Building on fill
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is the UK's leading centre of expertise for construction, the built environment, energy, fire, security and many associated issues.
On 13 October 2015, BRE published Building on fill: geotechnical aspects 3rd edition 2015 (FB 75), written by Ken Watts and Andrew Charles.
The increasing demand for land for development and the political and commercial impetus to build on brownfield land means that a high proportion of new commercial, industrial and housing developments are now built on ‘fills’. That is, they are built on ground that has been deposited by human activity rather than by natural geological processes.
It is important therefore that there is a good understanding of the behaviour of fills and the ways they can be safely and economically rendered suitable for development.
This 336-page book, now in its third edition, encompasses BRE’s unique experience over a period of more than 40 years of research and consultancy, and brings the subject up to date since publication of the second edition 14 years earlier.
New material in the third edition includes:
- Recent research findings and industry experience.
- Ground improvement and treatment using proprietary and non-proprietary techniques.
- Case histories and updated cases from the second edition.
- Studies on the behaviour of fills over a longer time period and a wider range of fills.
Its contents include:
- Fills in context.
- Engineering behaviour of fills.
- Construction on fills.
- Performance of fills.
- Appendices.
- References and further reading.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Brownfield land.
- Contaminated land.
- Cover systems for land regeneration - thickness of cover systems for contaminated land (BR465).
- Fill.
- Ground conditions.
- Ground heave.
- Ground improvement techniques.
- Ground investigation.
- Hydraulically treated soils in residential construction (BR 513).
- Methane and other gasses from the ground.
- Pollution.
- Radon.
- Solid and liquid contaminants risk assessments.
Featured articles and news
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
CIOB Construction Manager of the Year 2025
Just one of the winners at the CIOB Awards 2025.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.
Construction Products Reform Green Paper and Consultation
Still time to respond as consultation closes on 21 May 2025.
Resilient façade systems for smog reduction in Shanghai
A technical approach using computer simulation and analysis of solar radiation, wind patterns, and ventilation.