BS 5930:2015+A1:2020

What is BS 5930 about? 

Multiple factors such as soil quality, contamination, surrounding constructions, and strata decide the suitability of a site for construction. BS 5930 gives you recommendations for the investigation of sites to assess their suitability for construction. 

Note: BS 5930 does not guide investigations for contamination or naturally elevated concentrations of potentially hazardous substances. Nor does it guide investigations for ground gas. 

Who is BS 5930 for? 

BS 5930 on ground investigation of construction sites is useful for: 

• Civil engineers / builders / architects 
• Geotechnical engineers or engineering geologists 
• Real estate developers  
• Government contractors. 

Why should you use BS 5930? 

BS 5930 provides guidelines for conducting ground investigation of construction sites. It specifies tests and equipment to ensure that the ground is suitable for the planned building design.  

These include classification tests, chemical tests, and erodibility or dispersibility tests. BS 5930 enables you to ensure that the neighbouring land and property are not affected by the planned construction. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS 5930:2015+A1:2020 supersedes BS 5930:2015, which has been withdrawn. BS 5930:2015+A1:2020 introduced the following principal changes: 

• Most changes arose from the further implementation into UK practice of BS EN 19971 and BS EN 19972 and the related test standards cited therein, and the need to conform to these standards.  
• The revision of the material was out of date. There was new information on geophysical surveying and ground testing; and updated guidance on ground investigations on contaminated ground, changes to accommodate the requirements of data capture in the field and the inclusion of this in reporting as well as other amendments throughout the standard.