Groundworks
Earthworks and excavation
Cut, fill, strip, trench, and shape the site safely while controlling ground risk, services, water, sediment, and neighbouring property effects.
How to execute this stage
Micro-stage control plan
Work through each applicable step in order. A hold point means pause the dependent decision or work until the stated evidence and authorised review are complete.
01Confirm BeforeUdig/service information, geotechnical report, excavation depth, spoil disposal, truck route, and sediment controlsLevel 2 · Groundworks
TaskCheckHold pointEvidenceRecordNext actionSimple explanation
Confirm BeforeUdig/service information, geotechnical report, excavation depth, spoil disposal, truck route, and sediment controls.
Technical context
Coordinate this work against Earthworks plan, Geotechnical recommendations, the current consent status, and the actual site condition. Confirm interfaces before releasing dependent work.
Why it matters: The main recorded risk is: Trench collapse. A missed check can create rework, delay, hidden defects, an inspection failure, or a departure from approved project documents.
Prerequisites
- Earthworks plan is current, approved for the intended use, and available to the people doing the work.
- Geotechnical recommendations and relevant product information have been checked.
- Access, responsibility, safety controls, preceding work and the geotechnical inspection sequence are confirmed.
Checks
- Check the completed work against Earthworks plan and Geotechnical recommendations.
- Check specifically for: Trench collapse.
- Avoid this known mistake: Digging before services are located.
Evidence to save
- Wide, location-identifying and close-up photographs of the completed earthworks and excavation work before it is concealed.
- Marked-up Earthworks plan or a precise drawing/detail reference.
- Geotechnical inspection result, consultant record, trade QA record or written not-applicable reason.
Hold point
Do not cover, backfill, load, connect, certify or release the next activity until Geotechnical inspection and the required project evidence are complete or the authorised reviewer confirms what may proceed.
Stop or escalate when
- Trench collapse
- Digging before services are located
- The current drawing, approval, competent reviewer or required evidence cannot be confirmed.
Documents and records
- Earthworks plan
- Geotechnical recommendations
- Current RFI/site-instruction/change record
- Inspection and evidence register
- Cost effect
- Rectification, reinspection, delay, damaged follow-on work, access loss and changed scope can increase the cost of earthworks and excavation. Record the cause and obtain written pricing before approving a commercial change.
- Programme effect
- This activity controls the release of dependent work. Update the lookahead programme and notify affected trades if the hold point, information, inspection or evidence is not ready.
Next action
Excavate to approved lines and levels while checking ground conditions against the geotechnical assumptions.
Applicability: Apply when this work package is included in the current project scope. Confirm project-specific consent, contract, design, site and authority requirements.
Use the current consented/issued project documents and competent site review. BuildPath does not approve work.
02Excavate to approved lines and levels while checking ground conditions against the geotechnical assumptionsLevel 2 · Groundworks
TaskCheckHold pointEvidenceRecordNext actionSimple explanation
Excavate to approved lines and levels while checking ground conditions against the geotechnical assumptions.
Technical context
Coordinate this work against Foundation plan, Engineer excavation notes, the current consent status, and the actual site condition. Confirm interfaces before releasing dependent work.
Why it matters: The main recorded risk is: Underground service strike. A missed check can create rework, delay, hidden defects, an inspection failure, or a departure from approved project documents.
Prerequisites
- Foundation plan is current, approved for the intended use, and available to the people doing the work.
- Engineer excavation notes and relevant product information have been checked.
- Access, responsibility, safety controls, preceding work and the engineer subgrade check sequence are confirmed.
Checks
- Check the completed work against Foundation plan and Engineer excavation notes.
- Check specifically for: Underground service strike.
- Avoid this known mistake: Stockpiling too close to excavation.
Evidence to save
- Wide, location-identifying and close-up photographs of the completed earthworks and excavation work before it is concealed.
- Marked-up Foundation plan or a precise drawing/detail reference.
- Engineer subgrade check result, consultant record, trade QA record or written not-applicable reason.
Hold point
Do not cover, backfill, load, connect, certify or release the next activity until Engineer subgrade check and the required project evidence are complete or the authorised reviewer confirms what may proceed.
Stop or escalate when
- Underground service strike
- Stockpiling too close to excavation
- The current drawing, approval, competent reviewer or required evidence cannot be confirmed.
Documents and records
- Foundation plan
- Engineer excavation notes
- Current RFI/site-instruction/change record
- Inspection and evidence register
- Cost effect
- Rectification, reinspection, delay, damaged follow-on work, access loss and changed scope can increase the cost of earthworks and excavation. Record the cause and obtain written pricing before approving a commercial change.
- Programme effect
- This activity controls the release of dependent work. Update the lookahead programme and notify affected trades if the hold point, information, inspection or evidence is not ready.
Next action
Manage water, access, battering/shoring, plant separation, and exclusion zones.
Applicability: Apply when this work package is included in the current project scope. Confirm project-specific consent, contract, design, site and authority requirements.
Use the current consented/issued project documents and competent site review. BuildPath does not approve work.
03Manage water, access, battering/shoring, plant separation, and exclusion zonesLevel 2 · Groundworks
TaskCheckHold pointEvidenceRecordNext actionSimple explanation
Manage water, access, battering/shoring, plant separation, and exclusion zones.
Technical context
Coordinate this work against Drainage plan, Environmental controls, the current consent status, and the actual site condition. Confirm interfaces before releasing dependent work.
Why it matters: The main recorded risk is: Soft ground. A missed check can create rework, delay, hidden defects, an inspection failure, or a departure from approved project documents.
Prerequisites
- Drainage plan is current, approved for the intended use, and available to the people doing the work.
- Environmental controls and relevant product information have been checked.
- Access, responsibility, safety controls, preceding work and the council drainage/foundation hold point where required sequence are confirmed.
Checks
- Check the completed work against Drainage plan and Environmental controls.
- Check specifically for: Soft ground.
- Avoid this known mistake: Ignoring unexpected fill or organic material.
Evidence to save
- Wide, location-identifying and close-up photographs of the completed earthworks and excavation work before it is concealed.
- Marked-up Drainage plan or a precise drawing/detail reference.
- Council drainage/foundation hold point where required result, consultant record, trade QA record or written not-applicable reason.
Hold point
Do not cover, backfill, load, connect, certify or release the next activity until Council drainage/foundation hold point where required and the required project evidence are complete or the authorised reviewer confirms what may proceed.
Stop or escalate when
- Soft ground
- Ignoring unexpected fill or organic material
- The current drawing, approval, competent reviewer or required evidence cannot be confirmed.
Documents and records
- Drainage plan
- Environmental controls
- Current RFI/site-instruction/change record
- Inspection and evidence register
- Cost effect
- Rectification, reinspection, delay, damaged follow-on work, access loss and changed scope can increase the cost of earthworks and excavation. Record the cause and obtain written pricing before approving a commercial change.
- Programme effect
- This activity controls the release of dependent work. Update the lookahead programme and notify affected trades if the hold point, information, inspection or evidence is not ready.
Next action
Close the earthworks and excavation stage, link its evidence, resolve outstanding defects and release only the next applicable stage.
Applicability: Apply when this work package is included in the current project scope. Confirm project-specific consent, contract, design, site and authority requirements.
Use the current consented/issued project documents and competent site review. BuildPath does not approve work.
Trade-to-trade control
Interfaces and release gates
Use the actual consented design, specification and authorised reviewers. These controls help expose gaps; they do not approve work.
Earthworks, set-out and foundations
Prerequisites
- • Survey set-out and legal boundaries are confirmed
- • Geotechnical/civil/structural design assumptions match exposed ground
- • Excavation, bearing, groundwater and contamination surprises are recorded and referred
Interface checks
- • Formation levels, founding depth, setbacks and services agree across drawings
- • Engineer/council hold points are booked before concrete or backfill
- • Temporary support, dewatering and public/adjacent-property protection remain effective
Evidence before release
- • Survey/set-out record
- • Ground and excavation photographs with levels
- • Inspection/engineer record and concrete pre-pour checklist
Next team: Foundation, slab or subfloor team
Open the related Workspace control →Civil drainage, building services and final ground levels
Prerequisites
- • Civil, drainage, architectural and landscape drawings use coordinated levels
- • Connection approvals, easements and authority requirements are known
- • Service crossings, retaining, access and future maintenance zones are resolved
Interface checks
- • Pipe grades, cover, bedding, separation and test points meet the approved design
- • Finished ground/paving falls do not compromise cladding, thresholds or overland flow
- • As-built survey can identify every buried service and connection
Evidence before release
- • Open-trench photographs and test results
- • Survey/as-built information
- • Authority/council/engineer acceptance required for the actual project
Next team: External works, landscaping and close-out teams
Open the related Workspace control →What happens in this stage
- Confirm BeforeUdig/service information, geotechnical report, excavation depth, spoil disposal, truck route, and sediment controls.
- Excavate to approved lines and levels while checking ground conditions against the geotechnical assumptions.
- Manage water, access, battering/shoring, plant separation, and exclusion zones.
Before work starts
- Confirm the latest issued-for-construction and consented documents for earthworks and excavation are on site, including Earthworks plan.
- Check Geotechnical recommendations, approved product data, RFIs, minor variations, and amendment status before work starts.
- Confirm the subcontractor understands the scope, hold points, access, protection requirements, H&S controls, and quality evidence required.
- Check the programme sequence so this stage does not start before earlier work, inspections, testing, or concealed-work photos are complete.
- Confirm materials delivered to site match the specification, are dry/undamaged, and are stored according to manufacturer instructions.
During the work
- Walk the work face early, mid-shift, and before close-up. Compare actual work with the consented drawings, specification, and manufacturer details.
- Check set-out, levels, falls, clearances, penetrations, fixings, bracing, waterproofing, or protection points that will be difficult to see later.
- Ask trades to show their own quality checks rather than only saying the work is complete.
- Keep weather, site condition, delivery, delay, inspection, RFI, variation, and safety notes in the daily report.
- Photograph any work before it is covered, backfilled, lined, clad, tiled, painted, or otherwise hidden.
After the work
- Complete a close-out walk with the subcontractor and mark defects immediately while access is still available.
- Confirm required inspection bookings, council results, producer statements, LBP Records of Work, warranties, test certificates, or installer declarations are obtained.
- Update as-built notes where service routes, drainage, fixings, penetrations, or dimensions differ from the design.
- Confirm the area is protected from weather, other trades, impact damage, contamination, or premature loading.
- Update the lookahead programme and tell affected trades what is ready, what is blocked, and what must not be covered.
Common problems and step-by-step solutions
Soft ground
- 1Stop the affected earthworks and excavation activity if continuing could hide defective work, create unsafe work, or move away from the consented design.
- 2Photograph the condition from wide, medium, and close-up angles. Include a tape, level, datum mark, gridline, or drawing reference where useful.
- 3Check the latest consented architectural, structural, civil, services, and specification documents before giving an instruction.
- 4Ask the subcontractor to explain the cause, proposed fix, timing impact, and whether the fix changes consented work.
- 5Escalate to the builder/project manager, designer, engineer, council inspector, or client when the fix affects structure, weathertightness, drainage, H1, fire/safety, cost, programme, or consent.
- 6Record the decision, responsible person, drawing/RFI/variation reference, photos, and follow-up inspection in the daily report.
Water in excavation
- 1Stop the affected earthworks and excavation activity if continuing could hide defective work, create unsafe work, or move away from the consented design.
- 2Photograph the condition from wide, medium, and close-up angles. Include a tape, level, datum mark, gridline, or drawing reference where useful.
- 3Check the latest consented architectural, structural, civil, services, and specification documents before giving an instruction.
- 4Ask the subcontractor to explain the cause, proposed fix, timing impact, and whether the fix changes consented work.
- 5Escalate to the builder/project manager, designer, engineer, council inspector, or client when the fix affects structure, weathertightness, drainage, H1, fire/safety, cost, programme, or consent.
- 6Record the decision, responsible person, drawing/RFI/variation reference, photos, and follow-up inspection in the daily report.
Damaged underground service
- 1Stop the affected earthworks and excavation activity if continuing could hide defective work, create unsafe work, or move away from the consented design.
- 2Photograph the condition from wide, medium, and close-up angles. Include a tape, level, datum mark, gridline, or drawing reference where useful.
- 3Check the latest consented architectural, structural, civil, services, and specification documents before giving an instruction.
- 4Ask the subcontractor to explain the cause, proposed fix, timing impact, and whether the fix changes consented work.
- 5Escalate to the builder/project manager, designer, engineer, council inspector, or client when the fix affects structure, weathertightness, drainage, H1, fire/safety, cost, programme, or consent.
- 6Record the decision, responsible person, drawing/RFI/variation reference, photos, and follow-up inspection in the daily report.
Verification
Source / where to check
Use current official information and the controlled documents for the actual project.
Use for excavation risk management, trenching, collapse, services, access, exclusion, and emergency planning.
Check structure requirements, B1/AS1, Verification Methods, structural engineer design, bracing, foundations, wind, earthquake, and consented structural drawings.
Check stormwater, surface water, drainage paths, and council/engineer stormwater design.
The issued consent drawings, stamped specifications, engineering drawings, RFIs, minor variations, and amendments control the specific project.
Use the exact current installation manual, warranty requirements, BRANZ/Appraisal information where applicable, and product data sheet for the product on site.
Insufficient data to verify — confirm against the current consented drawings, specifications, Auckland Council requirements, Auckland Unitary Plan, NZ Building Code, relevant NZ Standard, consultant advice, manufacturer instructions, insurance broker, insurer, lender, lawyer, accountant or project contract.
Project-specific consented documents and professional advice override generic guidance.
Common inspections required
- Geotechnical inspection
- Engineer subgrade check
- Council drainage/foundation hold point where required
Common risks
- Trench collapse
- Underground service strike
- Soft ground
- Water ingress
- Sediment discharge
Common mistakes
- Digging before services are located
- Stockpiling too close to excavation
- Ignoring unexpected fill or organic material
Required documentation
- Latest consented drawings and specifications
- Relevant RFIs, site instructions, amendments, minor variations, and variation approvals
- Subcontractor scope, QA checklist, delivery dockets, product data, and installation records
- Inspection booking/result records and photos before cover-up
- Daily site report notes covering labour, weather, progress, delays, risks, and decisions
Photos or diagrams needed
- Wide photo showing where earthworks and excavation is happening on the site
- Close-up photos of critical details, fixings, laps, seals, penetrations, clearances, levels, or falls
- Photo of product labels, batch numbers, delivery dockets, and installer marks where relevant
- Marked-up drawing or simple diagram showing any changed location, clash, defect, or agreed remedial detail
Construction manager checklist
- 1Scope, drawings, specification, product data, and latest revision confirmed
- 2Trade briefed on hold points, tolerances to verify, evidence required, and inspection sequence
- 3Access, storage, protection, temporary works, and safety controls in place
- 4Work checked against drawings during installation, not only at completion
- 5Photos and records captured before work is concealed
- 6Defects, RFIs, delays, and variations recorded with owner and due date
- 7Inspection/producer statement/warranty/Record of Work requirements tracked for CCC
Questions to ask the subcontractor
- Which drawing, detail, or manufacturer instruction are you working from?
- What needs to be checked before this is covered or handed to the next trade?
- What could stop you today: weather, access, materials, information, inspections, or other trades?
- Does anything on site differ from the drawings or specification?
- What evidence will you provide for the quality file and CCC file?
Red flags to stop work
- Work differs from consented drawings or specification and no approved variation/RFI exists
- A structural, weathertightness, waterproofing, drainage, fire/safety, or H1 detail is unclear
- The trade wants to cover work before inspection, testing, or photos are complete
- Specified materials are missing, substituted, damaged, wet, expired, or installed outside manufacturer instructions
- A safety control is missing for excavation, heights, plant movement, electrical work, asbestos, silica, or public protection
What to record in the daily report
- Exact location and quantity of work completed
- Trade headcount, company names, plant used, deliveries, and material batch/product details
- Weather, site conditions, delays, instructions received, RFIs raised, and inspections booked/passed/failed
- Photos taken before cover-up and any defects or non-conformances found
- Next-day lookahead, blockers, and who is responsible for each action
Use this in my project
Turn earthworks and excavation into controlled action
Open the relevant workspace register, create the project-specific record, link the controlling documents and preserve evidence. The guide does not automatically approve or verify the action.