Trench Excavating

and Timbering
 Learning objectives
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to:

• define the terms and concepts related to excavations

and timbering.

• select appropriate timbering methods to excavations

in a given soil type.

• discuss health and safety measures in excavations.

 Introduction
• Before a foundation can be laid, it is necessary to excavate a
trench of the required depth and width.
• On small contracts, such as house extensions, this is effectively
carried out by hand, but on large works it will be more
economic to use some form of mechanical excavators (see
cover page slide).
• Many services, such as electrical, water and telephone are
provided by cables/pipes buried in the ground.
• Accessing them for repair or renewal requires removal of the
covering earth to produce a man-made cut, cavity, or trench.
• When carrying out excavations, always be prepared for the
unexpected, as the act of excavating can create dangerous
conditions
 Introduction
• Before any attempt is made to disturb the surface of the
ground, information needs to be obtained regarding the
area of the excavation.
• This will include information regarding buried services,
land contamination and adjacent structures that may be
affected by the excavation.
• Neither the shallowness of an excavation nor the
appearance of the ground should be automatically taken
as indicators of safety.
• If the ground is contaminated by chemicals, radiation or
unexploded devices, even very shallow excavations may
expose persons to considerable risk.
 Introduction
• The surface of the ground is unlikely to give an indication to
what is below. The surface, possibly tarmac or slabs, may
show signs of previous excavations, this may give an
indication that there may be services beneath.
• In most cases, there will be no visible indication as to what
is below and how far below the ground it lies.
• Excavation work must be carried with extreme care, as even
hand tools can cause damage. If, during excavation, buried
services are struck it is highly likely that they could be
damaged.
 Introduction
• Damaging a power cable could result in injury, and possibly fatality.
Whether or not persons are injured, the service provision to another
location may be disrupted.
• Whatever the circumstances there will be a resource implication – the
provision of funds to make the situation good. This in itself may prove
catastrophic as the failure of the service could result in the loss of an
essential function, examples of this could include failure of power supply
to a medical facility or an airfield ground lighting system.
• This in itself may prove catastrophic as the failure of the service could
result in the loss of an essential function, examples of this could include
failure of power supply to a medical facility or an airfield ground lighting
system.
 Definitions
Trench - A trench is a narrow excavation made below the surface of the
ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width, but the width of
a trench is not greater than 5m.
Excavation - Any work which involves penetrating the ground surface.
There are no minimum parameters, as scraping the earth could include
considerable risk due to contaminated land, or a partially covered cable.
Buried Services - Underground cables and pipe work that may carry
electricity, telecommunications (fibre optics), gas, water, drains and
sewers.
Contaminated land – Any land which, by reason of substances in, on or
under that land, there is a significant possibility of harm to any person or
the pollution of any controlled waters.
 Timbering
• When earth has been excavated to a considerable depth,
the vertical faces of the excavations need supporting by
means of timber to prevent the soil from falling in and
injuring the workmen or the work upon which they are
engaged.

• The strength of the timbering used for this purpose

necessarily depends upon the nature of the soil, the
depth of the excavations, and the length of time it is likely
to be kept open.
 Timbering
• Timbering also known as shoring consist of providing timber
planks or boards and struts to give temporary support to the
sides of the trench.
• The main reasons for carrying out timbering to trench sides are:
• to provide safe working conditions for operatives while
working in the excavation;
• to prevent disruption of work due to collapse of trench
sides
• to prevent damage to adjacent property which may occur
if trenches are got out too close to structures such as
boundary walls, etc. if the trench bottom is below the
foundation ,the wall may become unsafe and will
probably overrun.
 Timbering
• The type and amount of timbering required will depend
upon the depth and nature of the subsoil.

• Over a short period, many soils may not require any

timbering, but weather conditions, depth, type of soil
and duration of the operations must all be taken into
account, and each excavation must be assessed
separately.
 Timbering

• The following types of timbering are commonly used:

• Stay bracing
• Use of poling boards)
• Sheet piling
• Horizontal sheeting
• Vertical sheeting

• Typical details of timbering to trenches are shown in Figs

1.4.2–1.4.6.
 Timbering to Excavations in Hard Soil

• In this method, poling boards are placed in pairs

opposite one another against either side of the trench,
and are held in position by means of struts.

• Poling boards are placed at 2.0 m as shown in Figure

1.4.2
Timbering to Excavations in Hard Soil
 Timbering to Excavations in Firm Soils

• In this method, like in hard soil, poling boards are placed

in pairs opposite one another against either side of the
trench, and are held in position by means of struts.

• However, poling boards are placed at 1.0 m as shown in

Figure 1.4.3
Timbering to Excavations in Firm Soil
 Timbering to Excavations in Dry Loose Soil

• In this method, it will be noted that the poling boards

are supported by long horizontal members called
Wallings, which in turn are supported by struts at
intervals of 2 metres as shown in Figure 1.4.4.
Timbering to Excavations in Dry Loose Soil
 Timbering to Excavations in Wet Loose Soil

In this case, vertical sheeting is used as shown in Figure 1.4.5.

 Excavations
• Excavations may be classified as shallow,
medium or deep as follows:
• shallow – up to 1.500 m deep;
• medium – 1.500–3.000 m deep;
• deep – over 3.000 m deep.

• The method of excavation and timbering to be

used in any particular case will depend upon a
number of factors:
 Excavations
• The nature of the subsoil can determine the type
of plant or hand tools required and the amount
of timbering necessary.

• The purpose of the excavation can determine

minimum widths, minimum depths and the
placing of support members to give a reasonable
working space within the excavation.
 Excavations
• The presence of groundwater may necessitate the
need for interlocking timbering, sump pits and
pumps; large quantities of groundwater may prompt
the use of de-watering techniques.

• The position of the excavation may impose certain

restrictions such as the need for a licence or
wayleave, highway authority or police requirements
when excavating in a public road.
 Excavations
• Non-availability of the right type of plant for bulk
excavation may mean that a different method must be
used.
• The presence of a large number of services may restrict
the use of machinery to such an extent that it becomes
uneconomic.
• The disposal of the excavated spoil may restrict the
choice of plant because the load and unload cycle does
not keep pace with the machine output.
 Health and Safety in Excavations

• It is a statutory requirement for employers, the self-

employed and employees, to ensure safe working
and support in excavations.
• Timber or other suitable material must be
provided and used to prevent danger from a fall
or dislodgement of materials forming the sides
of an excavation.
• Underground services must be foreseen (if
possible), located, identified and assessed for
risk to operatives working in excavations.
 Health and Safety in Excavations

• Positive action is necessary to eliminate any risk and

to prevent injury.
• Deep excavations require special consideration and
must be correctly designed, constructed and
maintained with regard for prevailing conditions.
 Health and Safety in Excavations
• Accidents have occurred when someone re-enters an excavation,
because insufficient checks have been made as to whether it is still
safe to enter the excavation.
• Hence, ensure that:
• Timbering must only be erected by a competent person
• Before operatives are allowed to work in a trench, an inspection
of excavations must be made by the safety supervisor (1) at
least once a day if persons are employed therein; (2) after an
expected fall of rock, earth or material; and (3) within the
preceding seven days.
 Health and Safety in Excavations
• The material to be used for timbering the excavation must be
inspected on each occasion before used.
• Inspection of trenching operations for hazardous conditions must be
performed daily or when changing conditions warrant (rain, different
soil type, etc.). Upon detection of a hazardous condition employees
must be removed from the excavation at once.
• All materials in proximity to the excavation site must be stored,
arranged, or secured in such a manner as to prevent the material
from accidentally falling into the trench so that Fall Hazard Injuries
can be prevented. Keep all materials at least two (2) feet away from
the trench.
 Health and Safety in Excavations
• Excavations located near public vehicular traffic shall be
barricaded and employees shall be provided with and
wear warning vests.

• Caution tape or other means of barriers shall be placed

around the excavation/trenching site.
 Summary
In this Lecture session, we have learnt that:
• Before any attempt is made to start any excavation, information
needs to be obtained regarding the area of the excavation.
• When earth has been excavated to a considerable depth, the
vertical faces of the excavations need supporting by means of
timber to prevent the soil from falling in and injuring the workmen
or the work upon which they are engaged.
• The strength of the timbering used for this purpose necessarily
depends upon the nature of the soil, the depth of the excavations,
and the length of time it is likely to be kept open.
 Summary
• The method of excavation and timbering to be used in any
particular case will depend upon the nature of the soil, depth of
excavation and time it will remain open.

• Health and Safety Rules and Regulations must be observed during

excavations.