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.