BS 6031:1981 Code of practice for earthworks

This British Standard recommends a code of practice for earthworks forming part of general civil engineering construction such as highways, railways and airfields, bulk excavations for major structures and excavations in pits, shafts and trenches for foundations, pipelines and drainage works.

This standard describes methods of designing and constructing cuttings and bulk excavation. It also covers embankments and areas of general regrading in cut and fill for highways, railways and airfields.

This standard describes methods of excavating trenches, pits and shafts in various types of ground and methods of forming temporary supports to the sides.

Temporary supports referred to in this standard are taken to include alternative materials such as timber, steel and reinforced concrete, and alternative methods such as timbering, trench sheeting, sheet piling, diaphragm walls and contiguous bored piled walls.