QA/QC  › Soil & Foundation  › Excavation Inspection Checklist
Checklist · QC-SOL-CHK-001
Excavation Inspection Checklist
41 checkpoints across 6 sections. Before and during foundation excavation work on all projects; mandatory for deep excavations (>1.5m) or near utilities/structures
41 Checkpoints
6 Sections
At start of excavation, daily during excavation, upon completion of excavation base
Site Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer

Checklist Preview

S.No.CheckpointIS RequirementStatus
A. PRE-EXCAVATION SURVEY & PLANNING
A1Survey and setting out verified — excavation boundaries marked with pegs/paint (tolerance ±50mm plan view)
Acceptance: Boundary dimensions match approved drawing ±50mm in plan
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
A2Underground utilities located and marked — CALL BEFORE YOU DIG to utility authorities (electricity, water, gas, telecom, sewerage)
Acceptance: Utility clearance certificate obtained and filed; no excavation within 2m of utilities without approval
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
A3Excavation method statement approved in writing by site engineer / geotechnical engineer
Acceptance: Method statement signed and stamped; includes excavation sequence, shoring requirement, dewatering plan
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
A4Excavation drawing approved — shows depth, width, length, slope/batter angles, shoring if needed, level of founding stratum
Acceptance: Drawing signed by structural & geotechnical engineers; dimensions cross-checked with site
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
A5Soil type and bearing capacity assessment completed — match with geotechnical investigation bore log (IS 1498 soil classification)
Acceptance: Site soil classification verified; bearing capacity per IS 6403 or geotechnical report; visual match with expected strata
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
A6Water table level assessed and recorded — depth of groundwater from surface (bore log reference)
Acceptance: Water table depth noted; if <1.5m below excavation bottom, dewatering plan mandatory
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
A7Dewatering plan finalized if water table is high (groundwater within 1.5m of excavation bottom) — pumping capacity, sump location, disposal
Acceptance: Dewatering design document approved; pump capacity ≥1.5× inflow rate; sump location clear of working area
Conditional
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
A8Traffic management plan approved if excavation near road/public area — signage, barriers, ramps, night lighting specified
Acceptance: Traffic plan document signed; road safety audit clearance obtained if near highway
Conditional
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
B. EXCAVATION EXECUTION & DIMENSIONS
B1Excavation dimensions checked against approved drawing — length, width, depth within tolerance ±50mm plan, ±25mm depth
Acceptance: Measured dimensions vs. drawing; documented in excavation log with dated survey
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
B2Excavation sides cut to correct slope/batter per soil type — soft soil 1:1 (45°), medium 1:0.5, stiff clay 1:0.25 (or vertical with shoring per IS 3764 Table 1)
Acceptance: Batter angle measured with clinometer or slope template; matches soil category; no slumping or collapse
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
B3Shoring or sheet piling in place for deep excavation (depth >1.5m) or unstable soil — struts, soldiers, walers in position and aligned
Acceptance: Shoring plan per engineer; all members aligned; no visible deformation; strut spacing per design
Conditional
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
B4Excavation bottom level checked with dumpy level / total station — elevation recorded to nearest 25mm; level surface confirmed
Acceptance: Level survey report filed; RL noted; deviation from design RL <25mm acceptable; no undulation >50mm across base
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
B5No disturbance to foundation bearing stratum — excavation bottom compact, no loosening, no weaker soil exposed below target depth
Acceptance: Visual inspection by geotechnical engineer; soil texture and color match expected bearing stratum; if soil is weaker than design, NCR raised
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
B6Groundwater control — pumping adequate to keep excavation dry, no standing water, sump maintained
Acceptance: Water level always below base of excavation by min. 500mm; pumping records maintained; no inflow exceeding pump capacity
Conditional
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
B7Excavation equipment type verified — backhoe, dozer, dragline as per method statement; operator competency checked
Acceptance: Equipment matched to soil type; operator trained and certified; daily tool-box meeting held
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
B8Spoil heap management — located min. 1m away from excavation edge, height <3m, covered if near residential area
Acceptance: Spoil heap distance from edge measured; no material on top of shoring; no surcharge overload on edge
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
C. SHORING & PROTECTION
C1Shoring design checked — for trenches/excavations >1.5m deep, IS 3764 Cl. 6 requires shoring or safe slope per Table 1
Acceptance: Shoring design document signed by structural engineer; factor of safety ≥1.5 against failure
Conditional
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
C2Strut spacing verified per design — typical spacing 1.0-1.5m vertically, horizontal struts aligned, no gaps
Acceptance: Measured strut spacing matches design drawing within ±50mm; all struts tightened with no slack
Conditional
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
C3Walers and soldier piles in good condition — no cracks >2mm, no deformation, proper bearing on frames
Acceptance: Visual inspection; no structural defects; wood walers not rotted; steel sections not corroded/bent
Conditional
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
C4Daily inspection of shoring system — documented in site log; any deflection >25mm flagged as NCR
Acceptance: Daily inspection records maintained; deflection measured with level/straight edge; no lateral movement >25mm
Conditional
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
C5Surcharge loads kept min. 1m away from excavation edge — no equipment, material, or spoil stacking within 1m
Acceptance: Visual inspection; no surcharge within 1m zone; site kept clear of obstruction
Mandatory
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
C6Bracing for adjacent structures — if excavation near existing building, underpinning or bracing provided per structural design
Acceptance: Bracing design approved; monitoring of adjacent structure settlement <5mm per stage
Conditional
OK
NC
NA
HOLD
Showing 22 of 41 checkpoints ·
A. PRE-EXCAVATION SURVEY & PLANNING
A1Survey and setting out verified — excavation boundaries marked with pegs/paint (tolerance ±50mm plan view)
Mandatory (IS 1904 Cl. 3.1)
Boundary dimensions match approved drawing ±50mm in plan
OKNCNAHOLD
A2Underground utilities located and marked — CALL BEFORE YOU DIG to utility authorities (electricity, water, gas, telecom, sewerage)
Mandatory (IS 3764 Cl. 4.2)
Utility clearance certificate obtained and filed; no excavation within 2m of utilities without approval
OKNCNAHOLD
A3Excavation method statement approved in writing by site engineer / geotechnical engineer
Mandatory (IS 3764 Cl. 3)
Method statement signed and stamped; includes excavation sequence, shoring requirement, dewatering plan
OKNCNAHOLD
A4Excavation drawing approved — shows depth, width, length, slope/batter angles, shoring if needed, level of founding stratum
Mandatory (IS 1904 Cl. 3.2)
Drawing signed by structural & geotechnical engineers; dimensions cross-checked with site
OKNCNAHOLD
A5Soil type and bearing capacity assessment completed — match with geotechnical investigation bore log (IS 1498 soil classification)
Mandatory (IS 1498:1970, IS 1904 Cl. 4)
Site soil classification verified; bearing capacity per IS 6403 or geotechnical report; visual match with expected strata
OKNCNAHOLD
A6Water table level assessed and recorded — depth of groundwater from surface (bore log reference)
Mandatory (IS 3764 Cl. 5.1)
Water table depth noted; if <1.5m below excavation bottom, dewatering plan mandatory
OKNCNAHOLD
A7Dewatering plan finalized if water table is high (groundwater within 1.5m of excavation bottom) — pumping capacity, sump location, disposal
Conditional (IS 3764 Cl. 5.1, 5.2)
Dewatering design document approved; pump capacity ≥1.5× inflow rate; sump location clear of working area
OKNCNAHOLD
A8Traffic management plan approved if excavation near road/public area — signage, barriers, ramps, night lighting specified
Conditional (IS 3764 Cl. 7)
Traffic plan document signed; road safety audit clearance obtained if near highway
OKNCNAHOLD
B. EXCAVATION EXECUTION & DIMENSIONS
B1Excavation dimensions checked against approved drawing — length, width, depth within tolerance ±50mm plan, ±25mm depth
Mandatory (IS 1904 Cl. 3.2)
Measured dimensions vs. drawing; documented in excavation log with dated survey
OKNCNAHOLD
B2Excavation sides cut to correct slope/batter per soil type — soft soil 1:1 (45°), medium 1:0.5, stiff clay 1:0.25 (or vertical with shoring per IS 3764 Table 1)
Mandatory (IS 3764 Table 1, Cl. 4.1)
Batter angle measured with clinometer or slope template; matches soil category; no slumping or collapse
OKNCNAHOLD
B3Shoring or sheet piling in place for deep excavation (depth >1.5m) or unstable soil — struts, soldiers, walers in position and aligned
Conditional (IS 3764 Cl. 6)
Shoring plan per engineer; all members aligned; no visible deformation; strut spacing per design
OKNCNAHOLD
B4Excavation bottom level checked with dumpy level / total station — elevation recorded to nearest 25mm; level surface confirmed
Mandatory (IS 1904 Cl. 3.3)
Level survey report filed; RL noted; deviation from design RL <25mm acceptable; no undulation >50mm across base
OKNCNAHOLD
B5No disturbance to foundation bearing stratum — excavation bottom compact, no loosening, no weaker soil exposed below target depth
Mandatory (IS 1904 Cl. 4.1, IS 6403:1981)
Visual inspection by geotechnical engineer; soil texture and color match expected bearing stratum; if soil is weaker than design, NCR raised
OKNCNAHOLD
B6Groundwater control — pumping adequate to keep excavation dry, no standing water, sump maintained
Conditional (IS 3764 Cl. 5.2)
Water level always below base of excavation by min. 500mm; pumping records maintained; no inflow exceeding pump capacity
OKNCNAHOLD
B7Excavation equipment type verified — backhoe, dozer, dragline as per method statement; operator competency checked
Mandatory (IS 3764 Cl. 8)
Equipment matched to soil type; operator trained and certified; daily tool-box meeting held
OKNCNAHOLD
B8Spoil heap management — located min. 1m away from excavation edge, height <3m, covered if near residential area
Mandatory (IS 3764 Cl. 4.4)
Spoil heap distance from edge measured; no material on top of shoring; no surcharge overload on edge
OKNCNAHOLD
C. SHORING & PROTECTION
C1Shoring design checked — for trenches/excavations >1.5m deep, IS 3764 Cl. 6 requires shoring or safe slope per Table 1
Conditional (IS 3764 Cl. 6)
Shoring design document signed by structural engineer; factor of safety ≥1.5 against failure
OKNCNAHOLD
C2Strut spacing verified per design — typical spacing 1.0-1.5m vertically, horizontal struts aligned, no gaps
Conditional (IS 3764 Cl. 6.2)
Measured strut spacing matches design drawing within ±50mm; all struts tightened with no slack
OKNCNAHOLD
C3Walers and soldier piles in good condition — no cracks >2mm, no deformation, proper bearing on frames
Conditional (IS 3764 Cl. 6.3)
Visual inspection; no structural defects; wood walers not rotted; steel sections not corroded/bent
OKNCNAHOLD
C4Daily inspection of shoring system — documented in site log; any deflection >25mm flagged as NCR
Conditional (IS 3764 Cl. 6.4)
Daily inspection records maintained; deflection measured with level/straight edge; no lateral movement >25mm
OKNCNAHOLD
C5Surcharge loads kept min. 1m away from excavation edge — no equipment, material, or spoil stacking within 1m
Mandatory (IS 3764 Cl. 4.4)
Visual inspection; no surcharge within 1m zone; site kept clear of obstruction
OKNCNAHOLD
C6Bracing for adjacent structures — if excavation near existing building, underpinning or bracing provided per structural design
Conditional (IS 3764 Cl. 6.5)
Bracing design approved; monitoring of adjacent structure settlement <5mm per stage
OKNCNAHOLD
Showing 22 of 41 ·
Inspection Sign-Off
Approved
Approved with Minor Corrections
Hold — Rework Required
Rejected — Excavation to be Stopped
Site Engineer Name & Sign
Name / Sign / Date
Geotechnical Engineer Name & Sign
Name / Sign / Date
Contractor Site Supervisor Sign
Name / Sign / Date