1.1This guide provides recommended designs and procedures for the fabrication, installation, operation, and reading of settlement point(s) to determine the magnitude and rate of foundation, fill settlements, or both generally under a fill or embankment load. Two types of settlement points are described – those being monitored by elevation surveys from an external bench mark and those that include an internal reference system supported on unyielding soil or rock beneath the compressible layer(s) of interest.

1.2Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.3This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgement. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word “standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

1.4This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.5This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.