk or branches would not affect the railway operation, including the
supporting facilities (e.g. power supply, signalling system). In addition,
trees should not be planted at a distance less than 2 m away from the nearest
rail of the unfenced railway section.

/(d) …

-6-
 (d) Operation of stationary lifting appliance and working equipment

(i) Where stationary lifting appliance (e.g. tower crane, hoist) are
erected adjacent to railway tracks and/or above ground
structures and facilities; or mobile plant/lifting appliance (e.g.
excavator, mobile crane, piling rigs) operating within 6 m on
plan of railway structures and facilities with any part of the
appliance higher than the railway track level; effective measures
to protect the railway structures and facilities should be
provided. All protective works should be subject to agreement
of MTRCL. MTRCL may impose conditions on the operation
and positioning of the appliance and equipment if it is
considered that such operation and positioning may endanger
the safe operation of the railway.

(ii) The arc in which the jib of lifting appliance swings should not
encroach within 6 m of the railway tracks and/or above ground
structures and facilities on plan except with the agreement of
MTRCL. According to individual circumstances, it may be
necessary for such works to be conducted outside the railway
operation hours.

(e) Storage of materials

No materials, dangerous goods or other inflammable, containers, huts, etc.

should be stored/placed/erected within 6 m on plan of the railway
structures/tracks and ventilation openings without agreement of MTRCL.
Storage of dangerous goods or other inflammable materials should comply
with the relevant ordinances and their subsidiary regulations.

(f) Utility works

(i) Utility trenches/pits which require excavation within the railway

protection areas should not be carried out without the approval
of the relevant government departments in consultation with
MTRCL.

(ii) When cables, ducts and pipes, etc. are to cross above or below
railway overhead structures and facilities, the utility undertaking
should submit to MTRCL details of the cables, ducts, pipes and
the method of construction and seek agreement of MTRCL prior
to the commencement of works. When utility works are to be
carried out across the at-grade railway tracks, agreement from
MTRCL has to be sought before commencement of works.

(Rev. 12/2022)

-7-
 Appendix C
(PNAP APP-24)

Guidelines 1 on Engineering Approach for Movement Control and

Assessment of the Effects on Railway Structures/Facilities and Operations

Objective

1. To control the effects induced to existing railway structures and facilities due to the
proposed building works to within a set of control limits determined by engineering
assessment and analysis.

Information Required for Adoption of Engineering Approach

2. The following information is required for conducting the engineering assessment

and analysis:

(a) The existing ground and groundwater conditions, soil/rock parameters,

etc.;

(b) As-built information, design assumptions and calculations of the affected

railway structures and facilities;

(c) Historical movement records of the affected railway structures/facilities

obtained from MTRCL, if available;

(d) Details of the proposed preventive and mitigation measures (e.g. ground
improvement works, temporary supporting works) together with a
discussion on their effectiveness, method of verification and limitations;
and

(e) A structural appraisal report on the existing conditions of the affected

railway structures and facilities.

Precautionary and Preventive Measures

3. The engineering approach should be formulated to explore a combination of

different feasible precautionary and preventive measures to arrive at an optimal
design of the proposed building works for the most effective control of movements
of the railway structures and facilities. Examples include the following:

(a) Re-planning of the proposed building works (e.g. alternative foundation

scheme, setback of foundations and/or excavation works);

/(b) …

1
The guidelines apply to ground/building movements. RSE/RGE may follow the same
principles for assessment of any adverse effect on railway structures and facilities and devise
the necessary monitoring system.

-1-
 (b) Ground improvement works (e.g. pre-grouting, post-grouting);

(c) Enhanced construction methods and sequence (e.g. pre-boring,

pre-grouting, use of permanent casings for replacement type piles,
limiting the number of drilling/pilling rigs operating concurrently in
close proximity, site specific control of air flushing pressure and drilling
rate and time during piling operations);

(d) Enhanced excavation and lateral support system (e.g. pre-loading,

additional layers of strut/waling, carrying out excavation and
de-propping works zone by zone);

(e) Providing sufficient observation and re-charge wells for monitoring and
maintaining the groundwater level; or

(f) Provisions for enhancing water cut-off (e.g. vertical piled wall found at
deeper level, toe grouting).

Ground Movement Analysis

4. A detailed ground movement analysis 2 for each type and stage of the proposed
works with justifications of soil parameters and design assumptions adopted should
be submitted together with the prescribed plans.

Structural Assessment on Railway Structures and Facilities

5. As different railway structures/facilities have different tolerance limits in

accommodating movements, the acceptable level of movements may be different
for individual railway structures/facilities and the assessment should be considered
on a case-by-case basis.

6. The structural integrity, stability and functionality of railway structures/facilities

affected should be assessed for each critical stage of the proposed building works
based on the estimated values of ground movements and the ultimate and
serviceability limits of the affected railway structures/facilities in accordance with
recognised engineering principles and/or by making reference to item C(a)(v) of
Appendix B if applicable.

/Formulation …

2
The detailed ground movement analysis which also considers the effects on railway structures
and facilities can be carried out using mathematics models and computer methods for
estimation and assessment purposes. If the ground movement induced by the site work cannot
be predicted by using well recognised mathematics models or computer methods,
AP/RSE/RGE can estimate the ground movement by experience based on similar nature of
ground conditions and/or proposed construction methods, or by using conventional techniques
(e.g. trial installation on site) to estimate a certain degree of ground movement which will then
be submitted to MTRCL and BD for acceptance.

-2-
Formulation of “Alert, Alarm, Action (AAA)” Trigger Values for Ground/Building
Movement

7. The combined effects of ground/building movement due to different types of the

construction works to be carried out concurrently within a construction site (e.g.
piling and excavation works being carried out concurrently) and the cumulative
effects at different critical stages of the construction works (e.g. vertical piled wall
installation, staged excavation and strutting installation in basement construction)
should be assessed. For effective monitoring and control of movements and/or any
other effects during the works, the construction process should be divided into a
number of critical stages taking due consideration of the construction sequence and
procedures such that the estimated movement in each critical stage should not be
less than 10% or more than 50% of the estimated total movement of the particular
construction works.

In addition, the AAA trigger values for each critical stage of works should be set
according to the criteria below based on the results of ground movement analysis
and structural assessment:

“Alert” – 50% of the estimated movement for a particular critical stage of

works plus the total estimated movement for the previous critical
stage(s)
“Alarm” – Except the last critical stage of works, 100% of the estimated
movement for a particular critical stage of works plus the total
estimated movement for the previous critical stage(s). For the last
critical stage of works, it should be taken as the mean value of the
“Alert” and “Action” levels
“Action” – 100% of the estimated total movement upon completion of all
building works concerned

/8. …

-3-
8. A breakdown of the AAA trigger values for each critical stage of the proposed
building works (typical example for movement as shown in the table below) should
be shown on the monitoring plan included in the prescribed plans submitted to the
BA for approval under the BO and agreement by MTRCL.

Critical Type of Estimated

Alert Alarm Action
Stage Works Movement^
Grouting a
1 0.5(a+b) a+b
Sheet Piling b
Foundation
2 c a+b+0.5c a+b+c
(Zone 1)
Foundation a+b+c+d+e+f
3 d a+b+c+0.5d a+b+c+d
(Zone 2)
ELS
4 e a+b+c+d+0.5e a+b+c+d+e
(Stages 1-3)
ELS
5 f a+b+c+d+e+0.5f a+b+c+d+e+0.75f
(Stages 4-6)
^ Each estimated movement should be not less than 10% and not more than 50% of the
estimated total movement upon completion of all building works concerned.

Monitoring and Evaluation

9. The initial readings of all monitoring checkpoints should be measured by an

independent qualified survey team. A report with photographs showing the
installation of these monitoring checkpoints with a summary of the initial readings
should be submitted to BD and MTRCL prior to the commencement of the building
works concerned. The movement readings should be verified by the independent
qualified survey team and submitted to BD and MTRCL according to the
requirements and intervals as specified in BD’s approval letter upon approval of
plans.

10. The assessment on railway structures and facilities should be regularly reviewed to
take into consideration of the actual movements recorded and, if necessary, an
updated analysis should be conducted. Consent to the commencement of the
building works concerned may be given by the BA on a stage-by-stage basis subject
to satisfactory review results. RSE/RGE should conduct the necessary review
promptly to facilitate timely consent application such that the staged consents
would be obtained from the BA without impeding site progress.

Engineering Appraisal of Railway Equipment

11. AP/RSE/RGE should submit to MTRCL for agreement an engineering appraisal

report to assess the anticipated impact on all existing railway equipment (e.g. track
works, power supply equipment, signalling equipment) within the affected zone to
ensure the safe operation of the railway.

(12/2022)

-4-