Estimating Small Buildings - Earthwork

These flashcards cover essential terms and definitions related to the excavation process and safety in earthwork as discussed in the lecture notes.

Excavation

The process of digging up and removing material from a site.

Trench

An excavation that is deeper than it is wide.

Bank Measure

The measurement used for excavated materials when no adjustments have been made for volume increase.

Swell Factor

A calculation that accounts for the increase in volume of soil when it is excavated.

Compaction Factor

A measure of how much a material's volume is reduced when compacted.

Grubbing

The removal of roots, shrubs, and other vegetation from the site prior to excavation.

Backfill

The process of refilling an excavated area with soil or material.

Type 1 Soil

Hard ground that is difficult to dig into, often resembling rock.

Type 2 Soil

Soil that can be excavated with some difficulty, typically remaining vertical for a short time.

Type 3 Soil

Usually previously excavated material that is easy to handle and will flow when dry.

Type 4 Soil

Very soft and easily excavated soil that requires support to be dug to significant depth.

Trench Box

A protective system used to safeguard workers in case of a cave-in, not necessarily providing structural support to trench walls.

Shoring System

A support system employed to stabilize trench walls and prevent soil movement.

Existing Grade

The current elevation of the ground before any grading or excavation work.

Finished Grade

The desired final elevation of the ground after excavation and backfilling.

Excavation Allowance

The additional space around pipes in trenches that must be accounted for in excavation.

Cave-In

A collapse of the walls of an excavation site, posing serious safety risks to workers.

Safety Regulations

Guidelines that must be followed to ensure the safety of workers at excavation sites.