Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
IS 14698:1999 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for safe working in excavation with and without support. This code provides guidelines for safe practices in excavation works, both with and without temporary support systems. It covers aspects like site investigation, soil classification, methods for shoring and strutting, and general safety precautions to prevent accidents like cave-ins.
Provides safety requirements and practices for excavation work, including temporary support systems for trenches, pits, and foundations.
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Frequently Used
Domain
Geotechnical — Tunneling and Underground Structures
! Always classify the soil before starting excavation to determine the need for and type of support; do not rely on visual inspection alone.
! Ensure spoil heaps (excavated material) are kept at a safe distance from the trench edge (min 1m) to prevent surcharge load and material falling back into the excavation.
! Regularly inspect the excavation sides and the support system, especially after rain or nearby vibration, for any signs of distress or failure.
29 CFR 1926 Subpart POccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), USA
HighCurrent
Excavations
Directly addresses worker safety in trenches and excavations, covering soil classification, protective systems, and work practices.
BS 6031:2009+A1:2013British Standards Institution (BSI), UK
MediumCurrent
Code of practice for earthworks
Broader scope covering all earthworks, but includes detailed guidance on excavation stability, design, and safety practices.
Excavation Work - Code of PracticeSafe Work Australia, Australia
HighCurrent
Code of Practice: Excavation Work
Provides practical guidance on managing health and safety risks associated with excavation work, very similar in intent to IS 14698.
HSG150Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK
MediumCurrent
Health and safety in construction
A comprehensive guidance document for construction safety, with a significant chapter dedicated to excavation safety principles.
Key Differences
≠IS 14698 uses a simplified soil classification (Hard/Stiff, Soft/Loose, Wet/Submerged), whereas OSHA 1926 Subpart P uses a more detailed system (Type A, B, C) based on quantitative measures like unconfined compressive strength, which dictates specific sloping/benching angles.
≠The role of a 'Competent Person' is explicitly and rigorously defined in OSHA, with mandatory responsibilities for daily inspections. While IS 14698 requires supervision by a 'responsible person', the definition and mandated duties are less prescriptive.
≠IS 14698 is primarily prescriptive, providing tables for angles of repose. Modern standards like BS 6031 increasingly emphasize a performance-based or engineering design approach, requiring site-specific geotechnical analysis for support systems, especially in complex situations.
≠OSHA requires a safe means of egress (ladder, ramp) to be within 25 feet (7.6m) of lateral travel for any worker in a trench over 4 feet deep. IS 14698 specifies a much larger maximum interval of 30 meters between ladders.
Key Similarities
≈All standards establish a fundamental depth trigger (typically 1.2m to 1.5m) at which protective systems (shoring, sloping, or shielding) become mandatory unless the excavation is in solid, stable rock.
≈A core principle across all standards is the requirement to keep excavated material (spoil) and heavy equipment a safe distance from the edge of the excavation to prevent collapse from surcharge loads.
≈All referenced standards mandate the provision of safe access and egress for workers in excavations, typically specifying ladders, steps, or ramps.
≈The need to identify and manage underground utilities (electrical, gas, water) before beginning excavation is a critical and common safety requirement in all standards.
≈All standards recognize the need for regular inspections of excavations and support systems, especially after events like rainstorms, to ensure continued safety.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Depth triggering mandatory protective systems
1.5 m
5 feet (1.52 m)
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.652(a)
Minimum spoil pile distance from edge
1.0 m
2 feet (0.61 m)
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.651(j)(2)
Depth requiring means of egress (e.g., ladder)
1.5 m
4 feet (1.22 m)
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2)
Maximum lateral travel distance to egress
30 m
25 feet (7.6 m)
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.651(c)(2)
Required ladder extension above excavation
1.0 m
3 feet (0.91 m)
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1053(b)(1)
Soil Classification System
Descriptive: Hard, Soft/Loose, Wet
Quantitative/Test-based: Type A, B, C
OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P App A
Atmospheric testing requirement
General requirement for confined excavations or where gases can accumulate.
Mandatory in excavations >4 ft deep if a hazardous atmosphere could reasonably be expected to exist.
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.651(g)(1)
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values6
Quick Reference Values
Maximum depth for unsupported vertical excavation1.5 m
Minimum distance of excavated material (spoil) from trench edge1.0 m
Maximum spacing of ladders for access/egress in trenches30 m
Minimum extension of a ladder above the landing point1.0 m
Depth beyond which trenches require support or sloping1.5 m
Depth beyond which a support system requires specific design by an engineer4.0 m
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Angle of Repose for Different Types of Soils
Table 2 - Details of Timbering for Trenches Not Exceeding 4 m in Depth in Different Types of Soils
Key Clauses
Clause 5 - Investigation and Planning
Clause 6 - Excavation without Support
Clause 7 - Excavation with Support (Timbering)
Clause 8 - Other Methods of Support (Steel Sheeting)
What is the maximum depth I can excavate without any support?+
1.5 m, provided the sides are vertical and the ground is not loose or soft. For depths greater than 1.5 m, shoring or sloping of sides is required (Clause 6.1).
How far should the excavated soil (spoil) be kept from the trench edge?+
A clear space of at least 1 m should be maintained between the edge of the excavation and the excavated material to prevent overloading the sides (Clause 10.1.2).
What are the requirements for ladders in a trench?+
Ladders must be provided for access/egress in any trench deeper than 1.5 m. They should be spaced no more than 30 m apart and extend at least 1 m above the landing (Clause 10.1.4).
When does excavation support need to be designed by an engineer?+
For excavations deeper than 4 m, or in very poor soil conditions, or near existing structures, a detailed design of the support system by a qualified engineer is required.