Excavation of rock using blasting techniques: A review of blasting guidance

Bulk excavation of a site in Turkey was required to a depth of up to 37m below ground level, over a site area in excess of 35,000m². Beneath a thin layer of soil, the excavation was to be into moderately strong to strong limestone, and was to be undertaken by blasting. However, in the absence of any specific internationally agreed guidelines on blasting, a review of various national standards and limits was undertaken, to establish practical limits and controls on the blasting operations. Parameters assessed included airblast (dB(Z) or dBLinear) and ground vibration measured as Peak Particle Velocity, with a comparison made between guidance from Australia, Canada, UK and USA. This paper discusses the similarities and differences between the various standards, and presents the limits adopted for the construction project in Turkey.