METHOD STATEMENT FOR CONDUCTING FIELD DENSITY TEST BY USING NUCLEAR GAUGE

evision History

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INDEX SHEET
1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 Purpose Scope References Definitions and abbreviations Resources Responsibilities Permits and licenses Materials Sequence of activities Quality - Inspection H&S issues, Risk assessment and Hazard analysis Environmental Management / Monitoring Plan

1.0

Purpose
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The purpose of this method statement is to identify hazards, a safe system of work and methodology for soil field density test by using nuclear density gauge, associated with this contract package To ensure that all the concerned persons are familiarized with the sequence of activities, utilization of resources and relevant documents in compliance with H&S, QA/QC and environmental procedures and Project Specification requirements. 2.0 Scope This method statement covers all works related to soil field density testing for Commercial Terminal Utility Buildings and Infrastructure which includes Soil Testing Works Compaction test for Formation level and back filling layers to determine compaction percentage by field density test using nuclear density cage. The Document describes details of equipment, methodology and inspection required for conducting field dry density test at formation level and backfilling layers, associated with this contract package. 3.0 References IFC Drawings - Structural General Cargo Terminal using nuclear gauge.

4.0

Definitions and abbreviations NPPSC New Port Project Steering Committee - Client PMC Project Management Consultant EDC Engineering Design Consultant HBK Hamad Bin Khalid Co. W.L.L PD - Project Director PM Project Manager CM Construction Manager TM Technical Manager IFC Issued for Construction SSL Structural Slab level MDD Maximum Dry Density FGL Finished Grade level PQP Project Quality Plan MC Moisture Content OMC - Optimum Moisture Content QC Quality Control CIR Contractors Inspection Request
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ITP Inspection and testing plan PPE personal protection Equipment 5.0 5.1 Resources Supervision and Manpower The number of Staff and manpower will be planned from the list below as per the Item of works involved based on the location type and area of work. Suitable trained staff and workers will be engaged to carry out all the relevant activities at site. The technicians, Operators and Drivers will have the valid license (s) permits to operate Vehicle or the nuclear gauge issued by Ministry of Environment. a) Project Engineer b) Site Engineer c) QA/QC Engineer d) H&S Manager e) H&S Officer f) First Aiders g) Fire Warden h) Drivers/Operators i) Surveyor j) Foreman k) Operators l) Banks man m) Charge hand n) Skilled Labour o) Unskilled Labour p) Nuclear gauge Technicians 5.2 Equipment The number of equipment will be planned from the list below as per the volume of works involved based on the location type and area of work All Equipment will have valid certification from Ministry of Environment and tools for the intended use shall confirm to and all legislative standards. All Equipment will have the regular Maintenance and the inspection records. Third party certification wherever applicable will be done and the relevant certificate will be kept with the equipment/operator. a) Nuclear Gauge of make CPN/Humboldt b) Reference block, which will be along with nuclear gauge. ] c) Drill rod and hammer capable of forming a hole of diameter 16mm. d) Guide plate-A flat metal template, of size at least the same size of Nuclear gauge base, with a hole in one end for the drill rod. e) Fines, dry fine sand or dry native fines passing a 600 m AS sieve.
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f) g) h) i) 6.0

Total Station with Valid Calibration certificate Survey Hand Tools Masonry Hand tools Testing Hand tools.

Responsibilities Compaction test at Formation level and back filling levels using nuclear gauge are carried out.

7.0 7.1

Sequence of activities Operational Checks For ensuring the normal operation of nuclear gauge, the following checks will be undertaken routinely or following repair as below: a. Standard Count Check (Frequency: each day of use or as described in the equipment manual). b. A standard count will be, in accordance with standard count operating instruction and the following will be ensured: The nuclear gauge is correctly located on the reference block The source rod handle is correctly located in the shielded position. Density standard count and moisture standard count values are recorded in the nuclear gauge log book. c. The average of the previous four recorded and accepted density standard counts and moisture standard counts will be calculated. 8.0 The limits for density and moisture using the formulae below will be calculated and recorded in log book: SC =average density standard count (DS) or average moisture standard count (MS) L =Lower limit for density (L) or Moisture (Lw) U = Limit of density (Up) or moisture (Uw) PS = nuclear gauge per scale factor 9.0 If the recorded standard count values lie within the range of L to Up for density and Lw to Uw for moisture,the nuclear gauge will be permitted to be used for testing works. 10.0 If the recorded standard count values lies outside the range of L to Up for density and Lw to Uw for moisture,the above steps from a toe will be repeated. Still the count values are outside the range, the nuclear gauge will be removed from usage and will be sent for repair and calibration. i. Gauge Function check-Statistical Performance (Frequency: =-]\p[-p[oMonthly) a) The nuclear gauge and the reference block will be removed from the stor and the reference block will be placed on the designated test location as described in ..
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b) At least 16 density and moisture counts in accordance with the appropriate statistical count operating instruction will be taken,ensuring the following: The nuclear gauge is correctly located on the reference block The source rod handle is correctly located in the shieled position. Density standard count and moisture standard count values are recorded in the nuclear gauge log book. c) The mean and standard deviation of the density counts and moisture counts will be calculated. d) The density and the moisture ratios will be calculated using the formula below and the same will be recorded in nuclear gauge log book: Where r = density ratio (rp) or moisture ratio (rw) S = standard deviation of the density or moisture counts C = mean density count (Cp) or mean moisture count (Cw) e) If the value of density ratio and moisture ratio are within the limits in the below table, the nuclear gauge will be permitted to be used for testing Nuclear gauge Lower Limit Upper Limit type CPN 0.75 1.25 Humboldt 0.60 1.40 ii. Density System Consistency Check (Frequency: monthly) Density system consistency check will be performed in accordance with nuclear gauge testing manual. Test site selection and Preparation a) At the designated test location, the guide plate will be used to define test site which is flat and free from depressions. The guide plate will be used to trim the surface of some materials, in such a way that, this action does not affect the compaction of the area. b) All loose materials will be brushed away from the test site and fine sand or native fines will be sprinkled on the surface. The guide plates will be moved above the surface until all the voids are filled. It will also be ensured that, the sand or fines are not forming an added layer. c) The guide plate will be placed on the test site and hole will be drilled at least 200 mm from the compacted level for backfilling. The depth of hole will not exceed300 mm. d) The guide plate will be removed and the prepared test area will be repaired using some additional sand or fines, as required.

9.2

9.3 Field density testing using nuclear gauge a) Part of source rod will be exposed. Nuclear gauge will be placed on the prepared test site, in such a way that, the source rod is placed in the formed hole.
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b) The source rod will be moved to required measurement depth. c) The source rod will be eased against the hole wall by moving the nuclear gauge in the direction of the source rod handle. d) The firm seating of the nuclear gauge will be ensured by rotating the nuclear gauge several degrees to left and right, if required, maintaining the contact between the source rod and formed hole. e) One minute count in accordance with the appropriate measurement operating instructions will be taken. The relevant density and moisture test data will be recorded. f) The nuclear gauge will be rotated through 90 and steps as described above from a) to e) will be repeated.Partcular care will be taken while rotating the gauge to avoided damage to the prepared surface. g) The source rod will then be moved to shielded position. h) The dry density values will be compared for both orientations. If the difference exceeds 0.075 t/m3,the test will be repeated at the same test site. i) If still,the difference exceeds 0.075 t/m3,the test site will be abandoned and new test site will be selected. 9.4 Notes a) The nuclear gauge will be recalibrated following any major repair or component replacement. b) Location to be selected for testing will be at least 2m away from the large object and 10 m away from any other nuclear gauge. c) Log book will be maintained for each gauge to record operational check data and the date of measurement. d) Where the previous 4 standard counts have not taken within the previous 5 weeks of the current date or nuclear gauge has been moved to new operating and testing location,4 new standard counts will be taken as detailed above in section e) Once an accepted form of statistical analysis is performed by the microprocessor, individual count values are not necessary to be recorded. Only density and moisture ratio will be recorded. f) When nuclear gauge is used within 2m of large object or in a trench, separate standard count will be taken at each test site. g) The scope of user definable test parameters, as list below, is dependent on the make and model of nuclear gauge: Counting time, units and measurement mode Maximum dry density Density bias, which includes as appropriate, alignment bias, gauge bias and material wet density bias. Material moisture bias h) The test area is formed by two overlapping rectangles at right angles to each other, with each rectangle being at least the size of gauge plate and the hole being common within the overlapping area as below.
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 i) Wherever the underlying layer consists of the same material type and subtype as that in the layer under test, the measurement depth selected will be same as the layer thickness. Under these circumstances, the penetration of source rod can be permitted to penetrate to the underlying layer. j) In any case,if proper seating of nuclear gauge is not practical at a test site, new test will be selected immediately adjacent to the original site. k) A gauge bias is only applied at this step to CPN nuclear gauges. Quality Inspection The WIR for Inspection and Test plan for Compaction test for Formation level and Back filling works using nuclear gauge summarizes various characteristics to be checked. The concerned Site Engineer and Foreman will be responsible to ensure stage wise compliance for the above operations and the Site QA/ QC Engineer / Inspector will carry out the quality control checks and report the results. Please refer to separate document for Quality Plan, Inspection and Test Plan for this method statement. 11.0 11.1 H&S issues, Risk assessment and Hazard analysis H&S Issues

a) Ensure that every one Use the Mandatory and appropriate PPEs for performing the each type of work b) Minimum Personnel in the area while operations are been carried out. c) Check Ladders are in good conditions and appropriate length. d) Works carried out during hot weather e) At the start of each work shift for any relevant activity on hand, the Daily pre start talks and Safe working instructions 1- 2 times per week will be done on site. Please refer the Approved Health and Safety plan Please refer to the separate document for the JSA and Risk Assessment for this method statement. 11.2 Activities foreseen related to main hazards

a) Edge Protection
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b) Slope Protection c) Ramp Access to excavated area for Equipment d) Equipment movement for excavation(Wheel Loader Cat 950 or Equivalent, Equivalent, 20 m3 truck. e) Equipment Movement for Formation level Compaction (5 to 10 Ton Roller ,1.0 ton pedestrian operated Roller and Plate Compactor ) f) Isolated Ramp Access with steps if required, Scaffolding pipes for handrail for Personnel Access g) Any Caving in from the excavated surface h) Working below the equipment for application of loads and measurement of the settlement. i) Slippage of Hydraulic jack and dial gauges below the equipment. Please refer to the separate document for the JSA and Risk Assessment for this method statement. 12. 0 Environmental Management / Monitoring Plan for Excavation works for Buildings and structures Specific environmental aspects during the Compaction test for Formation level and Back filling works and Plate Load Test for testing of soil bearing capacity at formation level for Building and Structures include: a) Air Emissions and Dust Generation b) Fuel Storage / refueling / Spill c) Noise d) Excavated Material / stockpile e) Solid Waste generation Specific management plan have been drafted in the Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP) for above referred Environmental Aspects (Document under review by PMC/EC). However, to ensure the environmental management requirements are considered and controls implemented at the initial works such as at the present case (Excavation works for Building and Structures) the following Environmental Management Plan (EMP) will be implemented: EMP for Air Emissions & Dust Generation: f) Minimize vehicular movements and implement speed control g) Periodic water sprinkling for dust suppression at the excavated pits, around excavation work area and the stock piles location to minimize airborne dust. EMP for Fuel Storage, Handling, and accidental oil spills: The Fuel Storage yard is in compliance with requirements, additionally h) Ensure Spill trays are available at the fuel unloading activity area (Fuel Storage Tank farm).
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i) Implement weekly / biweekly preventive maintenance - checks at the Fuel Storage Tank control valves. j) Provide appropriate spill trays for secondary containment at field equipment refueling and prevent soil contamination EMP for Noise: k) Ensure speed limit requirements are adhered to, in open area vehicle movements. l) Ensure field equipment maintenance team undertakes schedule preventive maintenance and replacement of worn out components and to minimize noise pollution m) Ensure site staff provided with noise protective gears (ear plugs / mufflers) as equipment deployed for excavation activity could be source of high noise level at work area. EMP for Solid waste Management: n) Tool box talk and implementation of 3R at waste management practices : (Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse ) o) Ensure segregation of waste by providing adequate waste skips for Non Hazardous wastes (degradable wastes / plastics / paper & cardboard / metal) and Hazardous Wastes (Contaminated soil / oil soaked waste cotton & gloves / oil filters / etc.,) Long term management planning p) Ensure that all the deployed vehicles and field equipments meet vehicular and field equipment emission standards q) Requirement of reporting spills to PMC are adhered to in line with the agreement as stated in the CEMP. r) Implement detailed air monitoring plan once the CEMP is formalized. s) Implement detailed noise monitoring plan once the CEMP is formalized. t) Implement detailed waste management plan once the CEMP is formalized.

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