23_Power Trench Sand and Backfill Requirements - Apr 2013.pdf

This document is a technical standard for trenching specifications issued by Valley Electric Association (VEA) for underground distribution system installation. The standard provides detailed requirements for trench bed preparation, bedding material placement, and backfill procedures, with specific guidelines including: removing excessive loose material, replacing unstable soils, using pre-moistened machine-compacted sand fill, and ensuring proper cable/conduit embedding depths.

The document specifies precise technical requirements for power trench sand, including gradation requirements with sieve size percentages by weight, and establishes material quality standards for trench backfill. Key specifications include: sand material must be clean and granular, cables must be embedded with a minimum of 4 inches of sand below and 12 inches of sand over, and native soil backfill must meet specific composition criteria such as containing no rocks larger than 3", being free of decomposable organic materials, and having acceptable plasticity and compaction characteristics. The standard includes a note to "Call Before You Dig" at 1-800-227-2600 and was issued on 04/30/13 by VEA.