31 23 16.13 - Trenching.pdf
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- Attached to
- Skytop Lodge Sewage Treatment Plant Improvements Project – Contract : 2026-01- Project Number 005153. 0436
- Solicitation number
- Not on record
- Issued by
- Monroe County, Pennsylvania
About this file
This is a Trenching technical specification document for the Skytop Lodge Sewage Treatment Plant Improvements Project (Contract 2026-01, Project Number 005153.0436) in Pennsylvania. The specification outlines requirements for excavating trenches for utility installation, including compacted fill placement, backfilling, and compaction procedures. The work encompasses removal of all materials encountered during trenching regardless of character (soil, fill, shale, rock, hardpan, boulders), with trench excavation classified as unclassified and included within lump-sum or unit-price bid items. The project involves installation of sewage treatment plant components including an Influent Screening System, Equalization Tank, Chemical Feed System, two Clarifier Tanks, Post Aeration Tank, and UV Disinfection System. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for August 25, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Skytop Lodge STP in Canadensis, Pennsylvania, with bids due on Friday, September 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM via PennBid.
The specification requires contractors to prepare an excavation protection plan under the direct supervision of a Pennsylvania-licensed Professional Engineer and to comply with ASTM and AASHTO standards for soil compaction testing and density verification. Fill materials include Type Suitable Backfill and Embankment Material, PennDOT 2A structural fill, and AASHTO No. 57 granular fill, with placement in maximum 8-inch compacted layers and compaction density requirements of 100 percent of maximum density under asphalt pavement areas and 90 percent under grass areas. Contractors must call Pennsylvania One Call System Inc. at least three working days before performing work to locate and mark underground utilities. The specification requires field quality control testing with a minimum of one site visit per sewer pipe run installation between manhole structures, with frequency and locations determined by the Engineer.
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Text version
31 23 16.13 - TRENCHING
Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. 31 23 16.13 - 1 005153.0436
SECTION 31 23 16.13 - TRENCHING
PART 1 - GENERAL
1.1 SUMMARY
A. Section Includes:
1. Excavating trenches for utilities.
2. Compacted fill from top of utility bedding to subgrade elevations.
3. Backfilling and compaction.
B. Related Sections:
1. Section 03 30 00 - Cast-In-Place Concrete: Concrete materials.
2. Section 31 05 13 - Soils for Earthwork: Soils for fill.
3. Section 31 05 16 - Aggregates for Earthwork: Aggregates for fill.
4. Section 31 22 13 - Rough Grading: Topsoil and subsoil removal from site surface.
5. Section 31 23 16 - Excavation: General building excavation.
6. Section 31 23 16.26 - Rock Removal: Removal of rock during excavating.
7. Section 33 14 16 - Site Water Utility Distribution Piping.
1.2 REFERENCES
A. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials:
1. AASHTO T180 - Standard Specification for Moisture-Density Relations of Soils
Using a 4.54-kg (10-lb) Rammer and a 457-mm (18-in.) Drop.
B. ASTM International:
1. ASTM D698 - Standard Test Method for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of
Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3).
2. ASTM D1557 - Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft3 (2,700 kN-m/m3).
3. ASTM D2922 - Standard Test Method for Density of Soil and Soil-Aggregate in
Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth).
4. ASTM D3017 - Standard Test Method for Water Content of Soil and Rock in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth).
1.3 TRENCH EXCAVATION CLASSIFICATION
A. Trench excavation required under this Section is unclassified. Trench excavation includes removal of all materials encountered, regardless of character, including soil, fill, shale, rock, hardpan, boulders, and miscellaneous subsurface materials.
B. The applicable lump-sum or unit-price items include all trench excavation. No separate measurement or payment will be made for rock excavation or other material classifications.
C. This excavation classification does not modify the rights and responsibilities of Owner and Contractor concerning differing subsurface conditions, Underground Facilities, or Hazardous Environmental Conditions under the General Conditions.
Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. 31 23 16.13 - 2 005153.0436
1.4 DEFINITIONS
A. Utility: Any buried pipe, duct, conduit, or cable.
1.5 SUBMITTALS
A. Section 01 33 00 - Submittal Procedures: Requirements for submittals.
B. Excavation Protection Plan: Describe sheeting, shoring, and bracing materials and installation required to protect excavations and adjacent structures and property; include structural calculations to support plan.
C. Product Data: Submit data for geotextile fabric indicating fabric and construction.
D. Materials Source: Submit name of imported fill materials suppliers.
E. Field Quality-Control Submittals: Indicate results of Contractor-furnished tests and inspections:
1. Test reports on borrow material.
2. Field reports; in-place soil density tests.
3. One moisture-maximum density curve for each type of soil encountered.
4. Report of actual unconfined compressive strength and/or results of bearing tests of each strata tested.
1.6 QUALIFICATIONS
A. Prepare excavation protection plan under direct supervision of Professional Engineer experienced in design of this Work and licensed in State of Pennsylvania.
1.7 FIELD MEASUREMENTS
A. Verify field measurements prior to fabrication.
1.8 COORDINATION
A. Section 01 31 13 – Project Coordination: Coordination and project conditions.
B. Verify Work associated with lower elevation utilities is complete before placing higher elevation utilities.
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
2.1 FILL MATERIALS
A. Subsoil Fill: Type Suitable Backfill and Embankment Material as specified in Section 31 05 13.
B. Structural Fill: Type PennDOT 2A as specified in Section 31 05 13.
C. Granular Fill: Type AASHTO No. 57 or PennDOT 2A as specified in Section 31 05 13.
Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. 31 23 16.13 - 3 005153.0436
D. Concrete: Structural concrete as specified in Section 03 30 00 with compressive strength of 4,000 psi.
PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.1 LINES AND GRADES
A. Lay pipes to lines and grades indicated on Drawings:
1. Owner reserves right to make changes in lines, grades, and depths of utilities when changes are required for Project conditions.
2. Contractor shall not be entitled to extra compensation or to a claim for damages if change does not involve abandonment of an excavated trench.
B. Use laser-beam instrument with qualified operator to establish lines and grades.
3.2 PREPARATION
A. Call Pennsylvania One Call System, Inc. at 1-800-242-1776 not less than three working days before performing Work.
1. Request underground utilities to be located and marked within and surrounding construction areas.
B. Identify required lines, levels, contours, and datum locations.
C. Protect plant life, lawns, and other features remaining as portion of final landscaping.
D. Protect bench marks, existing structures, fences, sidewalks, paving, and curbs from excavating equipment and vehicular traffic.
E. Maintain and protect above and below grade utilities indicated to remain.
F. Establish temporary traffic control when trenching is performed in public right-of-way.
Relocate controls as required during progress of Work.
3.3 TRENCHING
A. Excavate subsoil required for utilities to locations shown on the Drawings and necessary to complete work.
B. Remove lumped subsoil, boulders, and rock up of 1/6 cubic yard, measured by volume.
Remove larger material as specified in Section 31 23 16.13.
C. Perform excavation within 24 inches of existing utility service in accordance with utility's requirements.
D. Do not advance open trench more than 200 feet ahead of installed pipe.
E. Cut trenches sufficiently wide to enable installation and allow inspection. Remove water or materials that interfere with Work.
Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. 31 23 16.13 - 4 005153.0436
F. Excavate bottom of trenches maximum 2 feet wider than outside diameter of pipe.
G. Excavate trenches to depth indicated on Drawings. Provide uniform and continuous bearing and support for bedding material and pipe utilities.
H. Do not interfere with 45 degree bearing splay of foundations.
I. When Project conditions permit, side wall of excavation may be sloped starting 2 feet above top of pipe. When side walls cannot be sloped, provide sheeting and shoring to protect excavation as specified in this section.
J. When subsurface materials at bottom of trench are loose or soft, notify Engineer, and request instructions.
K. Cut out soft areas of subgrade not capable of compaction in place. Backfill with AASHTO No. 3 coarse aggregate to within 6-inches of subgrade followed by AASHTO No 57 coarse aggregate wrapped in non-woven geotextile and compact to density equal to or greater than requirements for subsequent backfill material.
L. Trim excavation. Hand trim for bell and spigot pipe joints. Remove loose matter.
M. Correct areas over excavated areas with compacted backfill as specified for authorized excavation or replace with fill concrete as directed by Engineer.
N. Remove excess subsoil not intended for reuse, from site.
3.4 SHEETING AND SHORING
A. Sheet, shore, and brace excavations to prevent danger to persons, structures and adjacent properties and to prevent caving, erosion, and loss of surrounding subsoil.
B. Support trenches more than 5 feet deep excavated through unstable, loose, or soft material. Provide sheeting, shoring, bracing, or other protection to maintain stability of excavation.
C. Design sheeting and shoring to be removed at completion of excavation work.
D. Repair damage caused by failure of the sheeting, shoring, or bracing and for settlement of filled excavations or adjacent soil and subsurface material.
E. Repair damage to new and existing Work from settlement, water or earth pressure or other causes resulting from inadequate sheeting, shoring, or bracing.
3.5 BACKFILLING
A. Backfill trenches to contours and elevations with unfrozen fill materials.
B. Systematically backfill to allow maximum time for natural settlement. Do not backfill over porous, wet, frozen, or spongy subgrade surfaces.
Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. 31 23 16.13 - 5 005153.0436
C. Place material in continuous layers as follows:
1. Subsoil Fill: Maximum 8 inches compacted depth.
2. Structural Fill: Maximum 8 inches compacted depth.
3. Granular Fill: Maximum 8 inches compacted depth.
D. Employ placement method that does not disturb or damage utilities in trench.
E. Maintain optimum moisture content of fill materials to attain required compaction density.
F. Do not leave more than 50 feet of trench open at end of working day.
G. Protect open trench to prevent danger to Owner and the public.
3.6 TOLERANCES
A. Section 01 40 00 - Quality Requirements: Tolerances.
B. Top Surface of Backfilling: Plus or minus 1-inch from required elevations.
3.7 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL
A. Section 01 40 00 - Quality Requirements: Field inspecting, testing, adjusting, and balancing.
B. Perform laboratory material tests in accordance with ASTM D1557.
C. Perform in place compaction tests in accordance with the following:
1. Density Tests: ASTM D2922.
2. Moisture Tests: ASTM D3017.
D. When tests indicate Work does not meet specified requirements, remove Work, replace, compact, and retest.
E. Frequency of Tests:
1. On the 1st day of backfilling to determine the level of effort required to achieve the contract required compaction requirements.
2. Provide a minimum of one (1) site visit per sewer pipe run installation between manhole structures.
3. Compaction tests shall be performed at varying depths and locations per site visit, as determined by the Engineer.
4. Contractor and Contractors certified testing agent shall complete and submit compaction test results to Engineer following each site visit.
3.8 PROTECTION OF FINISHED WORK
A. Section 01 73 00 - Execution Requirements: Protecting finished work.
B. Reshape and re-compact fills subjected to vehicular traffic during construction.
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3.9 SCHEDULE
A. Water and Sanitary Piping (under Asphalt pavement areas):
1. Cover pipe and bedding with Fill Type: PennDOT 2A aggregate, to subgrade elevation.
2. Compact uniformly to minimum 100 percent of maximum density.
B. Water and Sanitary Piping (under grass areas):
1. Cover pipe and bedding with Fill Type: PennDOT 2A aggregate, to subgrade elevation.
2. Compact uniformly to minimum 90 percent of maximum density.
END OF SECTION
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