Category Archives: earthworks

NEWS SNIPPETS

As regular readers know, we have a section on CPD in most of our newsletters, with links to follow-up information.  As a new idea, we are going to start to capture also some broad news items that affect the industry and ourselves.  We found the following news snippets and links useful and we hope you agree. British Standards and Brexit  – This is a common topic on our courses so the recent statement from BSI that they will continue as a member of ISO, IEC, CEN and CENELEC is likely to be of interest to many.  They went on to state “UK stakeholders have overwhelmingly expressed their support for the UK to remain committed to the adoption of international and European standards as the national standard, used as today.”  More information on what this means can be found by using this link, and their February 2018 standards position statement can be read here. Planning Update – The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has recently been updated and on 1 October 2018 new Regulations will come into force regarding pre-commencement conditions.  A Quick Guide on the changes has been prepared by Lithos Consulting, who we thank for their permission to circulate their guide. BIM Update – The first two international standards relating to the organization of information about construction works are to published in late 2018.  They are BS EN ISO 19650–1 (concepts and principles) and BS EN ISO 19650-2 (information management in delivery).  These standards will supersede BS 1192 (principles) and PAS 1192 part 2 (capital/delivery phase) respectively. An update that should help answer some of the questions on the UK transition can be found here. Health Safety and Welfare – Though industry magazines regularly carry HSW news, we find it useful to keep an eye too on the latest HSE press releases.  There were numerous construction related posts just in July and August, which highlight that we as an industry need to keep emphasising and focusing on HSW throughout a project. If you want to register to receive our newsletter, just follow this link and enter a few details.  Rest assured we will protect your privacy.

PREPARING FOR PROFESSIONAL REVIEW IN SPRING 2019

Our programme of courses that were designed to help candidates prepare for their professional review in the Autumn 2018 session are now complete.  Now the focus moves on to supporting prospective candidates for the Spring 2019 session.  This includes the following courses:
  • The ICE Professional Review – Preparing for the Written Exercise on 22 November
  • The ICE Professional Review – Overview and Preparation on 4 December
  • Mock interview courses in early 2019 (dates TBC) 
If any course is of interest then please contact us for details and / or to make a booking.  Equally, if you want to know what other courses may assist you then feel free to contact us.

CPD IDEAS

We have a regular section on CPD in our newsletters, with links to follow-up information.  They are useful for anyone but are especially useful for graduates pursuing professional registration with the ICE.   In the latest newsletter (to be issued shortly) we provided two CPD ideas: NEC4 – The NEC form of contract was born out of the Latham and Egan reports.  It went on to become the form of contract recommended by the ICE, replacing the ICE 7th Conditions of Contract.  It emphasised a collaborative approach and provided a range of forms for different risk sharing approaches.  NEC3 has now been replaced by NEC4 and graduates sitting their review ought to be aware now of the main changes.  A good starting point may be found here. Sustainable Development – Some time ago, in 2008, Constructing Excellence “recognised the need for a ‘Plain English Guide to Sustainable Construction’ after a large number of comments from their membership about the lack of clear, concise information on the subject.”  They have produced a useful guide that we recommend graduates read as a starter.  There have been developments since of course, as covered in previous newsletters. If you want to see other CPD ideas, you can look back at previous newsletters by following this link.

SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2018 COURSES

Full details of all courses can be seen in our latest calendar.  Selected highlights include:
  • Pile Foundations – Principles and Practice on 20 September  LAST CALL
  • Introduction to Health and Safety Law – 9 October
  • Mentoring for Engineering Geologists on Geotechnical Engineering on 11 October
  • Slope Stability – Principles and Practice on 18 October
  • Earthworks – Principles and Practice on 25 October
All courses are running in Chesterfield unless stated otherwise on the calendar.  Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course. Please call or email us to reserve your place on a course. Remember too that all courses can be run bespoke for your company if there are sufficient numbers – just call us to see what we could do for you.  

SUCCESSFUL COURSE ON UPDATED SOIL NAILING STANDARD

We reminded our readers a few months ago that BSI has reviewed and updated the UK’s soil nailing design standard.  In their release, BSI stated:

BS 8006-2 Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced soils ‒ Part 2: Soil nail design gives recommendations and guidance for stabilizing soil slopes and faces using soil nails. As there is no corresponding EN or ISO standard, BS 8006-2 is the national de facto soil nailing design standard in the UK and Ireland.” Following issue of the standard, we were asked if we could deliver a bespoke course for a consultancy to help them update their design practices.  A workshop based course was developed with Paul Roberts, a Geotechnical Regional Director with AECOM, and it was successfully delivered in June 2018.  It was a pleasure working with everyone on the course. If you have a need for a specialist course that we don’t usually offer then please contact us to see if we can help.  We have numerous contacts in the industry and regularly provide bespoke courses for companies to address their specific needs.

AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2018 COURSES

The summer is almost here, though with the heatwave it feels like it has been here a while!  We still have plenty of courses coming up, and in fact now is a good time to book your training for the Autumn.  Full details of all courses can be seen in our latest calendar.  Selected highlights include:
  • Contractual Awareness, on  2 August
  • The ICE Professional Review – Preparing for the Interview (maximum of 4 delegates), on numerous dates in August and early September
  • Slope Stability – Principles and Practice, on 13 September
  • Pile Foundations – Principles and Practice, on 20 September
  • Ground Investigation Design to EC7 – The Essentials (half day course), on 27 September
In addition to these standard day courses, we are running our Design Programme on Shallow Foundations and Settlements.  This programme of 6 evening  courses allows delegates to explore the subject matter in more depth than possible during a typical day course. All courses are running in Chesterfield unless stated otherwise on the calendar.  Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course. Please call or email us to reserve your place on a course. Remember too that all courses can be run bespoke for your company if there are sufficient numbers – just call us to see what we could do for you.  

2018 REV 4 COURSE CALENDAR

As always, and driven by some unforeseen personal issues, we have undertaken a periodic review of our course calendar and made some small changes.  The new calendar can be downloaded from here. All courses are running in Chesterfield unless stated.  Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course. Please call or email us to reserve your place on a course. Remember too that all courses can be run bespoke for your company if there are sufficient numbers – just call us to see what we could do for you.  

COURSES IN JUNE 2018

The following courses are planned to run in Chesterfield in June 2018.  Brief descriptions and costs for each are summarised below for ease of reference: Retaining Walls – Principles and Practice, on 7 June 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate This course aims to develop the abilities of the delegates to understand the principles and practice behind retaining structures, including the design of gravity and embedded walls. Introduction to Structural Design to the Eurocodes, on 14 June 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate The course will review the essential elements of the Eurocodes, including EC0, EC1, EC2 and EC3.  It will explore how the codes work and use guided examples to illustrate their application.
Essentials of Project Management, 19 June 2018  REVISED DATE £250 + VAT per delegate Taught from a practical perspective, the course examines what project management is and why it is needed, before introducing delegates to the importance of understanding project financing, contract requirements, and commercial risk. Ground Risk Management for Managers, on 21 June 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate Targeted at project managers and those managing / delivering geotechnical works, the course looks at how ground risk can be managed to enhance project success.
The ICE Professional Review – Overview and Preparation, on 28 June 2018 £250 + VAT per delegate Delivered by an ICE Reviewer, the course will give delegates a rounded view of the review process and provide practical tips on how to prepare your report, and prepare for the interview and written exercise. Please contact us if you wish to receive further details of any course or if you wish to make a booking.  Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course.
 

UPDATED SOIL NAILING STANDARD

Just in case you missed it, BSI recently announced that the UK’s soil nailing design standard has been reviewed and updated.  In their release, BSI stated: BS 8006-2 Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced soils ‒ Part 2: Soil nail design gives recommendations and guidance for stabilizing soil slopes and faces using soil nails. As there is no corresponding EN or ISO standard, BS 8006-2 is the national de facto soil nailing design standard in the UK and Ireland. Principal technical changes include:

  • Improved compliance with BS EN 1990 on partial factors
  • Clarification of potentially ambiguous notation
  • Updated advice on atmospheric corrosivity
  • Inclusion of site investigation BS 5930
Note that the European standard in this area, BS EN 1997-1, specifically excludes soil nailing. BS 8006-2 is harmonized for use alongside that standard, as well as with BS 8006-1:2010+A1:2016 which covers other stabilization approaches using reinforced soil methods which covers the design of reinforced soil structures.

EUROCODES AND BREXIT

We are often asked when delivering training courses on eurocodes what impact Brexit will have on Eurocodes.  BSI recently issued their update on the matter, which essentially says that “Eurocodes are here to stay and will continue to perform an essential role across Europe and beyond going forward….the intent is for the UK to remain full members of the European Committee for Standardization and European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization post-Brexit”. Further details can be seen in their article, which can be viewed here.