Coble Trench Safety Training

Steel Framed Aluminum Panel Shields Achieve Maximum Efficiency

Coble Trench Safety shoring specialist John Knighten plays a key role in assisting contractor with shoring design.

The Specifics
The contractor was installing new high pressure steam lines to a local hospital to update the existing infrastructure to update steam supply to the hospital. The updated infrastructure will allow the hospital to run more efficiently and will allow it to keep up with proposed expansions. The soil being excavated would be a sandy clay C-60 soil with depths ranging from 6 to 8 feet. The excavation would run approximately 32 feet long and 8 feet wide. The excavation would have a wall running alongside the excavation, which also prevented the possibility of sloping.

If you're facing a particularly challenging trench job, give Coble Trench Safety a call to learn how we can help you get it right the first time.

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The Scenario
The jobsite had limited access and space, which provided the chief obstacle for the contractor. The contractor had to use a small capacity machine, which effectively limited the shoring systems available for the project, specifically steel trench shields would not be an option due to weight. The contractor wanted to be able to open up as much as possible of the trench during the excavation to promote jobsite efficiency and meet its strict schedule.

The Solution
After a presentation of the possible shoring alternatives by John, the contractor selected steel framed aluminum panel shields. The steel framed aluminum panel shield is structurally similar to the conventional steel trench shields, however, eliminates much of the weight by using aluminum panels in place of the steel members. The aluminum panel shield does relinquish depth rating as a result of losing the heavier, but structurally stronger steel; although the depth of the project fell within the capacity for the steel framed aluminum panel shield.

The steel framed aluminum panel shields were 16 feet long and allowed the contractor to be able to open the entire 32 lineal feet at one time, which would appease the project schedule. The system worked very well and the project was completed without incident.