Licensed exclusively to SABS.

Copying and network storage prohibited.

UDC 624 (083.75) SABS 1200 DE-1984

SOUTH AFRICAN BUREAU OF STANDARDS

STANDARDIZED SPECIFICATION

for

CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION

DE : SMALL EARTH DAMS

Approved by the Obtainable from the

COUNCIL OF THE SA BUREAU OF STANDARDS
SOUTH AFRICAN Private Bag X191
BUREAU OF STANDARDS Pretoria
on 7 March 1984 0001 Republic of South Africa

Telegrams : Comparator, Pretoria

Telex : 3-626-SA
Published and printed in the Republic of South Africa by the
South African Bureau of Standards
ISBN 0-626-06883-5
Gr 7
 Licensed exclusively to SABS.
Copying and network storage prohibited.
 Licensed exclusively to SABS.
Copying and network storage prohibited.

3 SABS 1200 DE-1984

Small earth dams

CONTENTS

Clause Page Number

. SCOPE ............................................................................... 5
1
2 .2.1 INTERPRETATIONS .....................................................................
Supporting Specifications ...........................................................
5
5
2.2 Application .........................................................................
Definitions and Abbreviations .......................................................
5
5
2.3
3 . MATERIALS ...........................................................................
Classification for Excavation Purposes ..............................................
5
5
3.1
Method of classifying ............................................................... 5
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.2
Classes of excavation ...............................................................
Classification for Placing Purposes .................................................
5
6
3.2.1
3.2.2
Earthfill material
Filter materials
..................................................................
....................................................................
6
6
3.2.3 Rockfill ............................................................................
Gravel capping ......................................................................
6
6
3.2.4
3.3 Selection
General
...........................................................................
.............................................................................
6
6
3.3.1
3.3.2 Topsoil .............................................................................
Fill materials ......................................................................
6
6
3.3.3
Filter and rockfill materials ....................................................... 6
4 .4.1
3.3.4
PLANT ...............................................................................
Excavation Plant ....................................................................
6
6
Compaction Plant .....................................
.............................. ..................................... 6
5 .4.2 CONSTRUCTION
Precautions
..................................
................................... .....................................
6
6
5.1
5.1.1 Safeguarding of excavations
Explosives
...................
....................................
.....................................
.....................................
6
7
5.1.2
5.1.3 surfaces damaged by plant ..................... .....................................
.....................................
7
5.2 Methods and Procedures ........................
Clearing and stripping of Site ................ .....................................
7
7
5.2.1
5.2.2 Excavation ..................
Placing and compacting ...... ................. .....................................
................. .....................................
7
8

.... .................
5.2.3
................... .....................................
..................................... 9
5.2.4
5.2.5
Finishing
Transport for earthworks
.................. .................
................. ...................................... 9
6 .6.1 TOLERANCES
General ..................... ................. .....................................
I.
9
9
Positions. Levels. Dimensions and Moisture Con ent .................................
..................................... 10
7 .6.2 TESTING .....................
Exploratory Holes
.................
...................................................................
10
10
1.1
7.2 Taking and Testing of Samples .......................................................
................................ 10
10
Material or Compaction Standard not to Specification
7.3
7.4 Trial Embankment
Density
....................................................................
.............................................................................
10
10
8 .8.1
7.5
MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT
Basic Principles
.............................................................
.................................................................... 11
11
8.1.1 Genera3 .............................................................................
Measurement .........................................................................
11
11
8.1.2
Payment ............................................................................. 11
8.1.3
8.1.4 Classification of excavations
Computation of Quantities
.......................................................
........................................................... 11
11
8.2
.8.2.1
8.2.2
General .............................................................................
Checking cross-sections ............................................................. 11
11
8.2.3 Rip-rap .............................................................................
Filter and drainage layers .......................................................... 11
11
8.2.4
8.3 Scheduled Items ..................................................................... 11

DRAWINGS

DRAWING DE-1 Classes of Excavation : Measurement and Payment .....................................

Cross-Sections showing Zones of Typical Small Earth Rnbankments ..................... 13
DRAWING DE-2 14

APPENDIX A . APPLICABLE STANDARDS ................................................................ 15

 Licensed exclusively to SABS.
Copying and network storage prohibited.
 Licensed exclusively to SABS.
Copying and network storage prohibited.

5 SABS 1200 DE-1984

Small earth dams

SOUTH AFRICAN BUREAU OF STANDAPDS

STANDARDIZED SPECIFICATION
for
CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION

DE : SMALL EARTH DAMS

1. SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for the construction of small earth dams of height up to 15 m
as defined by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD). It covers site clearing, Safety
precautions, excavation, and the selection, placing, and compacting of materials in the various zones of
the embankment.
NOTE: The standards referred to in the specification are listed in Appendix A.

2. INTERPRETATIONS
2.1 SUPPORTING SPECIFICATIONS. Where this specification is required for a project, the fOlloWing
specifications shall, inter alia, form part of the contract document:
a) Project specification;
b) SABS 1200 AD or SABS 1200 A, as applicable;
c) SABS 1200 GA;
and, in addition, 1200 DK may be required for the project.

2.2 APPLICATION. This specification contains clauses that are generally applicable to the construction of
small earth dams. Interpretations and variations of this specification are set out in Portion 2 of the
project specification which precedes this specification in a contract document.

2.3 DEFlNITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS. For the purposes of this specification the definitions and abbreviations
given in the applicable of the specifications listed in 2.1 and the following definitions shall apply:
Dam basin. The part of the catchment area that is upstream of a dam wall, and that lies below the full
supply level of the dam.
Dispersive soil. A material that consists of clayey particles of colloidal size in a state in which they
can easily go into suspension in water.
Filter material
a ) A material that has a grain size distribution such that the voids between grains are smaller than the
finest grains of adjoining material on one side and with a grain size that is larger than the interstices
of adjoining material on the other side; or
b) A material such as a fine aggregate, a sandy madrial, or a woven or a non-woven fabric (geotextile)
having pore sizes that are fine enough to prevent.the migration of soil particles from a soil mass
I,
adjoining it.
Optimum moisture content (OMC). The moisture content at which the maximum dry density occurs in the test
for Proctor density.
Proctor density. The maximum dry density determined at OMC in accordance with the method given in
ASTM D 698.
Rip-raE. A surface layer of approved rockfill material placed to a specified controlled thickness.
Zone (of an embankment). A section of a dam wall that is wholly constructed with material that conforms
to a particular set of physical characteristics that are different from those of the material of an
adjoining zone. (See Drawing DE-2.)

3. MATERIALS
3.1 CLASSIFICATION FOR EXCAVATION PURPOSES
3.1.1 Method of Classifying. The Contractor may use any method he wishes to excavate any class of material,
but his chosen method of excavation shall not determine the classification of the excavation.
The Engineer will decide on the classification of the materials. In the first instance the
classification will be based on inspection of the material to be excavated and on the criteria given in
3.1.2(a)-(c).
~ l lequipment specified in 3.1.2(a)-(c) shall be in good working order. "Efficiently" as used in
3.1.2(a)-(c) shall be taken to mean "in a manner that can reasonably be expected of a contractor, having
regard to the production achieved".
In the event of disagreement between the Contractor and the Engineer it shall be the responsibility of
the Contractor, if so ordered and subject to the terms of 4.1, to make available at his own expense such
mechanical equipment as is specified in 3.1.2(a)-(c) in order to enable the reasonable removability or
otherwise of the material to be assessed. The decision of the Engineer on the classification shall then,
subject to the provisions of the contract, be final and binding.
3.1.2 Classes of Excavation (See Drawing DE-1). The excavation of material will be classified as follows for
purposes of measurement and payment:
a) Soft excavation
1) Soft excavation, other than in restricted excavation, shall be excavation in material that can be
efficiently removed or loaded without prior ripping by any of the following plant:
i) A bulldozer of mass (including the mass of a ripper if fitted) 22 t and flywheel power approximately
145 kW; or
ii) a tractor-scraper unit of total mass approximately 28 t and flywheel power approximately 245 kw,
pushed during loading by a bulldozer equivalent to that specified in (b) below; or
iii) a track-type front-end loader of mass approximately 2 2 t and flywheel power approximately 145 kw.
2) In the case of restricted excavation, soft excavation shall be excavation in material that can be
efficiently removed by a back-acting excavator of flywheel power approximately 0,lO kW for each
millimetre of tined-bucket width, without the assistance of pneumatic tools such as paving breakers.
b) Intermediate excavation
1) Intermediate excavation, other than in restricted excavation, shall be excavation (excluding Soft
excavation) in material that can be efficiently ripped by a bulldozer of mass approximately 35 t fitted
with a single-tine ripper suitable for heavy ripping, and of flywheel power approximately 220 kw.
2) In the case of restricted excavation, intermediate excavation shall be excavation (excluding Soft
excavation) in material that requires a back-acting excavator of flywheel power exceeding 0,io kW for
each millimetre of tined-bucket width or the use of pneumatic tools before the material can be removed by
equipment equivalent to that specified in (a)(2) above.
c) Hard rock excavation. Hard rock excavation shall be excavation (excluding boulder excavation) in
material that cannot be efficiently ripped by a bulldozer equivalent to that specified in (b)(l) above.
Such excavation generally includes material such as formations of unweathered rock that can be removed
only after blasting.