This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D2321 − 20

Standard Practice for

Underground Installation of Thermoplastic Pipe for Sewers
and Other Gravity-Flow Applications1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2321; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope* 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.1 This practice provides recommendations for the instal- safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
lation of buried thermoplastic pipe used in sewers and other responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
gravity-flow applications. These recommendations are in- priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
tended to ensure a stable underground environment for ther- mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
moplastic pipe under a wide range of service conditions. 1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
However, because of the numerous flexible plastic pipe prod- dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ucts available and the inherent variability of natural ground ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
conditions, achieving satisfactory performance of any one Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
product may require modification to provisions contained mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
iTeh Standards
herein to meet specific project requirements.
1.2 The scope of this practice necessarily excludes product 2. Referenced Documents
performance criteria such as minimum pipe stiffness, maxi-
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
mum service deflection, or long term strength. Thus, it is
incumbent upon the product manufacturer, specifier, or project
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
D8 Terminology Relating to Materials for Roads and Pave-

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ments
engineer to verify and assure that the pipe specified for an
D420 Guide for Site Characterization for Engineering De-
intended application, when installed according to procedures
sign and Construction Purposes
outlined in this practice, will provide a long term, satisfactory
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
performance according to criteria established for that applica-
tion. A commentary on factors important in achieving a
ASTM D2321-20Fluids
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/e0b885c2-4523-43d7-a4c4-6bb064f96204/astm-d2321-20
satisfactory installation is included in Appendix X1.
D698 Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Character-
istics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600
NOTE 1—Specific paragraphs in the appendix are referenced in the body kN-m/m3))
of this practice for informational purposes. D1556 Test Method for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in
NOTE 2—The following ASTM standards may be found useful in
connection with this practice: Practice D420, Test Method D1556, Method Place by Sand-Cone Method
D2216, Specification D2235, Test Method D2412, Specification D2564, D2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water
Practice D2657, Practice D2855, Test Methods D2922, Test Method (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
D3017, Practice F402, Specification F477, Specification F545, and D2235 Specification for Solvent Cement for Acrylonitrile-
Specification F913. Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Plastic Pipe and Fittings
NOTE 3—Most Plumbing Codes and some Building Codes have
provisions for the installation of underground “building drains and D2412 Test Method for Determination of External Loading
building sewers.” See them for plumbing piping applications. Characteristics of Plastic Pipe by Parallel-Plate Loading
1.3 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be D2487 Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering
regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for D2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils
information only and are not considered standard. (Visual-Manual Procedures)
D2564 Specification for Solvent Cements for Poly(Vinyl

1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic
2
Piping Systems and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F17.62 on Sewer. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved March 15, 2020. Published April 2020. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D2321 – 18. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D2321-20. the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

1
 D2321 − 20
Chloride) (PVC) Plastic Piping Systems 3.3.2 deflection—any change in the inside diameter of the
D2657 Practice for Heat Fusion Joining of Polyolefin Pipe pipe resulting from installation and imposed loads. Deflection
and Fittings may be either vertical or horizontal and is usually reported as
D2855 Practice for the Two-Step (Primer and Solvent Ce- a percentage of the base (undeflected) inside pipe diameter.
ment) Method of Joining Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) or 3.3.3 engineer—the engineer in responsible charge of the
Chlorinated Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Pipe and work or his duly recognized or authorized representative.
Piping Components with Tapered Sockets
3.3.4 foundation, bedding, haunching, initial backfill, final
D2922 Test Methods for Density of Soil and Soil-Aggregate
backfill, pipe zone, excavated trench width—See Fig. 1 for
in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth) (With-
meaning and limits, and trench terminology.
drawn 2007)3
D3017 Test Method for Water Content of Soil and Rock in 3.3.5 manufactured aggregates—aggregates such as slag
Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth) that are products or byproducts of a manufacturing process, or
D4318 Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and natural aggregates that are reduced to their final form by a
Plasticity Index of Soils manufacturing process such as crushing.
F402 Practice for Safe Handling of Solvent Cements, 3.3.6 modulus of soil reaction (E’)—an empirical value used
Primers, and Cleaners Used for Joining Thermoplastic in the Iowa deflection formula that defines the stiffness of the
Pipe and Fittings soil embedment around a buried pipe
F412 Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems 3.3.7 open-graded aggregate—an aggregate that has a par-
F477 Specification for Elastomeric Seals (Gaskets) for Join- ticle size distribution such that, when it is compacted, the voids
ing Plastic Pipe between the aggregate particles, expressed as a percentage of
F545 Specification for PVC and ABS Injected Solvent Ce- the total space occupied by the material, are relatively large.
mented Plastic Pipe Joints (Withdrawn 2001)3 3.3.8 processed aggregates—aggregates that are screened,
F913 Specification for Thermoplastic Elastomeric Seals washed, mixed, or blended to produce a specific particle size
(Gaskets) for Joining Plastic Pipe distribution.
F1668 Guide for Construction Procedures for Buried Plastic
Pipe
2.2 AASHTO Standard:4 iTeh Standards 3.3.9 secant constrained soil modulus (Ms)—- a value for
soil stiffness determined as the secant slope of the stress-strain
curve of a one-dimensional compression test; Ms can be used
Mixtures (https://standards.iteh.ai)
AASHTO M145 Classification of Soils and Soil Aggregate
in place of E’ in the Iowa deflection formula.
3.3.10 standard proctor density—the maximum dry unit
3. Terminology
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3.1 General—Definitions used in this practice are in accor-
weight of soil compacted at optimum moisture content, as
obtained by laboratory test in accordance with Test Methods
dance with Terminologies F412 and D8 and Terminology D653 D698.
unless otherwise indicated. ASTM D2321-204. Significance and Use
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3.2 Definitions: 4.1 This practice is for use by designers and specifiers,
3.2.1 Terminology D653 definitions used in this standard: installation contractors, regulatory agencies, owners, and in-
3.2.2 compaction curve (Proctor curve) (moisture-density spection organizations who are involved in the construction of
curve)—the curve showing the relationship between the dry
unit weight (density) and the water content of a soil for a given
compactive effort.
3.2.3 maximum unit weight—the dry unit weight defined by
the peak of a compaction curve.
3.2.4 optimum water content—the water content at which a
soil can be compacted to a maximum dry unit weight by a
given compactive effort.
3.2.5 percent compaction—the ratio, expressed as a
percentage, of: (1) dry unit weight of a soil, to (2) maximum
unit weight obtained in a laboratory compaction test.
3.3 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.3.1 aggregate—a granular material of mineral composi-
tion such as sand, gravel, shell, slag or crushed stone (see
Terminology D8).

3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org.
4
Available from American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO), 444 N. Capitol St., NW, Suite 249, Washington, DC 20001, * See 7.6 Minimum Cover
http://www.transportation.org. FIG. 1 Trench Cross Section

2
 D2321 − 20
sewers and other gravity-flow applications that utilize flexible percent compaction. Properly placed and compacted, Class IV
thermoplastic pipe. As with any standard practice, modifica- materials can provide reasonable levels of pipe support;
tions may be required for specific job conditions or for special however, these materials may not be suitable under high fills,
local or regional conditions. Recommendations for inclusion of surface-applied wheel loads, or under high-energy-level vibra-
this practice in contract documents for a specific project are tory compactors and tampers. Do not use where water condi-
given in Appendix X2. tions in the trench may prevent proper placement and compac-
tion.
5. Materials
NOTE 6—The term “high energy level vibratory compactors and
5.1 Classification—Soil types used or encountered in bury- tampers” refers to compaction equipment that might deflect or distort the
ing pipes include those classified in Table 1 and natural, pipe more than permitted by the specifications or the manufacturer.
manufactured, and processed aggregates. The soil classifica-
5.2.5 Class V—Class V materials should be excluded from
tions are grouped into soil classifications in Table 2 based on
pipe-zone embedment.
the typical soil stiffness when compacted. Class I indicates a
soil that generally provides the highest soil stiffness at any 5.3 Moisture Content of Embedment Materials—The mois-
given percent compaction, and provides a given soil stiffness ture content of embedment materials must be controlled to
with the least compactive effort. Each higher-number soil class permit placement and compaction to required levels. For soils
provides successively less soil stiffness at a given percent with low permeability (that is, Class III and Class IV and some
compaction and requires greater compactive effort to provide a borderline Class II soils), moisture content is normally con-
given level of soil stiffness trolled to 6 3 % of optimum (see Test Method D698). The
NOTE 4—See Practices D2487 and D2488 for laboratory and field
practicality of obtaining and maintaining the required limits on
visual-manual procedures for identification of soils. moisture content is an important criterion for selecting
NOTE 5—Processed materials produced for highway construction, materials, since failure to achieve required percent compaction,
including coarse aggregate, base, subbase, and surface coarse materials, especially in the pipe zone embedment, may result in excessive
when used for foundation, embedment, and backfill, should be categorized deflection.
in accordance with this section and Table 1 in accordance with particle

iTeh Standards
size and gradation. 5.4 Maximum Particle Size—Maximum particle size for
5.2 Installation and Use—Table 3 provides recommenda- embedment is limited to material passing a 11⁄2 in. (37.5 mm)
tions on installation and use based on soil classification and sieve (see Table 2). To enhance placement around small
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
location in the trench. Soil Classes I to IV should be used as
recommended in Table 3. Soil Class V, including clays and silts
diameter pipe and to prevent damage to the pipe wall, a smaller
maximum size may be required (see X1.9). The final backfill

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with liquid limits greater than 50, organic soils, and frozen
soils, shall be excluded from the pipe-zone embedment.
material may extend down to the top of the pipe as long as the
material is less than 1 1⁄2 in. (37.5 mm) in size. When final
5.2.1 Class I—Class I materials provide maximum stability backfill contains rocks, cobbles, etc., the engineer may require
and pipe support for a given percent compaction due to the low greater initial backfill cover levels (see Fig. 1) if damage to the
content of sand and fines. With minimum effort these ASTM D2321-20
materials pipe is of a concern.
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can be installed at relatively high-soil stiffnesses over a wide NOTE 7—While the main purpose of the initial backfill material is to
range of moisture contents. In addition, the high permeability protect the pipe from impact from larger rocks or cobbles, it is still the
of Class I materials may aid in the control of water, and these responsibility of the engineer to determine the appropriate thickness of
materials are often desirable for embedment in rock cuts where this layer based on field conditions and construction practices at the site.
water is frequently encountered. However, when ground-water
flow is anticipated, consideration should be given to the 6. Trench Excavation
potential for migration of fines from adjacent materials into the 6.1 General—Procedures for trench excavation that are
open-graded Class I materials. (See X1.8.) especially important in flexible thermoplastic pipe installations
5.2.2 Class II—Class II materials, when compacted, provide are given herein.
a relatively high level of pipe support; however, open-graded 6.1.1 Excavation—Excavate trenches to ensure that sides
groups may allow migration and the sizes should be checked will be stable under all working conditions. Slope trench walls
for compatibility with adjacent material. (See X1.8.) or provide supports in conformance with all local and national
5.2.3 Class III—Class III materials provide less support for standards for safety. Open only as much trench as can be safely
a given percent compaction than Class I or Class II materials. maintained by available equipment. Backfill all trenches as
Higher levels of compactive effort are required and moisture soon as practicable, but not later than the end of each working
content must be near optimum to minimize compactive effort day.
and achieve the required percent compaction. These materials
provide reasonable levels of pipe support once proper percent 6.2 Water Control—Do not lay or embed pipe in standing or
compaction is achieved. running water. At all times prevent runoff and surface water
5.2.4 Class IV—Class IV materials require a geotechnical from entering the trench.
evaluation prior to use. Moisture content must be near opti- 6.2.1 Ground Water—When groundwater is present in the
mum to minimize compactive effort and achieve the required work area, dewater to maintain stability of in-situ and imported

3
 D2321 − 20
TABLE 1 Soil Classification Chart (see Classification D2487)
Criteria for Assigning Group Symbols and Group Names Using Laboratory TestsA Soil Classification
Group Group NameB
Symbol
Coarse-Grained Soils gravels clean gravels C $ 4 and 1 # Cc # GW well-graded
3C gravelD
More than 50% more than 50% less than Cu < 4 and/or 1> Cc> GP poorly graded
retained on No. 200 of coarse fraction 5% of finesE 3C gravelD
sieve retained on No. 4 sieve
gravels with Fines classify as ML or GM silty gravelDFG
more than MH
12 % finesE Fines classify as CL or GC clayey
CH gravelDFG
sands clean sands Cu $ 6 and 1 # Cc # SW well-graded
3C sandH
50% or more of less than Cu < 6 and/or 1 > Cc SP poorly graded
coarse fraction 5% finesI > 3C sandH
passes on No. 4 sieve
sand with fines Fines cLassify as ML SM silty sandFGH
or MH
more than Fines classify as CL or SC clayey sand-
12 % finesI CH FGH

Fine-Grained Soils silts and clays inorganic PI > 7 and plots on or CL lean clayKLM
above “A” lineJ
50% or more passes liquid limit PI < 4 and plots below ML siltKLM
the No. 200 sieve less than 50 “A” lineJ
organic Liquid Limit-Oven dried organic
clayKLMN
<0.75 OL
Liquid Limit-Not dried organic silt-
KLMO

silts and clays inorganic PI plots on or above CH fat clayKLM

“A” line
liquid limit Plots below “A” line MH elastic siltKLM

iTeh Standards
50 or more
organic Liquid Limit-Oven
Dried
organic
clayKLMP

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<0.75 OH
Liquid Limit-Not Dried organic silt-
KLMQ

Highly organic soils primarily organic matter, dark in color, and organic odor PT peat

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A
Based on the material passing the 3-in. (75-mm) sieve.
B
If field sample contained cobbles or boulders, or both, add “with cobbles or boulders, or both” to group name.
C

Cu5D 60/D 10
s D 30d 2
Cc5
D 103D 60 ASTM D2321-20
D
E
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If soil contains $15 % sand, add “with sand” to group name.
Gravels with 5 to 12 % fines require dual symbols:
GW-GM well-graded gravel with silt:
GW-GC well-graded gravel with clay
GP-GM poorly graded gravel with silt
GP-GC poorly graded gravel with clay
F
If fines classify as CL-ML, use dual symbol GC-GM, or SC-SM.
G
If fines are organic, add “with organic fines” to group name.
H
If soil contains $15 % gravel, add “with gravel” to group name.
I
Sands with 5 to 12 % fines require dual symbols:
SW-SM well-graded sand with silt
SW-SC well-graded sand with clay
SP-SM poorly graded sand with silt
SP-SC poorly graded sand with clay
J
If Atterberg limits plot in hatched area, soil is a CL-ML, silty clay (see Test Method D4318).
K
If soil contains 15 to 29 % plus No. 200, add “with sand” or “with gravel,” whichever is predominant.
L
If soil contains $ 30 % plus No. 200, predominantly sand, add “sandy” to group name.
M
If soil contains $ 30 % plus No. 200, predominantly gravel, add “gravelly” to group name.
N
PI $ 4 and plots on or above “A” line.
O
PI < 4 or plots below “A” line.
P
PI plots on or above “A” line.
Q
PI plots below “A” line.

materials. Maintain water level below pipe bedding and foun- depressing ground water, ensure the ground water is below the
dation to provide a stable trench bottom. Use, as appropriate, bottom of cut at all times to prevent washout from behind
sump pumps, well points, deep wells, geofabrics, perforated sheeting or sloughing of exposed trench walls. Maintain
underdrains, or stone blankets of sufficient thickness to remove control of water in the trench before, during, and after pipe
and control water in the trench. When excavating while installation, and until embedment is installed and sufficient

4
 D2321 − 20
TABLE 2 Soil Classes
American Association of
State Highway and
Soil GroupA,B Soil Class
Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) Soil GroupsC
Crushed rock, angularD :
100% passing 1-1/2in. sieve, </=15 %
passing #4 sieve, </= 25 % passing Class I ...
3/8in. sieve and </= 12 % passing
#200 sieve
Clean, coarse grained soils:
SW, SP, GW, GP or any soil beginning
Class II A1,A3
with one of these symbols with </=12
% passing #200 sieveE,F
Coarse grained soils with fines:
GM, GC, SM, SC, or any soil beginning
with one of these symbols, containing > A-2-4, A-2-5, A-2-6, or A-4
12 % passing #200 sieve; Sandy or or A-6 soils with more
Class III
gravelly fine-grained soils: CL, ML, or than 30% retained on
any soil beginning with one of these #200 sieve
symbols, with >/= 30 % retained on
#200 sieve
Fine-grained soils:
A-2-7, or A-4, or A-6 soils
CL, ML, or any soil beginning with one
Class IV with 30% or less retained
of these symbols, with <30 % retained
on #200 sieve
on #200 sieve
Class V
MH, CH, OL, OH, PT Not for use A5, A7
as embedment
A
See Classification D2487, Standard Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System).
B
Limits may be imposed on the soil group to meet project or local requirements if the specified soil remains within the group. For example, some project applications require
a Class I material with minimal fines to address specific structural or hydraulic conditions and the specification may read “Use Class I soil with a maximum of 5 % passing
the #200 sieve.”

iTeh Standards
C
AASHTO M145, Classification of Soils and Soil Aggregate Mixtures.
D
All particle faces shall be fractured.
E
Materials such as broken coral, shells, and recycled concrete, with # =12 % passing a No. 200 sieve, are considered to be Class II materials. These materials should

(https://standards.iteh.ai)
only be used when evaluated and approved by the Engineer
F
Uniform fine sands (SP) with more than 50% passing a No. 100 sieve (0.006 in., 0.15 mm) are very sensitive to moisture and should not be used as backfill unless
specifically allowed in the contract documents. If use of these materials is allowed, compaction and handling procedures should follow the guidelines for Class III materials.

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backfill has been placed to prevent flotation of the pipe. To considerations, trench width in unsupported, unstable soils will
preclude loss of soil support, employ dewatering methods that depend on the size and stiffness of the pipe, stiffness of the
minimize removal of fines and the creation of voids ASTM D2321-20
in in-situ embedment and in-situ soil, and depth of cover (see X1.10).
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materials. Specially designed equipment may enable the satisfactory
6.2.2 Running Water—Control running water emanating installation and embedment of pipe in trenches narrower than
from drainage of surface or ground water to preclude under- specified above. If it is determined that the use of such
mining of the trench bottom or walls, the foundation, or other equipment provides an installation consistent with the require-
zones of embedment. Provide dams, cutoffs or other barriers ments of this standard, minimum trench widths may be
periodically along the installation to preclude transport of reduced, as approved by the engineer.
water along the trench bottom. Backfill all trenches after the
pipe is installed to prevent disturbance of pipe and embedment. 6.4 Support of Trench Walls—When supports such as trench
6.2.3 Materials for Water Control—Use suitably graded sheeting, trench jacks, trench shields or boxes are used, ensure
materials in foundation or bedding layers or as drainage that support of the pipe and its embedment is maintained
blankets for transport of running water to sump pits or other throughout installation. Ensure that sheeting is sufficiently tight
drains. Use well graded materials, along with perforated to prevent washing out of the trench wall from behind the
underdrains, to enhance transport of running water, as required. sheeting. Provide tight support of trench walls below viaducts,
Select the gradation of the drainage materials to minimize existing utilities, or other obstructions that restrict driving of
migration of fines from surrounding materials (see X1.8). sheeting.
6.3 Minimum Trench Width—Where trench walls are stable 6.4.1 Supports Left in Place—Unless otherwise directed by
or supported, provide a width sufficient, but no greater than the engineer, sheeting driven into or below the pipe zone
necessary, to ensure working room to properly and safely place should be left in place to preclude loss of support of foundation
and compact haunching and other embedment materials. The and embedment materials. When top of sheeting is to be cut
space between the pipe and trench wall must be wider than the off, make cut 1.5 ft (0.5 m) or more above the crown of the
compaction equipment used in the pipe zone. Minimum width pipe. Leave rangers, whalers, and braces in place as required to
shall be not less than the greater of either the pipe outside support cutoff sheeting and the trench wall in the vicinity of the
diameter plus 16 in. (400 mm) or the pipe outside diameter pipe zone. Timber sheeting to be left in place is considered a
times 1.25, plus 12 in. (300 mm). In addition to safety permanent structural member and should be treated against

5
 D2321 − 20
TABLE 3 Recommendations for Installation and Use of Soils and Aggregates for Foundation and Pipe-Zone Embedment
Soil ClassA Class IB Class II Class III Class IV
General Acceptable and common Where hydraulic gradient exists Do not use where water Difficult to achieve high-soil
Recommendations where no migration check gradation to minimize conditions in trench prevent stiffness. Do not use where
and Restrictions is probable or when migration. Clean groups are suitable proper placement and water
combined with a geotextile for use as a drainage blanket and compaction. conditions in trench
filter media. underdrain (see Table 2). Uniform Not recommended for use prevent proper placement
Suitable for use as a fine sands (SP) with with pipes with stiffness and compaction.
drainage blanket more than 50 % passing a #100 sieve of 9 psi or less Not recommended for
and under drain (0.006 in., 0.15 mm) use with pipes with
where adjacent material is behave like silts and should be stiffness of 9 psi or less
suitably graded or when treated as
used with a geotextile filter fabric Class III soils.
(see X1.8).

Foundation Suitable as foundation and for Suitable as foundation Suitable for replacing over- Suitable for replacing
replacing over-excavated and for replacing excavated over-excavated trench
and unstable trench over-excavated and trench bottom as restricted bottom
bottom as restricted unstable trench bottom above. for depths up to 12 in.
above. as restricted above. Install and compact in (300 mm) as restricted
Install and compact 6 in. (150 mm) maximum above. Use only where
in 12 in. (300 mm) layers uniform longitudinal
maximum layers support of the pipe can be
maintained, as approved
by the engineer.
Install and compact
in 6-in (150 mm) maximum
layers

Pipe Suitable as restricted Suitable as restricted above. Work Suitable as restricted above. Suitable as restricted above.
Embedment above. Work material material under pipe to provide Difficult to place and Difficult to place and
under pipe to provide uniform haunch support. compact in the haunch compact in the
uniform haunch support. zone. haunch zone.

Minimum
Recommended
See NoteC iTeh Standards 85 % (SW and SP soils)
For GW and GP soils
90 % 95 %

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Percent Compaction, see NoteE
SPDD

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Relative Compactive low moderate high very high
Effort Required
to Achieve Minimum
Percent Compaction

Compaction
Methods
vibration
or impact ASTM D2321-20 vibration
impact
or impact
impact

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Required Moisture none none Maintain near optimum Maintain near optimum
Control to minimize compactive to minimize compactive effort
effort
A
Class V materials are unsuitable as embedment. They may be used as final backfill as permitted by the engineer.
B
Class I materials have higher stiffness than Class II materials, but data on specific soil stiffness values are not available at the current time. Until such data are available
the soil stiffness of placed, uncompacted Class I materials can be taken equivalent to Class II materials compacted to 95 % of maximum standard Proctor density (SPD95),
and the soil stiffness of compacted Class I materials can be taken equivalent to Class II materials compacted to 100% of maximum standard Proctor density (SPD100).
Even if placed uncompacted (that is, dumped), Class I materials should always be worked into the haunch zone to assure complete placement.
C
Suitable compaction typically achieved by dumped placement (that is, uncompacted but worked into haunch zone to ensure complete placement).
D
SPD is standard Proctor density as determined by Test Method D698.
E
Place and compact GW and GP soils with at least two passes of compaction equipment.

biological degradation (for example, attack by insects or other ing supports, place and compact embedment to sufficient
biological forms) as necessary, and against decay if above depths to ensure protection of the pipe. As supports are moved,
ground water. finish placing and compacting embedment.
6.4.3 Removal of Trench Wall Support—If the engineer
NOTE 8—Certain preservative and protective compounds may react
adversely with some types of thermoplastics, and their use should be permits the use of sheeting or other trench wall supports below
avoided in proximity of the pipe material. the pipe zone, ensure that pipe and foundation and embedment
6.4.2 Movable Trench Wall Supports—Do not disturb the materials are not disturbed by support removal. Fill voids left
installed pipe and its embedment when using movable trench on removal of supports and compact all material as required.
boxes and shields. Movable supports should not be used below 6.5 Rock or Unyielding Materials in Trench Bottom—If
the top of the pipe zone unless approved methods are used for ledge rock, hard pan, shale, or other unyielding material,
maintaining the integrity of embedment material. Before mov- cobbles, rubble or debris, boulders, or stones larger than 1.5 in.