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NZS 4431:2022

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Engineered fill construction for lightweight structures

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Please also note that the current acceptable solutions and verification methods for compliance with the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) do not cite the latest edition of NZS 4431. The version deemed to comply with the building code remains the 1989 edition. The new edition of the standard can be used as part of an alternative solution to comply with the NZBC.

NZS 4431 provides the process for the geotechnical investigation, design, construction, quality assurance testing, and certification of engineered fill as foundation support for lightweight residential and commercial buildings and associated infrastructure. Evidence of adherence to this standard, alongside appropriate professional review and certification, can be used to demonstrate compliance with the relevant sections of the New Zealand Building Code for these projects.
This revision reflects changes in geotechnical investigation, design and construction practice, test methods. And environmental, consenting, and health and safety obligations since the original publication in 1989. The layout of this revision reflects the iterative processes used by the geotechnical designer, certifier, and contractor to enable engineered fill construction to deliver safe and stable foundation support for lightweight residential and commercial buildings and associated infrastructure.
NZS4431 is not a specification. An earthworks specification needs to be developed for each development in accordance with the requirements of this standard. The earthworks specification will provide the site and contract-specific requirements in addition to those presented in this standard. To comply with this standard, certified engineered fill construction shall meet the requirements of the project - and site-specific earthworks specification, as well as the design documentation, engineering drawings, quality assurance and testing requirements, and building and consent conditions.
The New Zealand earthworks specification (NZGS, 2022) is an example of a generic specification developed to be compatible with this standard. It is appropriate for use on most residential (and many other) development projects with common soil and rock types found in New Zealand and comes in both a long and a short form to suit larger and smaller projects respectively. Because of the variability of the natural materials used in earthworks, specialist geotechnical input is needed to ensure that the specified soil and rock materials are suitable for the intended use and that the proposed testing regime is appropriate for the selected materials.
The primary intended users of this standard are the geotechnical designer and the certifier. In the context of this standard, the geotechnical designer is responsible for the design of the engineered fill and the preparation of the earthwork’s specification. The certifier is responsible for confirming that the engineered fill has been constructed in accordance with the design, consent conditions, and earthworks specification. In many smaller projects, the geotechnical designer will also take the role of the certifier. The contractor responsible for placing the engineered fill should have a good understanding of this standard. It is expected that they will use this standard to direct any filling operations in conjunction with the earthwork’s specification created by the geotechnical designer in accordance with this standard.

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NZS 4431:2022

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