BS EN 15237:2007 PDF Download

BS EN 15237:2007 is a European Standard that provides general principles for the execution, testing, supervision, and monitoring of vertical drain projects. This standard specifically focuses on the application of prefabricated vertical drains and sand drains, and it outlines the requirements for design, drain material, and installation methods.

The purpose of this standard is to improve low-permeability, highly compressible soils through vertical drainage and preloading. Vertical drainage is used in both land and marine construction projects for various purposes including consolidation and reduction of post-construction settlements, speeding up consolidation processes, increasing stability, groundwater lowering, and mitigating liquefaction effects.

It is important to note that this standard does not cover soil improvement methods such as wells, gravel and stone columns, large-diameter geotextile enclosed columns, or reinforcing elements. However, vertical drainage can be combined with other foundation or ground improvement methods like electro osmosis, piles, compacted sand piles, dynamic compaction, and deep mixing.

Annex A of the standard provides guidance on practical aspects of vertical drainage, such as the investigation of drain properties, execution procedures, and equipment. Annex B focuses on the investigation of soil characteristics and the assessment of design parameters, which are influenced by drain properties and execution.