To determine compliance of your open trench work, we must compare the actual trench installation shown in the first photo with the relevant Middlesex County standard detail sheets.
Based on the trench shown, the most applicable details are:
Detail #3: Storm Sewer Trench and Bedding Detail (Paved Area)
Detail #4: Storm Sewer Trench and Bedding Detail (Unpaved Area)
Observed Compliance (Based on Photo):
Trench Box/Shoring Used - The trench has proper trench shoring (trench box), which is **OSHA compliant** for worker safety in deep trenches.
This is not explicitly in the Middlesex County standard details but is crucial for OSHA compliance and worker protection.
Pipe Placement - Visible reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), which is a match against
Notes on Detail #3 & #4: “Reinforced concrete pipe is required within County R.O.W.” \n - ✅
Compliant. Trench Width
Appears wide enough to allow proper bedding dimensions (12" on each side of the pipe), ✅ assuming a pipe size in typical use.
⚠️ **Potential Issues / Unverified Items:
Bedding Type and Thickness
Standard requires: 6" of broken stone/gravel bedding under pipe (Type C Bedding)
*12" stone on both sides of pipe
24" minimum cover above pipe (for storm sewers)
📷 **The photo does not clearly show the bottom or full side bedding layers.
⚠️ Cannot determine compliance without trench cross-section or step-by-step backfill photos.
**Backfill Material** \n - Per County Standard (Detail #3 and Detail #4, Note 1): \n > “Backfilling with excavated material shall not be permitted.”\n - There is **native excavated soil** adjacent to the trench, but it's unclear if this was/will be used as backfill.
⚠️ **Compaction and aggregate use for backfilling must be verified to be compliant.
Compaction Certification
Details indicate backfill must be compacted to 95% with each layer < 8” thick.\n - No visual or document evidence of compaction testing.\n - ⚠️ **Certification required** upon request for verification.\n\n---\n\n### 🧾 **Conclusion:**\n\n| Component | Notes -------------------------------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------
Shoring/Safety |
✅ Compliant | OSHA trench safety maintained with trench box |\n| Pipe Type (RCP) |
✅ Compliant | Required within county R.O.W. |\n| Bedding Depth & Type | ⚠️ Unverified | Not visible from photo—needs documentation |\n| Backfill with DGA only | ⚠️ Unverified | Excavated soil nearby may indicate non-compliant backfill |\n| Compaction (95%, <8” lifts) | ⚠️ Unverified | Compaction method/certification not shown |\n| Trench Width to Spec |
✅ Assumed OK | Appears compliant—pipe clearance meets spec visually 🛠️
Action Items to Confirm Full Compliance: Provide photos or logs showing:\n - 6" bedding installed under RCP\n - 12” side clearances with crushed stone\n - Minimum 24” DGA cover above the pipe\n2. Documentation of **95% compaction** testing.\n3. Confirm no excavated soil is being reused in backfill.\n\nLet me know if you have those reports or more photos, and I can confirm final compliance.