Dig and Pour Post Footings

A. Finished-Project Specification

Deliverable: one complete set of post footings excavated to accepted bearing at the approved diameter, depth, and center location; gravel base placed where specified; forms, reinforcement, and anchor hardware installed to the approved detail; concrete placed, finished, protected, and cured; and full field records of measurements, concrete, weather, and inspections for every footing.

B. Assessed Footing Schedule (Component Schedule)

Component	Quantity	Format	Standard	Preparation / Purpose
Excavated holes	Per footing schedule	Field measurements	Approved center, diameter, depth, and bottom elevation	Establishes each footing at its planned location and bearing depth
Bearing inspection record	1 per hole	Worksheet + photos	Firm, undisturbed material confirmed at bottom and sides	Confirms suitable bearing before anything is placed
Gravel, forms, and embedded hardware	Per approved detail	Installed components	Matches approved footing detail exactly	Establishes drainage, shape, and anchor position for the post
Pre-pour inspection	1 per hole or per approved batch	Inspection record	Completed and passed before concrete placement	Confirms hole, forms, and hardware are ready for concrete
Placed and finished concrete	Per footing schedule	Field record	Approved mix, consolidation, and finished elevation	Delivers the structural footing mass
Cure and final inspection record	1 per footing	Signed worksheet + photos	Approved cure condition confirmed before loading	Authorizes handoff to Project 05

C. Material and Resource Takeoff

• Excavation: post-hole digger or approved auger, digging bar, shovels, tarps or containers for spoil.
• Forming and hardware: tube or pier forms, reinforcement, anchor bolts or post bases matched to the approved footing detail — none substituted or omitted.
• Concrete: bagged concrete or ready-mix matched to the approved specification, mixing equipment or delivery coordination, water source.
• Documentation: field worksheet recording depth, diameter, center, elevation, bearing condition, hardware position, concrete quantity, weather, and inspection results for every footing.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Hole location and dimensions	Center, diameter, and depth match the approved footing schedule and Project 03 layout
Bearing condition	Hole bottom and sides are firm, undisturbed material free of loose soil, organics, or standing water
Gravel, forms, and hardware	Installed exactly as specified by the approved footing detail, with anchor or post-base position verified before concrete set
Pre-pour inspection	Completed and passed for every hole before concrete is placed
Concrete placement	Placed without segregation, consolidated around reinforcement and embeds, finished to the specified elevation and drainage shape
Cure and protection	Footing protected and cured to the approved condition before any load, form-stripping, or post-setting occurs

E. Preparation — Schedule Review and Excavation Planning

1. Review the footing schedule for diameter, depth, bell or pier shape, reinforcement, anchor type, elevation, frost depth, soil-bearing assumptions, and inspection requirements. Do not proceed with any value not supplied by the approved plans or engineering documents.
2. Confirm utility markings and Project 03's approved footing centers are current and visible. Re-flag any marking that has faded or been disturbed.
3. Establish an excavation exclusion zone and a separate spoil zone for each hole. Keep both clear of walkways and staged materials.

F. Excavation and Bearing Verification Procedure

1. Excavate each hole using hand tools, an approved auger, or approved equipment. Hand-expose any utility within or adjacent to the excavation where required.
2. Keep workers clear of rotating augers and suspended spoil at all times. Never reach into an active excavation zone.
3. Inspect the hole sides and bottom for loose soil, organic material, water, roots, fill, or signs of collapse. Remove any unsuitable material down to firm, undisturbed bearing.
4. Stop work and resolve the condition before proceeding if groundwater, caving soil, buried obstructions, unsuitable bearing, or any changed condition is found. Obtain engineering input where the approved plans require it.
5. Measure and record depth, diameter, bottom elevation, and center location for the completed hole. Compare each measurement against the approved footing schedule before proceeding.

G. Forming, Reinforcement, and Embedded Hardware

1. Place compacted gravel only where the approved footing detail specifies a gravel base. Do not add gravel where the detail does not call for it.
2. Set tube forms, pier forms, or above-grade forms to the specified line, elevation, and plumb. Brace forms to hold position through concrete placement.
3. Install reinforcement, anchor bolts, post bases, sleeves, or other embedded hardware exactly as the approved detail specifies. Maintain the required concrete cover over reinforcement.
4. Recheck anchor or post-base position, elevation, and orientation before the pre-pour inspection. Correct any misalignment before concrete arrives.

H. Pre-Pour Inspection and Concrete Placement

1. Complete the required footing or pre-pour inspection before any concrete is placed. Do not proceed on a hole that has not passed this inspection where one is required.
2. Calculate and stage the concrete quantity needed for the approved footing dimensions. Confirm the mix matches the approved specification.
3. Mix or receive concrete within the approved specification. Reject any load or batch that does not meet the specified mix or condition.
4. Place concrete without segregating the mix, and consolidate it around reinforcement and embedded hardware to eliminate voids. Work methodically from the first hole placed to the last.
5. Finish the top of each footing to the specified elevation and drainage shape. Recheck anchor or post-base position immediately after placement, before the concrete begins to set.

I. Protection, Cure, and Closeout

1. Protect and cure each footing according to the approved specification and weather conditions. Do not load the footing or strip forms before the approved condition is reached.
2. Inspect the final center, elevation, anchor position, concrete condition, and curing progress for every footing. Recheck every incomplete or unclear item and classify each gap before closing it out.
3. Document measurements, concrete quantities, weather conditions, and inspection results for every footing, and label and retain the completed record. Store it for reference throughout the rest of this book.