The design and construction of filled building platforms

Building platforms are described, and their purposes are explained. Historically, construction standards for engineered fill were not good, but following development of new specifications in the UK, and after major failures in Hong Kong, good practices were established to improve the construction of building platforms. In the UK this work was strengthened by the Building Research Establishment, with valuable contributions from individual authors. The paper summarises the advice in the literature in the context of almost 50 years' experience in the UK, central Europe and China, and sets out recommended procedures for constructing filled building platforms. Site practices in the UK and elsewhere do not always follow the established guidelines. Several examples of good practice and departures from best practice are provided, with some photographs. For legal and commercial reasons the cases are not identified.