ASTM_D_420_-_18.pdf

Designation:D42018Standard Guide forSite Characterization for Engineering Design andConstruction Purposes1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D420;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONSite characterization for engineering design and construction purposes involves both simple andcomplex techniques that may be accomplished by many different procedures and may be variouslyinterpreted.These studies are frequently site specific and are influenced by geological andgeographical settings,by the purpose of the site characterization,by design requirements for theproject proposed,and by the background,training,and experience of the staff involved.This document is a guide to the selection of the various ASTM standards that are available for theexploration of soil,rock,and groundwater for projects that involve surface and/or subsurfaceconstruction,or both.It is intended to improve consistency of practice and to encourage rationalplanning of a site characterization program.Since the subsurface conditions at a particular site areusually the result of a combination of natural,geologic,topographic,and climatic factors,and ofhistorical modifications both natural and manmade,an adequate and internally consistent explorationprogram will allow evaluation of the results of these influences.1.Scope*1.1 This guide refers to ASTM methods to perform sitecharacterization for engineering,design,and construction pur-poses.The objective of the site characterization should be toidentify and locate,both horizontally and vertically,significantsoil and rock types and groundwater conditions present withina given site area and to establish the characteristics of thesubsurface materials by sampling or in situ testing,or both.1.2 Laboratory testing of soil,rock,and groundwatersamples is specified by otherASTM standards not listed herein.Subsurface exploration for environmental purposes is alsooutside the scope of this guide.1.3 Prior to commencement of the site characterization thesite should be checked for potentially hazardous or otherwisecontaminated materials or cultural/archeological conditions.Ifevidence of unknown potentially hazardous or otherwise con-taminated materials or conditions are encountered in the courseof the site characterization,work shall be interrupted until thecircumstances have been evaluated and revised instructionsissued.1.3.1 In addition the location and nature of underground andoverhead utilities should be identified to ensure that there is noimpact to the proposed site characterization.Impacts mayinclude but are not limited to interference with geophysicalmethods,damaging utilities,creating an unsafe workcondition,and limiting accessibility for exploratory equipment.1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound unitsare to be regarded as the standard.The values stated in eachsystem may not be exact equivalents;therefore,each systemshall be used independently of the other.Combining valuesfrom the two systems may result in non-conformance with thestandard.Inch-pound units are provided in brackets for conve-nience.1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of informationor a series of options and does not recommend a specificcourse of action.This document cannot replace education orexperience and should be used in conjunction with professionaljudgment.Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in allcircumstances.This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy ofa given professional service must be judged,nor should thisdocument be applied without consideration of a projects manyunique aspects.The word“Standard”in the title of thisdocument means only that the document has been approvedthrough the ASTM consensus process.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is the1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rockand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and SubsurfaceCharacterization.Current edition approved Feb.1,2018.Published March 2018.OriginallypublishedasD420 65T.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2003asD420 93(2003),which was withdrawn January 2012 and reinstated February2018.DOI:10.1520/D0420_D0420M-18.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United StatesThis international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards,Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Bar