scope:

The Scope of this Manual covers all the Earth Structures assets owned by LU through the following life cycle stages:

Inception and design

Construction, installation, testing and commissioning

Inspection

Analytical assessment

Condition assessment and certification

Maintenance

Strengthening and renewal

Decommissioning

This Manual mirrors the sub-section headings of LU standard 1-054 (Civil Engineering - Earth Structures) at the start of each life cycle section, with additional sub-sections added at the back of each life-cycle section where there is further guidance material available to LU that does not specifically relate to the sub-section headings used in the Standard, or is better set out separately.

The knowledge for the guidance presented in this Manual is derived substantially from historical information preserved in earlier LU documents and so pre-dates some important recent developments in provision and management of Earth Structures for transportation infrastructure. Nevertheless, given the age and characteristics of the LU surface railway the historical knowledge should be taken into account in applying current practice. Specific references to current good industry practice have been included in this manual where available.

Publications by CIRIA are a valuable source of guidance on current construction industry good practice. The following publications are of particular relevance to construction works at Earth Structures for transportation infrastructure:

C514 - Grouting for ground engineering

C515 - Groundwater control - design and practice

C516 - Modular gravity retaining walls - design guidance

C548 - Innovation at the cutting edge: the experience of three major infrastructure projects

C574 - Engineering in chalk

C580 - Embedded retaining walls - guidance for economic design

C591 - Infrastructure cuttings - condition appraisal and remedial treatment

C592 - Infrastructure embankments - condition appraisal and remedial treatment. 2nd edition

C637 - Soil nailing - best practice guidance.

This Manual replaces 5-01304-005. The Manual has been re formatted and renumbered. There were no technical changes.

Purpose

The purpose of this Manual of Good Practice is to support LU Standard 1-054 (Civil Engineering - Earth Structures) and give guidance on established good practice solutions that meet the requirements of that standard. Hereinafter in this manual any references to "the Standard" relate to that standard.

The Earth Structure assets comprise:

embankments of soil with slopes more than 1m high;

cutting slopes of soil and rock (chalk) more than 1m high.

LU guidance on established good practice solutions of a general nature applying to all civil engineering assets, including the Earth Structure assets, is provided in LU Manual of Good Practice G-050 (Civil Engineering - Common Requirements) that supports LU Standard 1-050 (Civil Engineering - Common Requirements). Those documents should be consulted along with this Manual.