Enter the length, width and depth of excavation in metres.
The calculator will give an estimate of resultant spoil in cubic metres (m3) and tonnes.
Includes quantity and tonnes of excavations for sound rock, chalk, earth, clay, sand & gravel.
We also have an 'Imperial' version of this calculator here.
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Hazards associated with excavations
The most common form of hazard associated with excavations is the collapse of the sides, which can
happen without any warning signs.
Excavations can collapse if:
- The sides of the excavation are not sufficiently self-supporting
- Surcharges from spoil, adjacent foundations, stored materials, plant or temporary works
- Imposed loads overload the ground adjacent to an excavation
- Groundwater ingress reduces the strength of the ground
- Excavation supports are removed prematurely, to facilitate backfilling or compaction
Other hazards of working in excavations include:
- The presence of contaminants, which may be harmful to health, levels of which cannot always be assessed by sight or smell
- Gases migrating into excavations and creating explosive or poisonous atmospheres
- The presence of buried utility services
- The presence of other excavations or other voids nearby
- Work in an excavation may involve kneeling down to carry out a task and thus increase the hazard for the person working in it
- i.e. what is a relatively shallow excavation becomes a "deep" one, simply because the person is completely within it. Excavations can be defined as confined spaces.